Researchers have identified ant species that make powerful antimicrobial agents to help fight off various diseases, a finding that can be used to make new antibiotics for humans as well as help them in their war against resistant superbugs. Ants deal with disease by fighting off bacteria using their own antibiotics.

"These findings suggest that ants could be a future source of new antibiotics to help fight human diseases," said Clint Penick, Assistant Professor at Arizona State University.