"Fire Ants' Life-Saving Raft Inspires Transforming Rubber Technique"
Thousands of fire ants in Texas formed a life-saving raft by interlocking their limbs and mandibles to save their colony and queen from drowning in a swimming pool. The phenomenon, captured in National Geographic's new series "A Real Bug's Life," showcases the ants' collective social behavior and their ability to exploit surface tension to stay afloat. The ants collected trapped air bubbles to remain buoyant and protect their queen, ultimately reaching dry land within a few minutes.
