We Have Concerns Bee Smart
Sep 25, 2026
Bees take center stage as a new study explores whether bumblebees can use tools to solve unfamiliar problems. The conversation buzzes through waggle dances, animal intelligence, crow grudges, chimpanzee experiments, and a tiny bee arena involving balls, flowers, and pollen. It all leads to playful speculation about Bee Movie and a possible planetary uprising.
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Jeff Cannata Discovers Real Honeycomb
- Jeff Cannata bought a $20 slab of honeycomb during a family mountain getaway and found it astonishingly flavorful.
- He spread it on sourdough and compared the experience to discovering the real bread, cheese, and fruit in a fantasy adventure.
Bees Learn Dances From Experienced Bees
- Bumblebees communicate food locations through waggle dances and improve when young bees observe experienced dancers.
- The hosts compare this social learning to children getting better at the electric slide by watching older dancers.
Tool Use Does Not Require A Big Brain
- Tool use and spontaneous problem solving are not limited to animals with large, humanlike brains.
- Chimpanzees stack boxes for bananas, while corvids use tools, remember events, and apparently hold grudges.