Curiosity Weekly
Ant Doctors, Sequestered Carbon, Menstrual Brain
Feb 15, 2024
Ant doctors treating wounded ants, sequestering carbon in the ocean, and the impact of the menstrual cycle on the female brain.
11:52
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Quick takeaways
- Matabella ants possess a unique healthcare system where they differentiate between infected and non-infected wounds and treat their wounded peers using antibiotics produced by their own bodies, offering insights for combatting antibiotic resistance and developing new treatments for infections.
- Sinking wood waste to the bottom of the ocean is a low-tech solution to reduce carbon emissions, providing a viable alternative for carbon sequestration and effectively hiding carbon in the ocean for thousands of years.
Deep dives
Ants that Play Doctor: A Remarkable Discovery
Matabella ants from Africa have been found to possess a unique healthcare system. These ants can differentiate between infected and non-infected wounds, and they treat their wounded peers using antibiotics produced by their own bodies. By analyzing changes in hydrocarbon profiles, the ants identify infections and apply antibiotic secretions from their Metapluoro gland, which contains 112 different components with antimicrobial effects. This discovery not only sheds light on the social behavior of ants but also offers potential insights for combatting antibiotic resistance and developing new treatments for infections.
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