A groundbreaking digital repository known as Antscan has revealed the intricate anatomy of over 790 ant species, offering a level of detail previously unimaginable. Described by experts as "insane," the project delivers micron-scale, three-dimensional images of both the external skeletons and internal organs of these insects. Published in Nature Methods, the collection spans two-thirds of all ant genera, representing approximately 90% of ant species on Earth. This massive dataset showcases how advancements in x-ray imaging, robotics, and computing have transformed biological research, creating a resource accessible to everyone from evolutionary biologists to filmmakers. The initiative began in 2019 when evolutionary biologist Evan Economo and entomologist Julian Katz set out to scan roughly 200 ant species using microtomography. While effective, the initial equipment was slow, requiring 10 to 15 hours to scan a single insect. The project's trajectory changed when the team partnered with Thomas van de Kamp at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany. Van de Kamp manages a synchrotron micro-CT system connected to a particle accelerator, which generates a concentrated beam of x-rays capable of capturing 3,000 high-resolution images per specimen in just 30 seconds. This facility also features automated robotic handling, eliminating the labor-intensive bottlenecks of previous methods. With the scanning process revolutionized, the team faced the challenge of sourcing sufficient specimens. They collaborated with museums and laboratories worldwide, gathering hundreds of rare and unique ants, including a Brazilian bullet ant with a famously painful sting, a Korean "Dracula ant" that feeds on larvae, and a Congolese species with massive, bee-like eyes. Ultimately, the project produced digital 3D files for nearly 2,200 individual ants across 212 genera. The scientific impact of Antscan is already evident. A recent study published in Science Advances utilized the data to reveal a significant evolutionary trend: ant species with thinner exoskeletons tend to form larger, more complex colonies. This suggests that some lineages prioritize the quantity of individual workers over their individual physical robustness. Experts outside the project praise the repository for its potential to accelerate research. Andy Suarez of the University of Illinois notes that the public availability of such data allows researchers to compare new findings against a vast baseline of existing species without needing physical access to rare museum specimens. Beyond academic research, the images have practical applications in education and digital arts. Daniel Ksepka, a paleontologist at the Bruce Museum, used Antscan files to 3D-print grapefruit-sized ant heads for a new exhibit, helping the public appreciate the complexity of insect morphology. While the resolution does not yet reach the level of electron microscopes required to visualize individual neurons, the project successfully democratizes access to high-resolution biological data. Evan Economo, now a professor at the University of Maryland, acknowledges that there is room for improvement. Currently, converting raw x-ray images into labeled 3D parts like eyes or antennae still requires manual processing. However, the team envisions scaling this technology to digitize hundreds of thousands of invertebrate species. By expanding the scope beyond ants, Antscan aims to create a comprehensive digital library of the natural world, preserving the morphology of small organisms for future generations.