The asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago may have also set the stage for ants to conquer the planet, with scientists finding a surprising boost from so-called jumping genes hidden in ant DNA

Europe Science Sat, 31 Oct 2026 13:16:12 GMT Moderate confidence — 73/100

A genetic mutation that helped the ant species survive (Image- Canva)The big dinosaurs ruled Earth for millions of years, only for the tiny ants to take over.
Around 66 million years ago, an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs from the face of the Earth forever.
But this mass extinction set the stage for other animals to evolve and spread.

A genetic mutation that helped the ant species survive (Image- Canva)The big dinosaurs ruled Earth for millions of years, only for the tiny ants to take over.
Around 66 million years ago, an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs from the face of the Earth forever.
But this mass extinction set the stage for other animals to evolve and spread.

Sources: Times of India