Insects, given their minuscule brain, are not as impressive as our pets. But for insects that can also perform tricks like our cats and dogs, you might be wondering how some people were able to train them.
Scientists proclaimed that aside from making honey, honey bees can also solve basic math problems. To understand this, the scientists first had to “coach” them the rules of arithmetic operations.
They set up an L-shaped apparatus that looks like this:
According to Science Advances, honey bees should approach the structures with blue and yellow shapes. Also, these varied arrays are in one, two, and three-shaped color.
“The bees then would enter another chamber, where they had a choice to fly next to an array with more squares than the one they previously saw, or fewer. If the shapes in the first chamber were blue, that meant the researchers wanted the bees to add by 1. The bees were rewarded with delicious sugar for choosing the array with more shapes in the second chamber. If they chose incorrectly, they were punished with acrid quinine.”
The result in the lab shows that honey bees are able to grasp basic mathematical concepts compared to a toddler. With this study, they have learned that having “smaller brains” can also do things–like solving basic math problems. After conducting the experiment, scientists will continue exploring other things until they get the final result. And with the help of honey bees, they can develop technology better.
InqPOP! Creator Community/Mharwin Abainza