Colony 2026

Scientific concepts, discoveries, and nature phenomena mentioned

• Collective intelligence (bio/behavioral concept)

  • The video discusses collective intelligence as an evolutionary driving force and a system in which entities improve behavior through information exchange.
  • It claims the term is traced to William Morton Wheeler, an entomologist who studied ant social behavior.
  • Nature analogy: ants (and other organisms) coordinate via communication, and—within the story—infected humans behave “like ants.”

• Ant-like communication via pheromones

  • Communication is described as happening not only through words, but also via pheromones and chemical signaling.
  • A proposed mechanism in the story involves speeding pheromone exchange using a mucus-based tangible substance.

• Biocomputing / information processing using fungi

  • A graduation thesis on biocomputing using fungi is referenced as being published/discussed in Science.

• Neurological repair / neural transmission restoration (animal experiment)

  • A lab research claim describes injecting into damaged spinal-nerve tissue in rats (hind-leg paralysis after spinal nerve severing), resulting in rapid restoration of activity described as matching normal levels.
  • The story extrapolates that similar methods could enable information transmission between individuals—a “between people” communication premise.

• “Biological terror” agent and vaccination (fictional biosecurity premise)

  • The narrative introduces a highly contagious biological “terror”/virus scenario.
  • It claims a vaccine exists that prevents spread, and the vaccine’s deployment becomes central to containment and rescue.

• Behavioral disruption by injecting incorrect collective information

  • The video proposes a strategy similar to “poisoning” a collective-information system:
    • If infected individuals exchange info like ants, then feeding them incorrect signals could trigger behavioral errors.
  • Example phenomenon (ant analogy): incorrect pheromone cues can cause spinning in a circle until death (as described in the subtitles).

• Communication-network disruption using a “flood” analogy

  • A character compares communication networks to electronics:
    • Flooding/mixing signals in the air makes an alternating current propagate faster, causing the network to collapse (used as a rationale for shutting down communication networks).

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Methodology / plan (as presented in the subtitles)

• Input incorrect information to infected “collective intelligence” organisms

  • Create a scenario where:
    • One person emits a specific scent to attract/expose the infected group.
    • Other people wear completely different scents and do not move.
  • Goal: prevent the group from recognizing them as humans and buy time until the infected realize the information is wrong.

• Find the source of rescue

  • Because the building is quarantined and rescue teams can’t enter:
    • Locate the person who injected themselves with the vaccine (Seo Hyeong-cheol).
  • The assumption: confirming that individual would allow everyone to be rescued together.

• Operational response within the building

  • Use CCTV to track where Seo Young-cheol/infected are moving.
  • Coordinate entry/teams (e.g., “Alpha Team” / “Star Team”) within a response/assault time window.
  • Identify a safe exit route (e.g., using a cargo elevator).

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Researchers / sources featured (mentioned by name)

• William Morton Wheeler — entomologist credited with the conceptual grounding of “collective intelligence” through ant social behavior studies.
• Seo Young-cheol (character; former ChainsBio researcher) — involved in vaccine/bioterror and related experiments.
• Kang Ho / CEO Kang Ho-chal (character) — referenced as CEO.
• Kwon Se / Professor Kwon Se (character)
• Lee Bong-seok (character; former Seoul Chang Daeter Team Leader)
• Han / Professor Han (character)
• Lee Seok-yi (character; “Tail Bio Global Market” mentioned)
• Dr. Seo Yong-cheol / Seo Young-cheol (character; full identity used in later exposition)
• Dr. Seok Young-seok — Seo Young-cheol’s father; professor in applied biology (suicide referenced)
• Reporter Kim Seong-hee — reporter referenced in the exposition
• Professor Geon Se-jang (character) — associated with shutting down the communication network
• Professor Gong Seol-li (character) — biotech department professor
• Professors Lee Yeon-myeong and Cho Hyun-mi — named advisors/professors (characters)
• Science magazine — referenced as the publication venue for the fungi biocomputing thesis (no individual author named)