New publication on Current Biology: A vast 4,000-year-old spatial pattern of termite mounds. This study explored the large-scale self-organization of a vast array of soil mounds constructed by termites (Syntermes dirus) that has persisted for up to 4000 years and covers an estimated 230,000 km² of seasonally dry tropical forest in a relatively undisturbed and climatically stable region of Northeast Brazil.
This work received immediate attention from both science fields and mass media once published. The Washington Post reported this work on science section and Dr. Yoo, one of the corresponding author of the study, was interviewed to disscuss the scientific findings. News coverage is entitled: “This ‘wonder of the Earth’ is the size of Minnesota and built by bugs” and is reported by Ben Guarino, a science reporter.
- A similar report can be also found New York Times.
- A video abstract can be found at Youtube.
- Continuous report from UB News Center “In a vast, ancient network of termite mounds, UB geographer finds a pattern“