Underbug: An Obsessive Tale Of Termites And Technology

"Despite their homewrecking reputation, most termites are ingenious builders, constructing mounds that are strong, utilitarian and even air-conditioned. They’re just dumb insects, right? So they should have simple rules that guide their palatial building projects. Underbug makes a convincing case that’s not so. Robotics experts who thought they could co-opt termite tricks for their own ends are humbled by these remarkable insects. Lisa Margonelli’s story toggles back and forth between two quirky social worlds: that of the insects, and that of the scientists and technologists who are seduced by them."