Bumblebees can spontaneously solve problems, study finds

Key points

• Despite having tiny brains, bumblebees have demonstrated a remarkable ability to socially learn how to use tools, solve simple puzzles, and cooperate to achieve a goal.
• It seems they can also solve object-manipulation tasks without any previous training, according to a new paper published in the journal Science.
• According to the authors, it’s the first time this kind of spontaneous problem-solving has been demonstrated in an insect.
• In 2024, Olli Loukola of the University of Finland co-authored a study demonstrating that bumblebees could cooperate to solve complex challenges.
• It’s the kind of cognitive task scientists had previously only observed in large-brained mammals like humans and chimpanzees.