From furry friends to fish, turning up the heat helps animals fight germs − how Mother Nature’s cure offers humans a lesson on fever

Fever isn’t necessarily a bad thing − it’s actually a useful response to infections.

Harry Bernheim, Associate Professor Emeritus of Biology, Tufts University • conversation
May 23, 2025 • ~7 min

Pesticides: farming chemicals make insects sick at non-deadly doses – especially in hot weather

New research highlights the flaws of pesticide regulation.

Dave Goulson, Professor of Biology (Evolution, Behaviour and Environment), University of Sussex • conversation
Oct. 28, 2024 • ~8 min

Honey bees vote to decide on nest sites – why we should listen

New study shows man made hives leak substantially more heat than the tree cavities of wild honey bees.

Derek Mitchell, Researcher in Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds • conversation
July 1, 2024 • ~6 min

It’s OK to mow in May − the best way to help pollinators is by adding native plants

NoMowMay is a catchy concept, but it doesn’t provide the food that native North American pollinators need or lasting support for them.

Harland Patch, Assistant Research Professor of Entomology, Penn State • conversation
May 15, 2024 • ~8 min

Honey bees are suprisingly abundant, research shows – but most are wild, not managed in hives

Wild honey bee colonies outnumber those managed in commercial hives.

Oliver Visick, PhD Student in Ecology and Evolution, University of Sussex • conversation
March 4, 2024 • ~7 min

Why do bees have queens? 2 biologists explain this insect’s social structure – and why some bees don’t have a queen at all

A queen’s main job in the hive is to lay eggs and pass genes on to offspring. But many bee species do just fine without queens or big colonies.

Aviva Liebert, Professor of Biology, Framingham State University • conversation
March 4, 2024 • ~7 min

'Inert' ingredients in pesticides may be more toxic to bees than scientists thought

Inert ingredients are added for purposes other than killing pests and are not required under federal law to be tested for safety or identified on pesticide labels.

Jennie L. Durant, Research Affiliate in Human Ecology, University of California, Davis • conversation
Dec. 5, 2023 • ~10 min

Honeybees cluster together when it’s cold – but we’ve been completely wrong about why

New research shows honeybee hive clusters are a sign of desperation, not insulation.

Derek Mitchell, PhD Candidate in Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds • conversation
Nov. 24, 2023 • ~6 min

Asian hornets make UK their latest target – here’s why they’re such a threat to European bees

Invasive Asian hornets are a top predator of bees in the UK – and sightings are starting to soar.

Philip Donkersley, Senior Research Associate in Entomology, Lancaster University • conversation
Sept. 13, 2023 • ~8 min

Unlocking secrets of the honeybee dance language – bees learn and culturally transmit their communication skills

Honeybees possess one of the most complex examples of nonhuman communication. New research suggests that it is learned and culturally passed down from older to younger bees.

James C. Nieh, Associate Dean and Professor of Biology, University of California, San Diego • conversation
March 9, 2023 • ~8 min

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