X-rays reveal termites' self-cooling, self-ventilating, self-draining skyscrapers

 Termitenestpr
25 Mar 2019 06:00:00.000

New insight into termites’ architectural strategies could help us design more energy efficient self-sustaining buildings for humans.

Many species of termite, whose societies are built on hierarchies of kings, queens, workers, and soldiers, live in towering nests that are ventilated by a complex system of tunnels.

The nests, also known as mounds, protrude from the ground like skyscrapers and can grow as tall as seven metres. They are also self-cooling, self-ventilating, and self-draining – but until now the mechanisms behind these climate control features has remained unknown.

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More information is available from Dr Bagus Muljadi, in the School of Engineering at the University of Nottingham, on 0115 97486075, bagus.muljadi@nottingham.ac.uk
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Jane Icke - Media Relations Manager (Faculty of Science)

Email: jane.icke@nottingham.ac.uk Phone: +44 (0)115 951 5751 Location: University Park

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