Mechanical engineers studied how ants try to climb through earwax, which behaves like both toothpaste and dough. In experiments coating the rim of a beaker, rough earwax slowed the insects down. The findings, published in Soft Matter, suggest earwax can stop insects without dangerous chemicals.
For many adults who get something stuck in an ear, the culprit is a live insect — an ant, beetle, fly or cockroach. Understanding how earwax physically blocks them could inspire safer insect repellents that work through physics instead of harsh chemicals, protecting ears without irritating skin.
✦ Earwax is doing quiet work: a sticky, slippery net that keeps bugs out.