Find uplifting stories about heroes, innovations, and solutions
21 results for "bumblebees"
Eight volunteers in Silver City, New Mexico, are learning to catch and photograph bumblebees to help scientists map declining species and guide conservation efforts. They're part of a nationwide movement that documented 30,000 bumblebees last year across 22 states.
Scientists accidentally discovered that bumblebee queens can survive underwater for a week by actually breathing beneath the surface. This remarkable adaptation helps protect species that nest underground during winter flooding.
Scientists captured buff-tailed bumblebees using a remarkable technique called "buzz pollination" to access pollen other insects can't reach. The tiny pollinators vibrate their bodies like jackhammers to shake loose clouds of pollen, then pack it into special baskets on their legs. ##
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F63%2F62%2F63623770-2418-4dae-a0f7-c9713b343cc3%2F32539693186_7e27b3b732_c.jpg)
Scientists found that bumblebees can recognize and follow rhythms even when the tempo changes, a skill once thought exclusive to humans and a few mammals. This tiny-brained insect just proved that making sense of rhythm might be far more fundamental to life than we ever imagined.
Bumblebees rolled a ball under an out-of-reach flower and climbed on it to reach a reward, demonstrating spontaneous problem-solving previously seen only in apes and elephants. The breakthrough suggests tiny insect brains are far more flexible than scientists thought.
Scientists accidentally discovered that hibernating queen bumblebees can breathe underwater for up to a week, solving the mystery of how these vital pollinators survive spring floods. This remarkable adaptation could help us understand how bee populations will cope with climate change.
Bumblebees just aced a problem-solving challenge that once proved chimpanzee intelligence, joining an elite group of brainy species. These tiny insects figured out how to use a ball as a tool to reach an out-of-reach reward, stunning scientists who say it's time we recognize insect brains.
Bumblebees aren't just busy workers. New research shows these tiny insects actually enjoy playing, revealing surprising intelligence that changes how we understand their behavior.
Everyday Iowans have become "community scientists" tracking bumblebee populations, identifying 13 species including five rare ones. The program needs more volunteers as it expands in 2026.
Britain is voting on which native animals will grace new banknotes, with puffins, dolphins, and bumblebees making the shortlist. The public can choose their favorites until July 3rd in a celebration of UK wildlife.
Scientists discovered that hibernating queen bumblebees can breathe underwater for at least a week when winter floods fill their burrows. This remarkable ability helps them survive until spring despite increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
Scientists discovered that bees and other pollinators directly provide nearly half of farming income and vital nutrients for families in Nepal's smallholder communities. The research reveals a clear path to fight poverty and malnutrition through better pollinator management.
From cherry blossoms in Tokyo to jacaranda trees in Mexico City, spring has transformed streets and parks across the Northern Hemisphere into spectacular gardens. These stunning displays are bringing people together outdoors to celebrate the season's annual gift of color and renewal.
New research reveals wild pollinators like bees and hoverflies are responsible for more than 40% of income and 20% of key vitamins in rural Nepal. The best news? Simple actions like planting wildflowers can reverse pollinator decline and boost farmer income by 30%.
A critically endangered moth named after the Avatar films just won New Zealand's bug competition by a landslide. The tiny moth's big victory is shining a spotlight on conservation efforts to protect unique species.
A simple checkbox on Vermont's tax form has helped pull bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and loons back from the brink of extinction. Now the Nongame Wildlife Fund is working to save newly threatened species like the eastern meadowlark.
New research shows crickets groom and stroke injured antennae just like dogs lick hurt paws, suggesting insects may feel pain. The discovery could change how we think about billions of farmed crickets and our tiniest neighbors.
A botanical garden in West Sussex discovered more bee species on its grounds than exist in all of Ireland. Scientists are using the breakthrough findings to help cities become safer havens for struggling pollinators.
Once declared biologically dead, London has transformed into an unexpected wildlife haven where scorpions, seals, and peregrine falcons now call the urban jungle home. The city's unique patchwork of microclimates is proving that nature can thrive alongside millions of people.
Scientists studying 40 German villages discovered that wild bee diversity thrives in unexpected places like overgrown lots and green spaces, not manicured flower beds. The findings show even small villages can become crucial lifelines for struggling pollinator populations.
Showing 20 of 21