Research on carpenter ants provides first example of a non-human animal severing limbs to curb infections
It sounds like a scene from a Spielberg film: an injured worker undergoes an emergency amputation, performed by one of her colleagues, allowing her to live another day. But this is not a human story – it is behaviour seen in ants.
While it is not the first time wound care has been seen in ants, scientists say their discovery is the first example of a non-human animal carrying out life-saving amputations, with the operation performed to treat leg wounds and prevent the onset or spread of infection.
About Author
More Stories
Weight-loss jabs may be good for mental health, research shows
Australia has been hesitant – but could robots soon be delivering your pizza?
AI firms warned to calculate threat of super intelligence or risk it escaping human control