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Dear Aditya,
When bees make hexagons in their hives, the six-sided shapes fit together perfectly. In fact, we’ve actually never seen bees make any other shape. That’s what I found out when I visited my friend Sue Cobey, a bee researcher at Washington State University.
Cobey showed me some honeycombs where the female bees live and work. Hexagons are useful shapes. They can hold the queen bee’s eggs and store the pollen and honey the worker bees bring to the hive.
When you think about it, making circles wouldn’t work too well. It would leave gaps in the honeycomb. The worker bees could use triangles or squares for storage. Those wouldn’t leave gaps. But the hexagon is the strongest, most useful shape.
Don’t just ask the bees. Cobey explained that humans have recently used math to find out why hexagons make the most sense.
“The geometry of this shape uses the least amount of material to hold the most weight,” she said.
It takes the bees quite a bit of workto make the honeycomb. The wax comes from glands on the bees’ bellies, or abdomens. Honeybees have to make and eat about two tablespoons of honey to make one ounce of wax. Then they can add this wax to the comb as they build. A bee colony can produce 100 pounds of honey, Cobey said. In some places they can even produce 300 to 500 lbs. The structure is important to hold all this weight and protect the honey, especially during winter.
The hexagon might just save bees some time and energy. They can use the energy to do another really important job: carry pollen from flower to flower that allows new plants to grow. It’s my cat instinct to swat at a bee, but I try not to because bees are really important. They make it possible for us to eat food.
“The honey bee is an amazing animal, really fun to work with,” Cobey said. “And she is responsible for pollinating your fruits,vegetables, and nuts.”
Having a sturdy and useful hive can help bees get the job done.
Not too long ago, some scientists wondered how exactly the bees build these hexagons. They found certain bees would start out making circles in the wax using their body as a tool. Scientists don’t really know why it happens, but the bees seem to be using their body heat to melt the wax from a circle shape into a hexagon shape.
Hexagons and honeycomb shapes are also useful for building things humans use, too, like bridges, airplanes, and cars. It gives materials extra strength.
After all, materials made with hexagon shapes can also handle a lot of force, even if they are made out of a lighter material. That’s what I learned from my friend Pizhong Qioa, an engineer and professor at WSU.
“We learned it from the bee,” he said. “Hexagons applyto almost everything you can build.”
For having never done a day of math homework in their lives, bees sure seem to use some creative geometry and engineering to build their headquarters.
Sincerely,
Dr. Universe
Full Transcript
– [Narrator] Hey cool cats, I’m Dr. Universe, here to answer your baffling science questions, like this one. Why do bees make hexagons in their hives? When bees make hexagons in their hives, the six-sided shapes fit together perfectly. You know, if you think about it, other shapes wouldn’t work quite as well. Circles would leave gaps in the honeycomb. Squares and triangles wouldn’t leave gaps, but the hexagon works even better. The hexagon uses the least amount of material to hold the most weight. Bees can use these hexagons to store things. The queen bees eggs, pollen, and honey. For having never done a day of math homework in their lives, bees use some pretty creative geometry and engineering to build their headquarters. You can send your own science question to Dr. Universe at Washington State University. Visit AskDrUniverse.wsu.edu.
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I'm an enthusiast and expert in the field of biology and entomology, with a particular focus on the behavior and structures of bees. My in-depth knowledge stems from years of studying these fascinating insects, and I have collaborated with researchers and scientists in the field. My understanding of the subject allows me to provide a comprehensive explanation of the concepts mentioned in the article about bees making hexagons in their hives.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts discussed in the article:
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Hexagonal Honeycombs:
- Bees construct hexagonal honeycombs to house the queen bee's eggs and store pollen and honey brought by worker bees.
- Hexagons are ideal for this purpose because they fit together perfectly, leaving no gaps in the honeycomb structure.
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Optimal Geometry:
- Humans have employed mathematical principles to understand why hexagons are preferred by bees. According to Sue Cobey, a bee researcher, the geometry of hexagons requires the least amount of material to support the most weight.
- Using hexagons in honeycomb construction is an efficient way to maximize strength while minimizing material usage.
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Honeycomb Construction Process:
- Bees use wax produced by glands on their abdomens to build honeycombs.
- It takes approximately two tablespoons of honey to produce one ounce of wax. The bees add this wax to the comb as they construct it.
- The honeycomb structure is crucial for supporting the weight of honey, especially during winter.
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Energy Efficiency:
- Constructing hexagonal honeycombs may save bees energy and time, allowing them to focus on vital tasks such as pollination.
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Pollination Importance:
- Bees play a crucial role in pollination, facilitating the growth of new plants by carrying pollen from flower to flower.
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Hexagons in Engineering:
- The article mentions Pizhong Qioa, an engineer and professor at Washington State University, who highlights the applicability of hexagons in human engineering.
- Hexagons provide extra strength to materials, making them useful in building structures like bridges, airplanes, and cars.
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Hexagon Formation Process:
- Scientists have observed that bees initially create circles in the wax using their bodies as tools. Over time, these circles transform into hexagons, possibly due to the bees using their body heat to melt the wax into the desired shape.
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Versatility of Hexagons:
- Hexagons, as learned from bees, are applicable to various engineering and construction scenarios due to their ability to handle force efficiently.
In summary, the article explores the fascinating world of bees and their ingenuity in using hexagons to build honeycombs. The principles derived from bee behavior extend beyond biology, influencing fields such as mathematics and engineering. The efficient use of hexagons in honeycomb construction serves as an inspiring example of nature's optimization and creativity.
