In the realm of pandemic management, nature often outpaces human innovation. Small-but-mighty ants offer a fascinating example of how even the smallest creatures can develop remarkably effective methods for controlling disease spread.
Ants have evolved complex social structures and public health strategies that surpass those of many modern societies when it comes to managing pandemics. They practise social distancing, use natural disinfectants, protect the vulnerable through reduced interactions and have even developed their own forms of vaccination.
Ants also behave in death as so many were forced to do during Covid-19: dying ants abandon their nests to die in seclusion, reducing the risk of transmitting disease to close relatives.
Discover our series on medical innovations rooted in nature's remarkable adaptations...
From giraffe-inspired ventilators and koalas' digestive wisdom, to frog-based life-support systems, we explore how the animal kingdom shapes human healthcare.
We also explore midge-like painless injections, crane-derived temperature control, white-blooded fish cold resistance, whale-mimicking heart treatments, chimpanzee-informed grief management, and longevity secrets from naked mole rats. Join us as we uncover how wildlife continues to revolutionise medicine.