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Ants can predict earthquakes

16.07.2018

German scientists from the University of Duinsburg-Essen found that ants know exactly when an earthquake will occur: the behavior of insects changes significantly before tremors occur.

In 2009, a group of German researchers led by Gabriele Berberich installed special cameras near anthills located in a seismically active zone. Over the next three years, scientists recorded the lifestyle and behavior of insects around the clock, which allowed them to conclude: ants are able to predict an earthquake.

The fact is that the normal activity of ants consists of daytime food gathering and nighttime rest. But a day before the fluctuations in the earth's surface, the ants dramatically changed their schedule: they continued to stay awake at night, preferring to be outside the anthill, although this made them easy prey for predators.

"Insects showed concern if the magnitude of the earthquake exceeded 2. We assume that ants notice changes in the release of gases or in the Earth's magnetic field. Chemoreceptors that respond to chemicals and magnetoreceptors that detect a magnetic field help insects to perform such a clear analysis. we are not entirely sure of our conclusions, and therefore we will continue our research in areas with more intense tremors," said Gabriela Berberich.

Scientists have also noticed that ants prefer to build their colonies along active faults. They counted more than 1500 anthills built in this way.

German researchers believe that the "talent" of insects to predict earthquakes will help seismologists.

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