honeybees

Manuka honey reduced breast cancer cell growth by 84% without harming healthy cells or causing major side effects, according to preliminary studies. The findings open the door to developing a natural, non-toxic supplementary, or potentially stand-alone, anticancer treatment.

Checking on bee health is normally an invasive process that risks harming the colony, particularly the queen. Now, researchers have found that a new method, when combined with sound recording, can let beekeepers see just how healthy their honey-makers are.

Scientists have enlisted a new kind of helper to monitor the microbiomes of cities: the honeybee. Analyzing the debris from their hives has revealed much about what's happening at the microorganism level in cities around the world.

It is believed that parasitic varroa mites may be one of the main causes of colony collapse disorder, which is decimating honeybee colonies. There may be hope, however, as a new chemical has been found to eradicate the mites without harming the bees.

Although the causes of colony collapse disorder aren't entirely understood, pyrethroid pesticides appear to be one of the main culprits. Thanks to a new technique, it should now be easier to detect these chemicals in the honey of affected beehives.

A groundbreaking discovery made by scientists in Australia has demonstrated how an ingredient in honeybee venom can be used as an “extremely potent” weapon against breast cancer, with a synthetic version found to be similarly effective.

Honeybee numbers are falling to colony collapse disorder (CCD), which has devastating implications for global ecosystems and agriculture. But now, researchers have engineered bacteria that can help bees fend off two of the main causes of CCD.

​Depending on their formulation, most adhesives fail either when they're exposed to excessive humidity, or when they dry out in arid conditions. Honeybees, however, don't have such problems with their "pollen pellets." A new understanding of why this is so could lead to better manmade adhesives.

​In 2015, a clever invention by two Australian beekeepers turned into a record-breaking crowdfunding campaign. The idea was a beehive with a tap system that can siphon honey without opening the lid and disturbing the bees. The duo has now launched the Flow Hive 2, a new and improved design.

Viral infections have been identified as a major factor​ in the continued decline of honeybee populations, including Deformed Wing Virus (DWV). Now, European researchers have shown that DWV is composed of two different strains, and the second is even more virulent than the established type.

A collective of eco-technologists has designed open-source beehives to help encourage bee populations and fight Colony Collapse Disorder. Sensors track the movements, moods and geo-location of the bees.