The study by Jouault et al. investigates the diversification and extinction dynamics of ants, a highly ecologically important group, over the past 140 million years. By combining paleontological and neontological data, the researchers identified four distinct phases of ant diversification: the Late Cretaceous, the K/Pg transition, the Pliocene, and the Oligo-Miocene. They tested four hypotheses—co-diversification, competitive extinction, hyper-specialization, and buffered extinction—to understand the factors influencing ant diversity. The results challenge the hypothesis of competitive extinction between stem and crown ants, suggesting instead that the Angiosperm Terrestrial Revolution (ATR) played a critical role in buffering ants against extinction and favoring their diversification. The ATR, marked by the rise of angiosperms and the decline of gymnosperms, provided new ecological niches such as forest litter and arboreal nesting sites, which likely contributed to ant diversification. The study highlights the importance of considering both abiotic and biotic factors in understanding the evolutionary history of organisms, particularly in the context of environmental changes.The study by Jouault et al. investigates the diversification and extinction dynamics of ants, a highly ecologically important group, over the past 140 million years. By combining paleontological and neontological data, the researchers identified four distinct phases of ant diversification: the Late Cretaceous, the K/Pg transition, the Pliocene, and the Oligo-Miocene. They tested four hypotheses—co-diversification, competitive extinction, hyper-specialization, and buffered extinction—to understand the factors influencing ant diversity. The results challenge the hypothesis of competitive extinction between stem and crown ants, suggesting instead that the Angiosperm Terrestrial Revolution (ATR) played a critical role in buffering ants against extinction and favoring their diversification. The ATR, marked by the rise of angiosperms and the decline of gymnosperms, provided new ecological niches such as forest litter and arboreal nesting sites, which likely contributed to ant diversification. The study highlights the importance of considering both abiotic and biotic factors in understanding the evolutionary history of organisms, particularly in the context of environmental changes.