I think about that video every time I'm in traffic going over the bridge that replaced it. Not that I don't have faith in modern engineering (not so much in the upkeep of infrastructure in this country) but still, can't help but think about it as I feel it shake.

Fun fact about Washington (Puget sound) bridges, we have 4 of the 5 longest floating permanent bridges of which there are 20 in the world.

I'd assume it's for wood if there are designated fire areas for each camp. I could see it being even more useful for wet wood, allowing you to set it near the fire to dry out.

Here's how I understand it to work.

They have random periods of activity in which they advance as a species so they make large leaps in scientific progress when they are awake as opposed to a slow and steady build up of knowledge. Their large leaps in advancements becomes a disadvantage at times but more so their way of thinking in general.

Because they kinda portray themselves as humanoid that's how you're lead to think about them, like approximately human sized smart mamal-ish creatures, when really they are between ant to beetle sized hive mind creatures. This is why the more of them that they are able to have active between the harsh sun cycles the faster they advance. Also makes the whole dehydration thing easier to swallow.

I have two of the petkit puramax 2 for 4 cats. I am away from home for up to 4 days during the week for work at times and I never come home to messes, clogs, or errors caused by the devices, just the occasional bad shot from a cat that has been pooping over the front ledge of litterbox entrances since she was first litter trained. the only thing I don't love is that the waste bin stays in place while the bin rotates above it causing the clumps to come to a peak prematurely setting off the full box alert. a quick shake levels things out and allows the bag to be used to capacity. otherwise they have some nice settings in the app such as sloshing around the litter a little before collecting to make sure it has clumped well. they go on sale quite often from what I've seen, I believe I paid around $350 each when they were on sale.