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Today I learned @lemmy.ml musicalcactus @midwest.social

TIL How scientists shave ants, and also the ant hair has very cool reflective properties.

www.dailymail.co.uk /sciencetech/article-3538007/Scientists-SHAVING-ants-learn-cool-extreme-heat-Bizarre-study-reveals-hairs-reflect-light-like-prism.html

Ant hair is about 98% reflective, and is very similar to how fiber optics work. SEM images in the link for fellow nerds.

On shaving ants:

Speaking to MailOnline, Willot confirmed this 'was indeed a tricky procedure. They are very reactive and won't stop struggling once caught, preventing any shaving attempt if not anaesthetised.'

This was done by exposing the ants for a few seconds to carbon dioxide, then strapping them down firmly.

Hairs were removed using a high-power binocular telescope and a very sharp blade.

'It's the same as shaving your own chin: the scalpel blade has to move in the opposite direction of the hair's growth. It has to be a delicate and gentle motion,' said Willot.

After practising on large soldier ants, he found that a smaller worker ant could be entirely shaved in an hour of delicate work.

He estimates around 40 ants were shaved altogether to produce seven good examples for the experiments.

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