These sudden flurries, known as activity bursts, are followed by stretches of relative calm. A new mathematical model, described in a study published in PRX Life, suggests that ant colonies suddenly become synchronized after reaching a critical point. In the model, ants switch among three states: active, inactive, and refractory. frameborder="0″ allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen>How, then, can one ant's activity spread through an entire nest before dying out? Activity bursts may therefore involve trade-offs among movement, communication, energy use, and the organization of work.