Science Magazine Podcast The contagious buzz of bumble bee positivity, and when snow crabs vanish
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Oct 23, 2025 Warren Cornwall, a contributing correspondent focused on Arctic ecosystems, discusses the comeback of snow crabs after a massive die-off, including the challenges of predicting future health. Meanwhile, Fei Peng, a psychology professor, shares fascinating research on the emotional lives of bumblebees, revealing how optimism can spread among them through brief interactions. Elah Feder conducts an insightful interview, exploring how these tiny creatures communicate affect, hinting at broader implications for understanding emotions in animals and even AI.
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Rapid Ice Loss Preceded The Die-Off
- In 2018 and 2019 the Bering Sea saw unusually low ice and an apparent crab boom followed by near-collapse in 2021 when surveys found almost no snow crab.
- NOAA's 2021 survey estimated about 47 billion snow crabs had disappeared after the two warm years.
Heat Waves Drain Crab Energy
- Warmer waters raised crab metabolism so they burned energy faster and depleted fat reserves during heat waves.
- Scientists found crabs during heat years burned up to four times more energy than before the warming.
Monitor Crab Butter As An Early Warning
- Use hepatopancreas fat measurements as an early-warning indicator of crab health and upcoming population crashes.
- Weigh and dry a chunk of the organ to quickly estimate lipid content and detect starving years before numbers collapse.