What can ant colonies teach us about war, sacrifice and the way we design human societies? And what happens when we gain the power to rewrite whole species with gene drives?
In this episode, geneticist Jackson Champer joins Konrad and Rupert to explore the brutal elegance of ant warfare, why some animals evolve towards peace instead of conflict, and how new gene-drive technology could one day end diseases like malaria, or radically reshape ecosystems if we get it wrong.
They move from ant battle lines that mirror ancient human formations… to enslaved ants under chemical brainwashing… to the uncomfortable idea that many modern human wars aren’t “natural” at all, but expressions of ego and misused power.
If you’ve ever felt trapped in systems you didn’t choose, culture, politics, your own habits – this conversation offers a stark mirror: are you acting like an unconscious worker ant, or choosing your role with awareness?
📌 Find more about Dr. Champer's work:
https://jchamper.github.io/
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In this episode:
- How childhood curiosity about ants turned into a decade-long research project on ant battles.
- Why ant wars look eerily similar to human warfare.
- Self-sacrifice, exploding ants and what real devotion to a “colony” looks like.
- Slave-maker ants, chemical manipulation and rare “slave revolts.”
- Ant species that deliberately avoid war – and win through boundaries and ritual conflict.
- Are wars in nature “inevitable”, and why that logic breaks down for modern humans.
- Gene drives 101: how CRISPR-based systems could spread protective genes through mosquito populations.
- The ethics of making species extinct vs using gene drives for conservation and reduced pesticide use.
- What ant colonies get right about caring for weaker members – and what that says about welfare and community in human societies.
Timestamps:
00:00 - The Evolution of Ant Behaviour
17:44 - Ants as Selfless Warriors
20:16 - Ant Warfare and Human Parallels
22:35 - Ants and Their Tactical Manoeuvres
25:08 - The Life Cycle of Ant Colonies
27:46 - Ants and Their Environmental Adaptations
30:05 - The Concept of Ant Slavery
32:45 - Ants: Cooperation vs. Conflict
35:08 - Conclusion: The Complexity of Ant Societies
44:45 - Ritual Combat and Ant Behaviour
46:45 - Conflict Resolution in Animal Kingdoms
50:17 - War: A Natural Occurrence?
51:45 - Ant Architecture and Ventilation Systems
52:51 - Fungal Manipulation of Ant Behaviour
55:55 - Self-Sacrificing Ants and Chemical Warfare
57:25 - Lessons from Ant Colonies for Human Society
01:00:57 - Diversity of Ant Roles and Specialisations
01:03:51 - Gene Drive Technology Explained
01:09:45 - Applications and Challenges of Gene Drive
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