Overview
- The archive covers 2,193 ethanol‑preserved specimens representing 212 genera and about 800 species, drawn from global museum and expert collections.
- Using KIT’s synchrotron micro‑CT and a robotic sample changer, the team scanned roughly 2,000 specimens in one week, a task estimated to take six years on a lab CT system.
- All raw image stacks and interactive 3D models are publicly available via KIT’s RADAR4KIT portal, which provides per‑specimen viewers and standardized metadata.
- The scans resolve exoskeletons and internal anatomy—including muscles, nervous and digestive systems, and stingers—at micrometer resolution, with occasional detection of parasites.
- Antscan data have already underpinned published analyses, such as a 2025 Science Advances study linking smaller cuticle volume to larger colonies, as researchers develop AI pose‑normalization and plan broader expansion.