Gel Ant Farms In Zero Gravity

Gel ant farms are just one of the hundreds of spin-offs from the space program. Weve always thought of space research as being a bit wacky. Ever since the Russians launched Laika the dog into space for no apparent reason (other than to get one over on the Americans) and since Alan Shepard used a six iron to hit a golf ball on the moon, weve been wondering what space research is all about.

It's all about gravity

Well, it turns out that ant farms also feature high on Nasas list of worthwhile experiments. Ever since the beginning or the space program, scientist have tried to capitalize on the opportunity to have a gravity-free environment in which to do experimnents.

From trying to grow unfeasibly-large crystals of silicon (for micro-chip manufacture) to plant growth behavior, it's all been done. Some work and others don't. But thats science, of course.

The mystery of underground navigation

And one of these experiments was the now famous Gel Ant Farm. Quite how ants manage to build and navigate their way through subterranean tunnels has always been something of a mystery. So, to try to discover exactly how they did it, scientists at NASA began a project to develop a transparent medium in which ants would be able to build tunnels, just as in soil but, all-importantly, through which they could also be seen actually doing it.

The gel also needed to be sufficiently stable to withstand the high G-forces associated with launch and re-entry. Any sand tunnel would collapse under these unusual forces. High G wouldnt affect the ants, of course, they are easily strong enough to take such forces in their stride.

The Gel Ant Farm was launched, along with seven astronauts to look after it, and the ants got to work. As I understand it, the tunnels were a somewhat more wiggly than ones made in the same gel by the same species on earth so gravity was thought to play a part in the ants subterranean efforts. But, as far as I know, we didnt find out much else.

Not to worry though, the bonus is that we now have a huge range of gel ant farms that are educational and great fun for kids. Some people say that non-stick frying pans are the only good thing ever to come out of the space program not so we now have gel ant farms as well!

About the Author:
There's a lot more to learn about the fun you and your kids can have with a gel ant farm at http://www.antfarmcentral.com/gelantfarms.html

Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com

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