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Scientists Glue Sensors To 5,000 Bees In a Bid To Better Understand Them

Posted by samzenpus on from the glue-honey dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Scientists at the University of Tasmania working with CSIRO have decided to use the latest sensor technology to help them better understand the behavior of thousands of bees. An RFID sensor has been attached with glue to the back of around 5,000 honey bees in Hobart, Tasmania. In order for that to work, shaving the area of the bee where the sensor would sit was necessary in some cases. Thankfully the bee was asleep during the process, and the sensor is small and light enough that they likely won't notice it is there. With the sensors attached, checkpoints can be setup around the area where the bees travel and pollinate in order to create a three-dimensional map of their movements."

17 of 85 comments (clear)

  1. X-Bees by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Unfortunately for the researchers one of the bees is named Fox Mulder and is about to reveal the entire operation to the colony.

    1. Re:X-Bees by rmdingler · · Score: 3, Funny
      Though not as catchy as The truth is out there,

      The truth is glued to your back will be the talk of the hive.

      --
      Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

      Ernest Hemingway

    2. Re:X-Bees by GodfatherofSoul · · Score: 3, Funny

      Sounds like a great new euphemism for cunnilingus.

      --
      I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
  2. Won't somebody.... by amalcolm · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...think of the bees?

    --
    Time for bed, said Zebedee - boing
  3. The Understanding by SuperKendall · · Score: 4, Funny

    It turns out, bees sting people.

    Luckily the scientists now have enough data points to be pretty sure that is true.

    Incidentally, they also prefer Aqua Velva as an aftershave, an unexpected finding as the scientists were sure they would prefer Burt's Bees.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:The Understanding by Sockatume · · Score: 4, Funny

      All I know is, some grad student now has the "No, my PhD is the worst" story to beat them all.

      --
      No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
    2. Re:The Understanding by DarthVain · · Score: 3, Funny

      ...In conclusion it was found to be statistically significant that bees indeed do not like to have sensors stuck to them.

      This paper is dedicated to poor Jimmy Berton, a grad student who gave his life to further this important revelation. He will be missed.

  4. o.o7 by Edis+Krad · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A solemn salute to those postgrads that had to stay overnight to glue those 5000 sensors to those bees. I feel your pain, my fellow comrades.

  5. Free speech by Buchenskjoll · · Score: 5, Funny

    I believe in free speech, I would rather glue 5000 bees to a censor.

    --
    -- Make America hate again!
  6. "To the Beemobile!" by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 3, Funny

    "You mean your Chevy?"

    "...yes."

    Also, beekeepers like their women the way they like their coffee. Covered in bees.

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
  7. If this method works... by shikaisi · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... how many sensors will I have to glue to women in order to better understand them?

    --
    No left turn unstoned.
    1. Re:If this method works... by __aaltlg1547 · · Score: 3, Funny

      They're called iPhones and research is already underway.

    2. Re:If this method works... by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 4, Funny

      You're assuming Logic can be used to understand Emotion Yeah, good luck with that !

      Men tend to focus on the goal. Get in, get out, move on.
      Women tend to focus on the journey. Take their time enjoying the experience.

      Why do some women love to shop for hours on end for new shoes*. Who the fuck knows -- but it must feel relaxing / good to them otherwise they wouldn't do it ...

      * Replace shoes with clothes, etc. Doesn't matter.

      Another way to view it:

      Men want Space
      Women need Time

      A man needs a man-cave so he can get away** and just putz around with his hobbies.
      A woman want you to spend time with them doing pointless shit like shopping for hours on end, gardening for hours, etc, or whatever her hobby is. She just wants you to spend time with her. Yes, we know you could optimize shopping via in--n-out-bam in 5 minutes. She doesn't care and thinks you're missing the point (journey). You think she's missing point (goal). Two diametrically opposed unspoken goals which usually ends up in an argument. Expectations are completely out of sync.

      ** Old engineer joke

      An architect, an artist and an engineer were discussing whether it was better to spend time with the wife or a mistress. The architect said he enjoyed time with his wife, building a solid foundation for an enduring relationship. The artist said he enjoyed time with his mistress, because of the passion and mystery he found there.

      The engineer said, "I like both."

      "Both?" they asked.

      Engineer: "Yeah. If you have a wife and a mistress, they will each assume you are spending time with the other woman, and you can go to the lab and get some work done."

  8. Oy! by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 3, Funny

    What is it you do again son?

    Well, last night I had to work late; I was shaving bees ...

    Oy, my son shaving bees! What your father would say!

  9. Re:Humans and Aliens, not so different by ohieaux · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Isn't this the same as some government/business tracking us with our cell phones?

    --
    Where all think alike, no one thinks very much.
  10. How long does it take? by sabbede · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ..to glue tags onto 5000 bees? Workers only live for a few weeks, so unless they have a LOT of bee-gluers hard at work won't their tagged bees start dying before they finish?

    1. Re:How long does it take? by Vitriol+Angst · · Score: 3, Funny

      No matter what, someone is going to be literally and figuratively "busy as a bee."

      --
      >>"ad space available -- low rates!!!"