http://news.com.com/2100-7337_3-5379535.html
BTW, I don't like newscrapers -- they are obstructing the horizon and causing (micro-)climate anomalies.The termites build freestanding mounds that contain an intricate network of tunnels and air conduits that control temperature, moisture and air quality.
The structure of the mounds is fairly sophisticated, researchers note. The mounds capture wind to create internal air flow, functioning like lungs do in organisms and helping the termites live in a fairly stable environment.
The idea behind the research is to see if structural engineers can come up with ways to build passive air systems, cut down on energy consumption or in general optimize the efficiency of large buildings.
In many tech fields, nature is rapidly becoming a model to emulate. Some materials companies, for instance, believe that they can one day build chips through self-replicating chemical reactions, similar to how abalones build their shells.