Smart Swarms (2×52′) is a thrilling combination of stunning wildlife behaviour, astonishing scientific insights and gripping excursions into cutting-edge technology. Smart Swarms is a rollercoaster ride that takes us into different habitats alongside exquisitely diverse organisms. High-tech labs of researchers attempt to break swarm-codes, explain strange collective behaviours and explore the possible application of swarm intelligence to the latest technological advances. The documentary is a mesmerising mix of aesthetic beauty and incredible facts that combine to delight and excite at the same time.
Ralf Rueckauer, VP Unscripted, ZDF Studios, said: ‘The scientists involved in making this production, their experiments and findings add another layer to this fascinating subject. Combined with beautifully filmed scenes of nature’s swarms, this is a documentary that will captivate audiences everywhere’.
Part 1 Puzzling Powers focuses on the bizarre and baffling powers within different natural swarms. From a giant flock of starlings to ant nests, beehives, a shoal of sardines and ladybird colonies, what might at first seem like disorganised chaos soon reveals itself as complex, purposeful, ancient and intelligent cooperation between individuals acting in a coordinated system for the benefit of its members. Yet different swarms follow different patterns, follow different strategies and fulfil different purposes.
Part 2 Cryptic Codes concentrates on breaking their mysterious codes and communication. So, what are the advantages of working together as a collection of individuals? It’s this swarm intelligence in its mesmerising variety that is the focus of scientists in a wide variety of disciplines from neuroscientists to engineers, programmers and of course behavioural biologists. The quest to understand the organised chaos and intelligence of natural swarms sits at the core of these films while allowing the viewer the chance to be wowed with their astonishing beauty and incredible displays of coordination.
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