buoyant overall.]]> converge on a single point, also exist in buildings as key points of strength.]]> insight, described in a paper in the Journal of Experimental Biology, may one day help engineers build self-healing buildings and bridges.]]> perspective, this is an ancient thing," Hu said.]]> effectively making their raft more porous, and thus less dense.]]> complexity of ants' architectural designs.]]> porous, and thus less dense.]]> assemble a working raft out of their own bodies and sail through dangerous flood waters.]]> examined them under the scanner.]]> technology from the future - or just straight out of science fiction.]]> beaker of water, swirled it around so they would start to form tiny rafts, flash-froze them in place and then examined them under the scanner.]]> beams in a building; instead of screwing or nailing those beams together, they reach out and touch each other.]]>