Newly Discovered Millipede Compounds Affect Ant Brains, Could Inspire Pain Treatments

Millipedes make ants dizzy — and might soon treat human pain

Millipedes, often dismissed as creepy crawlies, may hold the secret to future painkillers and neurological drugs. Researchers at Virginia Tech discovered unique alkaloid compounds in the defensive secretions of a native millipede species. These complex molecules, which cause disorientation in ants, interact with human neuroreceptors linked to pain and cognition. By decoding these natural chemical defenses, scientists could open a new path toward…

Newly discovered millipede compounds affect ant brains, could inspire pain treatments

Chemist Emily Mevers and her team recently discovered a new set of complex structures in millipede secretions that can modulate specific neuroreceptors in ant brains.