"Ants' Collective Object Carrying: A Fluid-Like Self-Propelled Motion"
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science have discovered that when ants of the species Paratrechina longicornis collectively carry a large object, their behavior mimics that of a self-propelled particle moving through a fluid. The ants create a trail of pheromones to seek assistance, with ants in front pulling and those in the back pushing and lifting to reduce friction. The study suggests that the behavior of a self-propelled particle could serve as a model for understanding systems of interacting individuals.