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Bees can solve complex problems.
Researchers from the Queen Mary University of London discovered that bees are smarter than we could have thought. They wanted to see if bees were able to solve problems and certain task. They discovered that not only they are able to pull a string to receive a reward, but they also can learn this ability from other bees.
This study shows us that not only creatures with big brains are able to solve problems and learn new things. To understand better the study, you need to know what procedure they used. Researchers built a clear plastic table for three flat artificial blue flowers. For every flower, they put a sugar water in the center and a string attached to it. If the little creatures wanted to get to the sugar water, they had to pull the flower by using the string.
Researchers used data from 110 bumble bees. The results were different in the early stage. Some of them gave up, while others tried until they managed to get to the sugar water. In the second stage of the experiment, scientists trained 40 of them. Most of the bees were able to understand what they have to do.
Bees are not able to use tools because pulling a string is too simple for being taken into consideration. However, it is interesting to see how the small creatures were able to found how to pull the string with no help. Moreover, the other bees followed their example. They are able to do more things that we could have thought and they are really able to pass on the information they gather. This means that if you learn one bee how to do a thing, the others are more likely to follow her actions.
Talking about bumble bees, we should not forget that they are endangered. It is strange for this species to be threatened, but its habitat is not safe anymore. Climate change has affected them so much that now researchers are afraid they could disappear in the future. They have already been listed as endangered by the officials which means that the authorities have to do their best and protect them. People could also be involved in this matter by planting more flowers in their gardens.
Image source: Wikipedia
