From the hives

Solitary Bees: The Remarkable Pollinators Living in Your Backyard

Most bee species don't live in hives or make honey. Meet solitary bees, the remarkable pollinators nesting in the ground, hollow stems, and small cavities all around us.

Can Bees Recognize Human Faces? The Science Behind Bee Memory

Can a honey bee recognize your face? Research shows bees can learn to distinguish human faces despite their tiny brains. Here's what scientists have discovered about bee vision and memory.

Leydy Pech: The Mayan Beekeeper Who Fought to Protect an Ancient Beekeeping Tradition

Queen Bees: How They Mate, Store Sperm and Lead a Colony

A queen bee may mate during only a brief period of her life and store enough sperm to fertilize eggs for years. Discover how queen reproduction works and what scientists are learning about queen failure.

World Bee Day: Why We Celebrate Bees Every May 20

World Bee Day is celebrated every May 20 to recognize the importance of bees, pollinators, and beekeeping. Discover how it started and simple ways you can participate.

Do Bees Sleep? How Baby Bumble Bees Keep Worker Bees Awake

Yes, bees sleep. But research suggests bumble bee workers caring for developing young sacrifice some of that sleep, revealing another fascinating side of life inside a bee colony.

Leave the Leaves: How Your Fall Garden Helps Native Bees Survive Winter

Your fall garden provides important winter habitat for native bees and other pollinators. Learn why leaving leaves, stems, and natural spaces can help bees survive until spring

What’s Really in Flower Nectar? How Nectar Chemistry Affects Bees

Flower nectar is far more than sugar water. Discover how its complex chemistry can influence bee behavior, pollination, and potentially even the health of the bees that depend on it.

Frozen Honey: How to Make the Viral Honey Treat at Home

Frozen honey is a simple, sweet treat with a uniquely chewy texture. Learn how to make it at home, why honey doesn’t freeze solid, and what makes real honey perfect for this viral treat.

How Do Honey Bees Survive Winter? Inside a Winter Beehive

Honey bees don't hibernate when winter arrives. Discover how a colony stays warm, eats stored honey, protects its queen, and survives until flowers return.

Do Bees Pollinate Coffee? The Surprising Connection Between Bees and Your Morning Cup

Bees and coffee have a surprising connection. Discover how bees pollinate coffee flowers, influence coffee production, and help support the ecosystems behind your morning cup.

The Bees of Notre Dame: How the Cathedral’s Rooftop Hives Survived the Fire

When fire swept through Notre-Dame Cathedral in 2019, three beehives sat on a rooftop below. Discover the remarkable story of the bees that survived and Paris's tradition of urban beekeeping.