Comments on: An Underground Metropolis http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/ The Neat Side of the Web Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:48:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: liphttam1 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1216434 liphttam1 Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:05:33 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1216434 I'm all for not killing ants but the death of one collony although trajic will not truely hurt the population.. However it deeply hurt my soul!!! I’m all for not killing ants but the death of one collony although trajic will not truely hurt the population.. However it deeply hurt my soul!!!

]]> By: Evilbeagle http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1216349 Evilbeagle Thu, 27 Nov 2008 16:26:57 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1216349 @Baggy That was the most intelligent comment I have seen all day. They are ants, people. This is an animal that is rightly considered a pest in most places. I think the advancement of human knowledge/understanding is far more important than the fate of an anthill. @Baggy

That was the most intelligent comment I have seen all day.

They are ants, people. This is an animal that is rightly considered a pest in most places. I think the advancement of human knowledge/understanding is far more important than the fate of an anthill.

]]> By: Easy http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1215219 Easy Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:58:58 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1215219 Very cool! I for one am willing to sacrifice a few ants in order to see this. I wish someone would pick the concrete structure up and put it in a museum near me somewhere so I can get a good look at it. Very cool! I for one am willing to sacrifice a few ants in order to see this. I wish someone would pick the concrete structure up and put it in a museum near me somewhere so I can get a good look at it.

]]> By: DOJ http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1215196 DOJ Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:31:42 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1215196 yes, repost, but cool to see it again yes, repost, but cool to see it again

]]> By: mikos http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1215138 mikos Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:40:07 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1215138 Ahhh... Swarm intelligence... Very nice... Yes, people can learn from ants... Though in a way they are ants! :) Ahhh… Swarm intelligence… Very nice… Yes, people can learn from ants… Though in a way they are ants! :)

]]> By: Jorgen http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1215135 Jorgen Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:14:23 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1215135 I thought this was incredibly cool. I strongly considered being a Myrmecologist for many years, and Bert Holldobler is one of my heros. One of the primary reasons I chose not to do this sort of work was because the best way to get information about ants is to destroy their colonies, and I thought that i would make me too sad to do it. I don't think it's wrong, because I don't think that the ants are capable of feeling hurt and I don't think that the ecology of the pasture they were in will be much changed, since a new colony should be back up to that size in a year or two, but it is sad. Also, as far as whether this accomplishes anything: knowing how ant ventilation systems, toxin control systems and the like work could give human engineers some ideas about how to design human buildings or even human cities in such a way that they can stay warm or cool with minimal fossil fuel use. Because ant organization is radically decentralized, ants are a great model for market systems and decentralized computer programming. Google's search algorithms are based in part on bee foraging patterns. Ants are also used by some economists as market models, so it's conceivable that understanding how they work could help avert future financial crises. Not to mention the obvious and less romantic use that knowing how ants work helps us disrupt the colonies of pest ants and invasive species without totally destroying the ecologies around them. I thought this was incredibly cool. I strongly considered being a Myrmecologist for many years, and Bert Holldobler is one of my heros. One of the primary reasons I chose not to do this sort of work was because the best way to get information about ants is to destroy their colonies, and I thought that i would make me too sad to do it. I don’t think it’s wrong, because I don’t think that the ants are capable of feeling hurt and I don’t think that the ecology of the pasture they were in will be much changed, since a new colony should be back up to that size in a year or two, but it is sad.

Also, as far as whether this accomplishes anything: knowing how ant ventilation systems, toxin control systems and the like work could give human engineers some ideas about how to design human buildings or even human cities in such a way that they can stay warm or cool with minimal fossil fuel use. Because ant organization is radically decentralized, ants are a great model for market systems and decentralized computer programming. Google’s search algorithms are based in part on bee foraging patterns. Ants are also used by some economists as market models, so it’s conceivable that understanding how they work could help avert future financial crises. Not to mention the obvious and less romantic use that knowing how ants work helps us disrupt the colonies of pest ants and invasive species without totally destroying the ecologies around them.

]]> By: avraamov http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1215097 avraamov Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:13:39 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1215097 'it looks as though it was designed by an architect...a single mind' yeah - 'cos we all know exactly what a consciousness built out of millions of individuated semi-autonomous mobile units looks like don't we. now to say that the colony computes or has an output is something different. but a conscioussness? naaa. BTW - to those who are worrying about the ants' welfare, in terms of percentage of overall attrition to the species it's probably the equivalent of knocking down a single squirrel in your car. it's the ants' world. we just happen to live in it... ‘it looks as though it was designed by an architect…a single mind’

yeah – ‘cos we all know exactly what a consciousness built out of millions of individuated semi-autonomous mobile units looks like don’t we. now to say that the colony computes or has an output is something different. but a conscioussness? naaa.

BTW – to those who are worrying about the ants’ welfare, in terms of percentage of overall attrition to the species it’s probably the equivalent of knocking down a single squirrel in your car. it’s the ants’ world. we just happen to live in it…

]]> By: LisaL http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1215046 LisaL Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:18:52 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1215046 Mmmmm... flesh-food *drool* I'm sure a lot of ants were killed, but if they're like every other ant out there, they built themselves another home in no time. It was pretty interesting to see just how complex the ant city is though. Mmmmm… flesh-food *drool*

I’m sure a lot of ants were killed, but if they’re like every other ant out there, they built themselves another home in no time. It was pretty interesting to see just how complex the ant city is though.

]]> By: Baggy http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1214915 Baggy Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:55:22 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1214915 So I'm totally in support of animal rights and the good treatment of the creatures in this world, but I somehow doubt that sacrificing this one colony (one they made a great effort to save nonetheless) is somehow some major travesty to nature. There is an unfathomable number of ants in this world and those that died created hardly a dent in the population I'm sure. If they saved the majority, give them a few months and they'll have an entirely new and equally amazing underground city built again. There are many animal rights issues to be worried about in this world, I don't think this one ant colony is one of them. And besides that, this is an amazing study into animal behavior and organic habitation growth. We could learn alot about developing human habitation more efficiently from these creatures. So I’m totally in support of animal rights and the good treatment of the creatures in this world, but I somehow doubt that sacrificing this one colony (one they made a great effort to save nonetheless) is somehow some major travesty to nature.

There is an unfathomable number of ants in this world and those that died created hardly a dent in the population I’m sure. If they saved the majority, give them a few months and they’ll have an entirely new and equally amazing underground city built again.

There are many animal rights issues to be worried about in this world, I don’t think this one ant colony is one of them. And besides that, this is an amazing study into animal behavior and organic habitation growth. We could learn alot about developing human habitation more efficiently from these creatures.

]]> By: Lindsey http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1214856 Lindsey Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:25:03 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1214856 ARRGGGHHH! This bothers me... Yes, it is Amazing! I thought it was amazing before they destroyed it. I really had a hard time appreciating the destruction of such a facinating structure. Like watching NY get dug up by some huge monster... ARRGGGHHH! This bothers me…

Yes, it is Amazing! I thought it was amazing before they destroyed it. I really had a hard time appreciating the destruction of such a facinating structure.

Like watching NY get dug up by some huge monster…

]]> By: JenDiggity http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1214851 JenDiggity Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:20:06 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1214851 These types of ants are super fascinating. There is a fantastic colony at the zoo in Washington, D.C. that you can view because they're behind glass. You can see the garbage dumps and the fungus they grow and the queen and everything. It's truly amazing and was probably my favorite part of our recent trip to D.C. Fun fact: Leaf cutter ant queens can have sex, store the sperm, and then impregnate themselves over and over years down the road! Here's an antcam for your viewing pleasure: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/kids-only/naturecams/antcam/ I wonder how many people were eating bacon sandwiches and other equally repulsive flesh-foods as they made comments about the poor disrupted ant colony? These types of ants are super fascinating. There is a fantastic colony at the zoo in Washington, D.C. that you can view because they’re behind glass. You can see the garbage dumps and the fungus they grow and the queen and everything. It’s truly amazing and was probably my favorite part of our recent trip to D.C.

Fun fact: Leaf cutter ant queens can have sex, store the sperm, and then impregnate themselves over and over years down the road!

Here’s an antcam for your viewing pleasure: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/kids-only/naturecams/antcam/

I wonder how many people were eating bacon sandwiches and other equally repulsive flesh-foods as they made comments about the poor disrupted ant colony?

]]> By: xadrian http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1214845 xadrian Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:13:49 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1214845 Next time you pour poison over a bed of fire ants, fumigate for fleas or roaches, swat a fly, step on a spider, come back here and tell me how bad it was that they killed all these ants. Hypocrites. Next time you pour poison over a bed of fire ants, fumigate for fleas or roaches, swat a fly, step on a spider, come back here and tell me how bad it was that they killed all these ants.

Hypocrites.

]]> By: Cosmo http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1214819 Cosmo Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:11:20 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1214819 Why would you be worried about one colony of ants out of hundreds of thousands? Yes, we can learn from the ants and other animals in nature perhaps how to build better places for us to live. And gtron, this has nothing to do with what you are spewing about. Please find the right place for your hatred, this isn't it. Why would you be worried about one colony of ants out of hundreds of thousands? Yes, we can learn from the ants and other animals in nature perhaps how to build better places for us to live.
And gtron, this has nothing to do with what you are spewing about. Please find the right place for your hatred, this isn’t it.

]]> By: gtron http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1214774 gtron Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:44:41 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1214774 I agree with Nat and most posters: "the scientists NEED to pour cement to find out ..." he talks like if we don't soon get this figured out, all hell could break loose - way too much $ is spent by "scientists" (like that term deserves us all to fall to our knees in praise of them) who "study" things for what?! the betterment of what ? we can't even run our own "colonies" (note the recent fiasco/global-lie being uncovered with these bailouts), so what purpose is served by digging up the ant hill - so there's ducts to ventilate... great - move on to ventilating the growing financial crisis where NO ONE seems to know what is going on, how to quell it, or when it will go away... meanwhile, I see NO change in behavior - the malls are FULL of people running around like Ants. I agree with Nat and most posters: “the scientists NEED to pour cement to find out …” he talks like if we don’t soon get this figured out, all hell could break loose
- way too much $ is spent by “scientists” (like that term deserves us all to fall to our knees in praise of them) who “study” things for what?! the betterment of what ? we can’t even run our own “colonies” (note the recent fiasco/global-lie being uncovered with these bailouts), so what purpose is served by digging up the ant hill – so there’s ducts to ventilate… great – move on to ventilating the growing financial crisis where NO ONE seems to know what is going on, how to quell it, or when it will go away… meanwhile, I see NO change in behavior – the malls are FULL of people running around like Ants.

]]> By: Lu http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1214697 Lu Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:17:38 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1214697 So Amazing. Neatorama you rock! So Amazing. Neatorama you rock!

]]> By: Nat http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1214435 Nat Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:12:03 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1214435 Amazing stuff, but that narrator needs to get fired. Wicked obnoxious voice. Amazing stuff, but that narrator needs to get fired. Wicked obnoxious voice.

]]> By: Cori http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1214408 Cori Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:50:42 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1214408 It is amazing, but it bothers me that they destroyed the metropolis. Maybe wyrda's right and they did save the colony... but still... I doubt a bunch of scientists could build what they just studied along with the fungus farms, trash heaps, etc. to make a thriving ant colony. I understand the want to know what it's like.. but we have the technology to see that without damaging the colony. Maybe that particular expedition didn't, I don't know if you can get those machines that look like ultra-sounds for the ground or cameras on bendy sticks for the same price as several tons of cement... It is amazing, but it bothers me that they destroyed the metropolis. Maybe wyrda’s right and they did save the colony… but still… I doubt a bunch of scientists could build what they just studied along with the fungus farms, trash heaps, etc. to make a thriving ant colony.

I understand the want to know what it’s like.. but we have the technology to see that without damaging the colony. Maybe that particular expedition didn’t, I don’t know if you can get those machines that look like ultra-sounds for the ground or cameras on bendy sticks for the same price as several tons of cement…

]]> By: Miss Sincere http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1214339 Miss Sincere Wed, 26 Nov 2008 06:49:25 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1214339 So killing them to build the place you're sitting in now is justified but once for scientific purposes isn't? Please! These ant colonies were all over Costa Rica when I was there in January. So killing them to build the place you’re sitting in now is justified but once for scientific purposes isn’t? Please! These ant colonies were all over Costa Rica when I was there in January.

]]> By: Cumbiero http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1214301 Cumbiero Wed, 26 Nov 2008 06:19:58 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1214301 You care about ants? In almost any production process (for our standard of living) any way of life if harmed or killed. Sorry for my english... You care about ants?
In almost any production process (for our standard of living) any way of life if harmed or killed.
Sorry for my english…

]]> By: Christophe http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1214252 Christophe Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:33:50 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1214252 What is PETA doing?! What is PETA doing?!

]]> By: wyrda http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1214223 wyrda Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:15:28 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1214223 To all who are commenting on how horrible it is that they destroyed the colony. They baited all of the ants out first, and stored them while they poured cement. After studying the cement cast they made of the tunnels, they built another cast on top of it, put it in the ground, and put all the ants back in it. Yes, some amount of harm done, but it was put back together, and it was just one colony for science. To all who are commenting on how horrible it is that they destroyed the colony.

They baited all of the ants out first, and stored them while they poured cement.

After studying the cement cast they made of the tunnels, they built another cast on top of it, put it in the ground, and put all the ants back in it.

Yes, some amount of harm done, but it was put back together, and it was just one colony for science.

]]> By: Miller http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1214206 Miller Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:03:02 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1214206 Yip, their all dead now... but hey.. Their useless study of it.. totally justifies everything. Very cool to see the colony, but sadistic as I might be.. I don't think I could kill a few million ants to see where they lived. Yip, their all dead now… but hey..

Their useless study of it.. totally justifies everything.

Very cool to see the colony, but sadistic as I might be.. I don’t think I could kill a few million ants to see where they lived.

]]> By: PapaTango http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1214196 PapaTango Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:54:06 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1214196 Isn't this a repost? http://www.neatorama.com/2008/01/17/amazing-ant-colony/ Isn’t this a repost?

http://www.neatorama.com/2008/01/17/amazing-ant-colony/

]]> By: Johnny http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1214184 Johnny Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:51:30 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1214184 That was waaay awesome, I was well and truly blown away I've seen this done before but nothing as epic as that. And don't worry everybody. No ants were harmed. The credit crunch hit them hard and they were evicted for late rent payments before the cement went in. That was waaay awesome, I was well and truly blown away I’ve seen this done before but nothing as epic as that. And don’t worry everybody. No ants were harmed. The credit crunch hit them hard and they were evicted for late rent payments before the cement went in.

]]> By: xzero http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1214097 xzero Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:41:13 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1214097 did they kill all the ants just to see how their city looked like? :-/ did they kill all the ants just to see how their city looked like? :-/

]]> By: Lana http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1214013 Lana Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:59:42 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1214013 I can't believe that just destroyed it like that. It's amazing what those ants built, and it was just completely ruined. This video makes me angry. I can’t believe that just destroyed it like that. It’s amazing what those ants built, and it was just completely ruined. This video makes me angry.

]]> By: vero4902 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1213998 vero4902 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:52:47 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1213998 Woah... that IS fascinating! Woah… that IS fascinating!

]]> By: rageagainsttherobots http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1213993 rageagainsttherobots Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:49:00 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1213993 Monster Ants! Monster Ants!

]]> By: Rocky Rook http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1213847 Rocky Rook Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:44:03 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1213847 If those are anything like the fire ants in our yard, they'll have their home back up in a matter of days. If those are anything like the fire ants in our yard, they’ll have their home back up in a matter of days.

]]> By: chiliwack http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1213830 chiliwack Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:29:31 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1213830 "it is truly one of the wonders of world".....that was just destroyed by a bunch of humans. “it is truly one of the wonders of world”…..that was just destroyed by a bunch of humans.

]]> By: Jenny http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/25/an-underground-metropolis/comment-page-1/#comment-1213762 Jenny Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:41:56 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=21082#comment-1213762 Wow! I am both amazed and fascinated at the ease with which they destroy the hard-built homes of other creatures! Yay destruction! Wow! I am both amazed and fascinated at the ease with which they destroy the hard-built homes of other creatures! Yay destruction!

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