Sci-tech

Sci-Tech

Zombie ants, 48 million years ago

A fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, can invade a carpenter ant's body and manipulate it's behaviour, ultimately killing it and using its dead body to hoist up stalk to release spores. Just before the ant dies, it clamps itself onto a leaf. Harvard University scientists have discovered the characteristic "death grip" marks on fossilised leaves that are calculated to be 48 million years old. So it turns out that the zombie apocalypse has been here all along. Read more: New Scientist and the Guardian.

0

Gallery

Please peer review 3 community comments before your comment can be posted

We would like our readers to start paying for Daily Maverick...

…but we are not going to force you to. Over 10 million users come to us each month for the news. We have not put it behind a paywall because the truth should not be a luxury.

Instead we ask our readers who can afford to contribute, even a small amount each month, to do so.

If you appreciate it and want to see us keep going then please consider contributing whatever you can.

Support Daily Maverick→
Payment options

Become a Maverick Insider

This could have been a paywall

On another site this would have been a paywall. Maverick Insider keeps our content free for all.

Become an Insider

Every seed of hope will one day sprout.

South African citizens throughout the country are standing up for our human rights. Stay informed, connected and inspired by our weekly FREE Maverick Citizen newsletter.