Ants are cool. You may not think that when they are marching through your kitchen, but before you spray them into oblivion, just remember: ants are cool.

Researchers studying an Asian weaver ant came upon two new and exciting abilities. The Asian weaver ant can not only stick to a surface while holding over 100 times its weight, it can also respond to the added weight in one millisecond.

One millisecond. The fastest recorded nerve response is between 5 and 10 milliseconds. So the ant’s ability is not a reflex, but a “preflex.”

To understand more about the ant’s sticking ability and “preflex,” go to: