An image of an ant lifting 100 times its body weight wins first prize in the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council's (BBSRC) science photo competition.
"It won first prize because it was a beautiful image and managed to convey complex science," said the BBSRC on Sunday.
The image shows the Asian weaver ant hanging upside down on a glass-like surface and holding a 500mg weight in its jaws.
Zoology specialist Dr. Thomas Endlein of Cambridge University took the photograph as he researched insects' sticky feet.
According to Endlein, ants change the size and shape of the pads on their feet in an attempt to enable them to carry heavier loads.
The zoology specialist further expressed hopes that the finding could help scientists develop better glues.
"The pads on ants' feet are self-cleaning and can stick to almost any type of surface," Endlein said.
"No man-made glue or adhesive system can match this. Understanding how animals can control their adhesive systems should help us come up with clever adhesives in the future," he added.
Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=119134§ionid=3510212.
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