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.

  • Taffer@lemmy.fmhy.ml
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    1 year ago

    “He shaved 40 ants” may be one of the most unhinged sentences I’ve said all week while I told this story to my partner.

  • faultyaddress@lemmy.fmhy.ml
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    1 year ago

    “‘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.”

    You should not shave against the grain. It causes razor burn and in-grown hairs.

    • fuzzybee@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      I always shave twice. Once with the grain, then against the grain. I don’t ever get razor burn or ingrown hairs.

    • spinnetrouble@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      Can we get a study on how shaving ants against the grain fundamentally differs from humans doing it? (I mostly just want to see how much patience people have for shaving ants, though)

    • wrath-sedan@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      I like this mental image of a scientist meticulously combing the grass with a magnifying class for an already dead ant