--- title: Paul Rudd Ant-Man Science: Why Real Ants Are More Impressive description: Ant-Man—played by Paul Rudd—has some pretty impressive super powers, but they pale in comparison to the abilities of actual ants canonical: https://time.com/3955673/ant-man-paul-rudd-ants/ author: Justin Worland article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-07-14T14:46:49.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:58:35.141Z article:section: Science og:title: 5 Reasons Actual Ants Are Way More Impressive Than Ant-Man og:description: Ant-Man—played by Paul Rudd—has some pretty impressive super powers, but they pale in comparison to the abilities of actual ants og:url: https://time.com/3955673/ant-man-paul-rudd-ants/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8c31ff2b114b2771/69885abecd68481c2c0a0c89/ants-carrying-leaves.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5175 og:image:height: 2911 og:image:alt: ants carrying leaves og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 5 Reasons Actual Ants Are Way More Impressive Than Ant-Man twitter:description: Ant-Man—played by Paul Rudd—has some pretty impressive super powers, but they pale in comparison to the abilities of actual ants twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8c31ff2b114b2771/69885abecd68481c2c0a0c89/ants-carrying-leaves.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 5 Reasons Actual Ants Are Way More Impressive Than Ant-Man > Sponsored content. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ## Video: Ant-Man Trailer [Watch (HLS stream): Ant-Man Trailer](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/B0hxb9Ok.m3u8) (2:29)  _Published 2015-05-26. Ant-Man Trailer_  by [Justin Worland](https://time.com/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Senior Correspondent Jul 14, 2015 2:46 PM UTC  Leaf cutter ants (Atta cephalotes) carrying leaves, close-up Leaf cutter ants (Atta cephalotes) carrying leaves, close-up Getty Images  by [Justin Worland](https://time.com/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Senior Correspondent Jul 14, 2015 2:46 PM UTC In the upcoming movie _Ant-Man_, actor Paul Rudd plays a convict turned superhero who, at the touch of a button, can shrink down to a tiny, ant-like size that allows him to evade detection while gaining superpower strength. In many ways, though, Ant-Man’s superpowers pale in comparison to the following five feats of actual ants: **Ants are really, really strong** You’ve probably seen it yourself. Ants often carry objects that are many times their size—up to 5,00o times their own weight, according to one recent [study](http://www.jbiomech.com/article/S0021-9290%2813%2900545-9/abstract) in the _Journal of Biomechanics_. That’s the human equivalent of carrying 60 elephants. **Ants communicate via smell** Ants can see and hear just like most other animals. But they also use pheromones—invisible chemical signals understood only by members of the same species—to help direct their counterparts from place to place. Having that ability gives them a leg up as they as they forage for food and leave a trace for their fellow ants to follow. **Ants eat more meat than lion, tigers and wolves combined** Most ants eat just about anything, and a lot of it. Research suggests that ants eat up to a third of their body weight every day, including a good portion of meat. (Some ants even eat meat exclusively.) A typical ant diet adds up to more meat than is consumed by lion, tigers and wolves combined, according to the documentary _ANTS: Nature’s Secret Power_. **Ants invented farming before humans** In addition to foraging, ants harvest their own food sources. Ants began their system of agriculture around 50 million years ago, and it’s evolved ever since, according to a [study](http://www.pnas.org/content/99/24/15247.long) in the journal _PNAS_. Most farmer ants grow their food underground and add material from vegetables to enrich their crops, an impressive advancement for a species with tiny brains. **Ants are as old as dinosaurs** Ant species emerged approximately 150 million years ago, according to research by evolutionary biologist Corrie Moreau. That’s around the same time dinosaurs roamed the earth. ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] Imagine a soldier the size of an insect. The ultimate secret weapon. You get give god- like powers to everyone, this is gonna be chaos. So how do we stop him? I know a guy [ MUSIC ] Scott, I've been watching you for a while. You're different, and I believe everyone deserves a shot at redemption Do you? [ MUSIC ] Absolutely. My days of breaking into places and stealing stuff are over. What do you want me to do? I want you to break into a place and steal some stuff. Makes sense. Are you ready to become the hero? Now, the suit has power. You have to learn how to control it. And these are your greatest allies. You're kind of cute! Whoa. When you're small You have superhuman strength. [ MUSIC ] Be like a bullet. [ MUSIC ] So you need to know how to punch. You're going to show me how to punch? Show me how to punch. That's how you punch. [ MUSIC ] You tried tried to hide your suit from me. Now, it's going to blow up in your face and destroy everyone you care about. Scott, get out of there. Did you think you could stop the Future. You're just a thief. [ MUSIC ] No, a madman. I know, it wasn't my idea. 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