A man cools off under a pipe of flowing water on a hot summer day in New Delhi, India, May 11, 2022. (Photo by Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters)

A woman in a wedding dress walks on the dried-up riverbed of the Jialing river, a tributary of the Yangtze, that is approaching record-low water levels in Chongqing, China on August 18, 2022. (Photo by Thomas Peter/Reuters)

Carrion crows sit on poles around a field on the outskirts of Frankfurt, Germany, early Monday, June 26, 2023. (Photo by Michael Probst/AP Photo)

A poster of former President Donald Trump sits in the lobby as guests arrive for the Oakland County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner on June 25, 2023 in Novi, Michigan. Trump is scheduled to speak at the dinner. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

A displaced Pakistani girl collects recyclable goods from a garbage to earn living for her family in Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday, January 19, 2016. (Photo by B.K. Bangash/AP Photo)

Once upon a time a myth was born that insects, unlike animals, are just a machines that not capable of learning and survive only based on their instincts. That myth has become the widespread opinion. Of course, this opinion is indeed erroneous, like many other widespread opinions. Let us try to find out which part is a myth and which part is true.

Tara Davis-Woodhall of Team United States competes during the Women's Long Jump Final on day two of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 at National Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

Kenya's Reynold Cheruiyot (centre L) and Britain's athlete Jake Wightman fall after crossing the finish line in the men's 1500m final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on September 17, 2025. (Photo by Jewel Samad/AFP Photo)