By combining multi-scale X-ray imaging with three-dimensional flow field simulations, Guy Theraulaz and Christian Jost of CRCA-CBI Toulouse, in collaboration with researchers at Imperial College London and the University of Nottingham, studied the impact of architectural nest wall design on CO2 exchange, heat transport and water drainage
This study, published in the journal Science Advances, showed that termites build outer walls that contain both small and percolating large pores at the microscale and these microstructures play a fundamental role in the properties of termites.
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Publication
The architectural design of smart ventilation and drainage systems in termite nests.
Singh, K., Muljadi, B.P., Raeini, A.Q., Jost, C., Vandeginste, V., Blunt, M.J., Theraulaz, G. & Degond, P.
Science Advances 22 Mar 2019 Vol. 5 no 3 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aat8520
Contact
Guy Theraulaz, Chercheur CNRS au CRCA) – CBI Toulouse, +33 6 17 70 75 30