A story about ants by Dean Hadfield

In a two year study about ants by British researchers have discovered that ants show each other the way to food.

Scientists from Bristol University have proved how the ants use a technique called tandem running which means one ant following another from the nest to the food source.

Scientists recorded how the ant leaders slowed down if the following ant fell to far behind, and speeded up if the gap was narrower.

If the tandem leaders had gone alone they would have reached the food source four times quicker. However the teaching shown that the follower ant learned quicker where the location of food was.

As the learning passes through the ant colony, followers are promoted to leaders and the whole teaching process begins again.

Scientists explained tit involves the teacher modifying its behaviour at some initial cost to itself.

What is nice about the demonstrations is that the ant is an animal with a small brain. The human brain is a million times larger, and yet the and is very good at learning  and teaching.

The Wild Bunch computer game on Amstrad CPC464.

The wild bunch is an adventure set in the wild west.

Framed for a murder you didn’t commit, you are out to nail

the wild bunch. The game resembles a superior multiple

choice with a selection of options given to you at every

move.

Adventures written in that style are rarely as exciting

as those written in the more conventional mode they

rapidly become tedious. Billed as a graphical adventure,

The wild bunch has a few scenes dotted around the

adventure which are well depicted. For the most part

though it appears to be mostly text.