Intelligent insects, predictive sharks and AI to help dolphins

Wasps and honeybees can solve an architectural puzzle using a sophisticated geometric solution. As the colony grows, these insects increase the size of the hexagonal cells that make up their nests. However, connecting hexagons of different sizes is challenging, so insects insert pentagonal and heptagonal cells between them. That is how they fill the gaps between hexagonal cells of different sizes.

Can sharks predict hurricanes and help scientists warn of them earlier? Researchers from American universities monitor the behaviour of sharks, which, thanks to pores in their mouths, sense changes in barometric pressure indicating an approaching storm, even from a distance of about 160 km. Meteorologists can now predict the path of a hurricane five days in advance using sophisticated satellite technology and atmospheric equipment. Thanks to shark observation, it will be possible to warn about hurricanes up to two weeks earlier than at present.

Scientists from the University of Technology of Catalonia used artificial intelligence to map the movements of two endangered dolphin species – Inia geoffrensis and the Sotalia fluviatilis – by training a neural network to recognize the unique sounds made by these animals. It will allow for better conservation strategies and the creation of a precise map of dolphin movements in the Amazon rainforest. The use of sounds is much less invasive than conventional animal tracking techniques such as GPS, boats and drones.