Scientists spot ‘superorganism' in the wild for the first time — and it's made of worms
For the first time ever, scientists have observed a group of tiny worms called
nematodes
forming a strange 'living tower' in nature. This kind of behaviour is known as forming 'superorganism' which had only been seen in laboratory experiments before — never in nature.
This exciting discovery was made by researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and the University of Konstanz in Germany while studying decaying fruit like apples and pears in local orchards. They were shocked to see the worms pile up into small towers and move together like one big creature.
Nematode towers: How worms work together to move
These worm towers were made mostly by a special life stage of the nematode called the dauer stage. In this phase, worms are not feeding, but they can survive in tough environments for long periods. Scientists believe these dauer worms were working together to build the towers as a way to escape rotting fruit and search for a new, better place to live.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Run Your Business Like a Pro - Top Trending Accounting Software (Check Now)
Accounting ERP
Click Here
Undo
Originally, experts thought this type of tower-building was a form of competition, where each worm tried to reach the top for its own benefit. But the new findings suggest the opposite — the worms were cooperating, acting more like a team than rivals.
According to Live Science, the footage of the same was captured by researchers in Konstanz, Germany, on fallen apples and pears at local orchards. The team from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior (MPI-AB) and the University of Konstanz were then able to combine these images with follow-up laboratory experiments to demonstrate that the 'towering' behavior happens naturally, and that the worms engage in such behaviour as a means of mass transit
Unexpected teamwork of tiny worms in nature, for the first time
This kind of behavior is known as forming a 'superorganism' — when many individuals join forces and behave as one single being. It's something seen in other animals too, like fire ants, which build bridges and rafts out of their own bodies, or slime molds, which merge into one big moving blob to find food.
The researchers say this shows even very simple creatures like worms can work together in clever and surprising ways. By acting as a group, the worms increase their chances of surviving in harsh environments and reaching new habitats.
The discovery opens the door to learning more about
group behavior in small organisms
and could even help scientists understand the early steps of how teamwork and social behavior evolved in nature.
Also read:
Teleios: a mysterious sphere floating in the Milky Way
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
5 days ago
- NDTV
This Turkish City Was Ruled By Women In Matriarchal Society 9,000 Years Ago, Study Finds
An ancient Turkish city was ruled by females who lived in a matriarchal society, more than 9,000 years ago, a new study has confirmed. Researchers analysed ancient DNA from Stone Age burials of more than 130 skeletons from 35 different houses at Catalhoyuk, an ancient city built around 7100 BC that remained occupied for nearly 1,000 years. The study published in the journal Science highlights that family members in Catalhoyuk were buried together, at last in the early years. However, over time, habits changed, and researchers found many of the dead had no biological connection. Where there was a genetic connection, it was through the female line, suggesting husbands relocated to the wife's household upon marriage. "With Catalhoyuk, we now have the oldest genetically-inferred social organisation pattern in food-producing societies," study co-author Mehmet Somel was quoted as saying by Live Science. Researchers estimated that 70 to 100 per cent of the time, female offspring remained connected to buildings, whereas adult male offspring may have moved away. "We weren't particularly looking for these maternal connections within buildings, but it clearly shows that male-centred practices people have often documented in Neolithic and Bronze Age Europe were not universal," he added. There was also a clear pattern of preferential treatment toward females, with findings showing five times more grave goods offered to females than to males. Also Read | Viral Map Shows Paris' Pollution Drop As City Trades Cars For Bike Lanes Owing to genetic relatedness becoming less central to social organisation in the city, "fostering and adoption-like mechanisms" became widespread, which is also observed in many societies even today. "Despite this shift, female-centred practices continued at Catalhoyuk through the occupation," the study showed. The female-centred approach in Catalhoyuk is in sharp contrast to patterns observed in later European cities, which showed evidence of patrilocality, where males stay within their natal community upon attaining adulthood and females move out. Prior to the study, Catalhoyuk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been known for its large collection of female figurines, which were long debated as possible representatives of a 'Mother Goddess' cult and signs of a matriarchal society.
NDTV
26-06-2025
- NDTV
Researchers In Italy Unveil World's First Flying Humanoid Robot, But It's Getting Trolled Online. Here's Why
Researchers in Italy have unveiled the first flying humanoid robot, but the internet is creeped out by how it looks. According to Live Science, the Italian Institute of Technology shared a video on YouTube of the new robot, dubbed iRonCub MK3. In the clip, the baby-faced robot is held from a suspended position, before lifting off roughly 20 inches from the ground using thrusters. The robot, based on child-like size and appearance, measures 3 feet tall and weighs 22 kg. The robot is the result of two years of research, testing and development, per the outlet. It is controlled by real people remotely. The IIT engineers say that this robot is the first such jet-powered flying humanoid robot designed to take off. They added that this work highlights the new possibilities that a flying, humanoid robot presents. According to the institute, the iRonCub MK3 is being developed with "specific applications such as disaster response" in mind. Researchers believe that the robot's aerial mobility, along with its ground-based locomotion and manipulation, may pave the way for assistance in search and rescue missions. A robot of this kind could clear debris and assist in locating or even extracting victims, researchers said. The authors of the study also point out that a flying humanoid robot could carry out repairs on structures difficult for human beings to access, like the undersides of bridges. They could even be deployed in hazardous environments where people can't safely operate, like the site of a nuclear or chemical leak, the outlet reported. The iRonCub MK3 has been tested outdoors in a variety of situations and has also undergone flight testing in a wind tunnel. On social media, the robot has received mixed reactions. While some made fun of its baby face, others proposed some wild theories about its appearance. "This is very impressive, but by God, what's with that face? He is staring into my soul," wrote one user on Reddit. "The technology showcased here is great, but why in the f*** does it have to look like a monster baby?" asked another. "When the uprising comes, you'll be much less likely to shoot a cyborg with a baby face. You'll hesitate that fraction of a second, which is all it needs," theorised one user.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Time of India
Who really were the first Americans? New study debunks earlier theory
A new study has reignited debate over the age of human footprints discovered at White Sands National Park in New Mexico. These ancient tracks, first revealed in 2021, were initially dated to between 21,000 and 23,000 years ago — suggesting humans lived in North America during the peak of the last Ice Age, far earlier than previously thought. To verify these findings, researchers led by Vance Holliday of the University of Arizona conducted fresh radiocarbon dating on organic sediments from core samples at the site. Their results aligned with the earlier estimates, placing the footprints firmly within the Last Glacial Maximum. The analysis, conducted in independent labs, adds weight to the theory that humans occupied the region around 23,000 years ago. "Our data supports the original data" that dated the site to 23,000 years ago, study first author Vance Holliday, a professor emeritus of anthropology and geosciences at the University of Arizona, told Live Science. "Plus, we now have an idea of what the landscape was like when people were out there." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Learn More Undo The footprints, likely left by Ice Age hunter-gatherers, suggest early migration via the Bering Land Bridge from Asia to North America. If confirmed, this would challenge the long-held belief that the Clovis people — who arrived around 13,000 years ago — were the first inhabitants of the Americas. Dating the tracks has proven controversial. In 2022, skeptics argued that radiocarbon dating of ditch grass (a water plant) may have yielded misleadingly old results due to underwater carbon contamination. To address this, researchers later used optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and pollen-based radiocarbon methods, which again confirmed the original timeline. Live Events The latest study brings the total number of radiocarbon-dated samples from the footprint layer to 55, including mud, seeds, and pollen. 'It would be extreme serendipity for all these independent dates to be wrong,' Holliday said. Still, some experts remain cautious. Michael Waters of Texas A&M told Live Science that the source of the organic carbon is unclear and could still be affected by old water-derived carbon. He also pointed out the absence of associated artifacts or tools, though Holliday argues this is consistent with mobile hunter-gatherer behavior. Despite lingering doubts, the growing body of evidence points to a much earlier human presence in North America than previously accepted — a discovery that may reshape our understanding of the continent's earliest settlers.
