Bees
What would the British summertime be if we didn't have busy little bees buzzing around the flowers, but there is much more to these colourful creatures than just making honey. Did you know they respond to singing, are vital to our very existence on the planet, and can even be taught how to play football! Yes, they can sting, but we still think they are the bee-st.
Why don’t bees get sticky when they make honey?
Hydrogen bonds in sugar and water bind together to give honey its viscous, or 'sticky' properties.
Instant Genius Podcast | Inside the mind of a bee, with Prof Lars Chittka
Zoologist Prof Lars Chittka joins us on our podcasts, Instant Genius and Instant Genius Extra.
A 'supplement' for bees could save colonies from a deadly virus
Scientists have found a plant-based compound that could save honeybee colonies from a virus that deforms wings, paralyses bees and kills hives.
How do bees make honey?
Here’s the (slightly gross) step-by-step instructions honeybees use to make their syrupy produce.
A scientist’s guide to life | How to garden for wildlife
We can all do our bit to help boost biodiversity; biologist and bumblebee expert at the University of Sussex Prof Dave Goulson explains how to welcome wildlife into your garden.
Can we save the insects?
We’ve teamed up with the folks behind BBC World Service’s CrowdScience to answer your questions on one topic - this week it's all about whether we can save the world's insects.
Pesticides cause ‘permanent and irreversible’ damage to baby bee brains
Bee larvae's brains developed abnormally when they ate food contaminated with pesticide.
Samantha Alger | What can we do to save the bees?
Pollinator specialist from the University of Vermont Samantha Alger explains the threats facing our bees, and why that’s a problem for us.
When bees can’t see, the humble bumble can make do with a fumble
New study finds that bumblebees can recognise objects in the dark using the sense of touch.
Hotter temperatures could lead to a "mass extinction" of bumblebees
In the course of just a single human generation, the likelihood of a bumblebee population surviving in a given place has declined by over 30 per cent.
For bees, the sweeter the nectar, the harder to vomit
Thicker and sweeter nectar is more difficult to swallow and regurgitate, scientists have found.
Book extract | The Big Mac and the bee
Thor Hanson deconstructs a Big Mac and finds that our diet would be very dull without bees…
World Bee Day | 5 fascinating facts about bees
Bees are widespread, varied, and, most importantly, critical to our ecosystem. Take a look at five fascinating facts about our fuzzy, flying friends.
Royal jelly 'vaccines' may help to stop the decline of honey bees
Royal jelly infused with RNA molecules can spread virus immunity among bees.
Am I helping or hindering the bee population by eating honey?
Buzz, buzz, buzz. Some honey may be back on the menu but our busy, yellow and black striped friends still need help in other ways.
Why do wasp and bee stings hurt so much?
There's always a sting in the tail.
How have plants evolved to mimic insects when they don't have vision?
Evolution is more than meets the eye.
Eight of nature’s grooviest dancing animals
We all love a bit of a disco, but even members of the animal kingdom can't resist a bit of a boogie.
How does the honeybee's body work?
These little bees are the perfect honey machines.
Could you neutralise a bee sting with a wasp sting?
If you think this, you've wildly misunderstood what is happening when you get stung.
Footballing bees are expert problem solvers
You might not win the FA Cup with a team of bumblebees, but a new study finds they are quick to learn and efficient innovators.
28 myths of modern life exposed
Do mice really love cheese? Does sugar make kids hyperactive? Do you actually need your five-a-day? We put common beliefs under the microscope to sort the fact from the fantasy
Why do bees die when they sting you?
Bees fall foul of a fate that wasps don't, but this is no suicide mechanism, instead it's an incredibly effective weapon.
Is local honey a cure for hayfever?
Sweet! Honey is thought to be a homeopathic cure for your pollen-related spring woes.