Animation Explains Experiment That Proves Ants Can Count

Posted on April 17, 2011

This animation from NPR's Robert Krulwich and Odd Todd does a great job of explaining a recent experiment that proves desert ants recount their steps to find their way back home. The scientists believe the ants have "pedometer-like" cells in their brains that enable them to count steps. Desert ants need this ability because chemical trails don't work well in the sandy, windy desert. Take a look:

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