Collaborate Disseminate
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved the world’s first insect vaccine, developed to protect honeybees from a devastating bacterial disease known to decimate entire hives.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: Bees, Vaccines Continue reading First-ever honeybee vaccine approved by US regulators
Striking research from a pair of entomologists at the University of Maryland suggests the lifespan of honey bees kept in controlled laboratory conditions is 50% shorter than what was seen in the 1970s. The researchers hypothesize genetic changes in bee… Continue reading Puzzling study finds bee lifespans are now 50% shorter than 50 years ago
A number of studies have already shown that synthetic chemicals can harm the bees that are vital to the pollination of plants. New research now additionally indicates that fertilizers may disrupt bees’ ability to identify flowers, reducing the likeliho… Continue reading Study suggests fertilizers may hamper bees’ ability to identify flowers
Insects have been known to sense and tap into electric fields, but new research shows that swarms can actually produce atmospheric electric charges. By measuring the extent of this influence, the scientists found that large swarms could produce as much… Continue reading Insect swarms can generate as much static electricity as a storm cloud
We’ve heard about robots that communicate with one another via wireless networks, in order to collaborate on tasks. Sometimes, however, such networks aren’t an option. A new bee-inspired technique gets the bots to “dance” instead.Continue ReadingCatego… Continue reading Dancing bees inspire alternative communication system for robots
In an effort to create some buzz for the recent World Bee Day on May 20, Italian beekeeper Rocco Filomeno has built a wonderfully whimsical “Air bee and bee” tiny house-style dwelling. Installed in an olive garden in rural Italy, the basic-but-novel sh… Continue reading “Air bee and bee” lets visitors sleep to the buzz of a million bees
A team of scientists at the University of California, Riverside is studying a species of “vulture bee” that has swapped a vegetarian diet for carrion meat by developing an extra tooth and gut bacteria similar to that found in vultures and hyenas.Contin… Continue reading Carrion-eater gut bacteria help vulture bees ditch nectar for meat
Many of us can’t get through the day without at minimum one cup of coffee, or at least, we’d rather not think about trying. No matter how you choose to …read more Continue reading Even Bees Are Abuzz About Caffeine
A new study has found caffeine can be used to help bees locate specific flowers. The research suggests the drug enhances bee memory and makes them more efficient at homing in on certain targeted flowers.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: B… Continue reading Caffeine-boosted bees more efficiently home in on target flowers
As honeybees collect pollen and nectar from flowers, they repeatedly bend and straighten their abdomens – yet with a minimal amount of friction. Scientists have now discovered what makes this possible, and it could have applications in human technology… Continue reading Friction-reducing honeybee hairs may inspire longer-lasting devices