Keeping cool: Enhanced optical reflection and radiative heat dissipation in Saharan silver ants
Abstract
Silver ants inhabit one of the hottest and driest environments on Earth, the Saharan sands, where most insects shrivel and die moments after contact. Shi et al. show that the triangular shape of the silver hairs that cover their bodies enables this existence. The hairs both increase the reflection of near-infrared rays and dissipate heat from the ants' bodies, even under full sun conditions. Evolution's simple solution to intense heat management in this species could lead to better designs for passive cooling of human-produced objects.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jul 17, 2015
- Source ID
- 10.1126/science.aab3564
Entities
People
- Cheng-chia Tsai
- Fernando E Camino
- Gary D Bernard
- Nanfang Yu
- Norman Nan Shi
- Rüdiger Wehner
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials
- Columbia University
- National Science Foundation
- University of Washington
- University of Zurich