A recent study from the Weizmann Institute of Science compared the ability of ants and humans to collectively move a bulky object through a maze. The researchers used a real-life version of the 'piano moving problem', in which participants had to manipulate a large T-shaped object through a rectangular space divided into three chambers connected by narrow openings.
The ants of the species Paratrechina longicornis, known for their cooperative behavior, were tested individually, in small groups of about seven and in large groups of about 80. People were tested individually, in small groups of six to nine and in large groups of 26.
The results showed that ants in large groups outperformed individual ants, and in some cases people. They showed collective memory, maintaining a common direction and avoiding repeated mistakes. Instead, human performance did not necessarily improve in groups, especially when communication was limited. These findings suggest that cooperation without explicit communication, as in ants, may be more effective than in humans when communication is limited.