The Sahara Desert isn't just the largest hot desert in the world, it is also one of of the most unmerciful places on Earth. It shelters a number of animals and insects, including: rodents, snakes, scorpions and ants.

Oh yes, that's right. Even small ants can survive the harsh condition of this desert. They are called the Saharan silver ants.  

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In general, ants need heat to survive and reproduce. However, they will die if their internal temperature goes over 128.48 degrees Fahrenheit, according to The Daily Republic.  

To top it all, Saharan silver ants have to look for food during the time when the surface temperature of the desert reaches 158 degrees Fahrenheit. Question is, how are they surviving the extreme heat?

Nanfang Yu, University of Columbia physicist, said that the hairs coating the ants are critical for their survival, The Christian Science Monitor reported. 

The distinct structure and methodical placing of the ants' hairs enable them to control a large ambit of solar spectrum, by reflecting away solar waves from near-infrared light. It can also keep them cool because of its anti-refelctive function for mid-infrared solar spectrum, allowing them to disperse their own body heat into the cooler air surrounding them.

Silver normally bounces back sunlight but its effect in these ants is far more interesting—a different one. The heat waves are absorbed, and are reflected around the hair structures, keeping the ants from overheating. 

The hairs, shaped like a triangle, are arranged parallel to their skin. The one that facilitates the cooling is the gap between the skin and the hair.

These processes can reportedly lower the ants' body temperature by 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Researchers said that the combination of these two can provide a maximum cooling effect.

Sahara's temperature can go up to 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit, which is more or less 11 degrees lower than the maximum temperature an ant's body could handle. In other words, everyday is a struggle between life and death for these emmets.

Yu said that the silver ants' hairs could possibly incite development of paints and other materials to be used for rooftops and cars, New York Times has learned. 

TagsSilver Ants, Ants, sahara desert, Science, Study