Scientists have just discovered something most of us probably would’ve been fine never knowing: wild nematodes—also known as roundworms—love to climb on top of each other to build fleshy, writhing towers.

Researchers in Germany detailed their discovery in a new study published Thursday in Current Biology. They found and videotaped several nematode species, living out in the wild, organizing into these living worm towers—a phenomenon previously only seen in the lab. The findings also show that the microscopic worms use these structures to climb onto animals or objects that can bring them elsewhere, though there remain many other questions about the practice.

This Worm Has 100 Butts

According to senior study author Serena Ding, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior

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