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Spontaneous problem-solving in bumble bees.

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Title: Spontaneous problem-solving in bumble bees.
Authors: Bhambore, Akshaye A. (AUTHOR), Akmeşe, Ece N. (AUTHOR), Häkkinen, Emma (AUTHOR), Jussila, Milla K. (AUTHOR), Kantola, Juha-Heikki (AUTHOR), Loukola, Olli J. (AUTHOR)
Source: Science. 6/4/2026, Vol. 392 Issue 6802, p1046-1049. 4p.
Subjects: Problem solving, Object manipulation, Animal cognition, Cognitive testing, Bumblebees, Cognitive flexibility, Action theory (Psychology)
Abstract: Problem-solving using novel solutions without explicit training is often considered a hallmark of cognitive flexibility. We investigated whether bumble bees (Bombus terrestris) could solve a novel object manipulation task spontaneously. Bees trained to associate a blue ring ("flower") on the floor with a reward successfully moved a ball underneath a flower relocated to the ceiling to reach the flower. In control experiments in which the flower was out of sight when ball movement began and remained hidden during transport, bees still succeeded in the task. These results suggest that these were goal-directed actions rather than reinforcement-based associations driven by perceptual feedback. Our findings provide evidence that bumble bees can exhibit spontaneous problem-solving, challenging the notion that such advanced cognitive abilities are exclusive to large-brained vertebrates. Editor's summary: Recent research has revealed that bumble bees are much more cognitively advanced than previously thought: They play with balls, count, recognize faces, and even feel rhythm. However, it has not been shown that they could achieve one of the highest peaks of cognitive performance: the ability to spontaneously solve a problem. Bhambore et al. tested this ability by providing bees with a ball that could be used as a tool to reach an otherwise unreachable flower reward. Bees that had been allowed to play with a ball and experience the flower spontaneously learned to move the ball to access the flower when they were present together. —Sacha Vignieri [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Science is the property of American Association for the Advancement of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Spontaneous problem-solving in bumble bees.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bhambore%2C+Akshaye+A%2E%22">Bhambore, Akshaye A.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Akmeşe%2C+Ece+N%2E%22">Akmeşe, Ece N.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Häkkinen%2C+Emma%22">Häkkinen, Emma</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jussila%2C+Milla+K%2E%22">Jussila, Milla K.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kantola%2C+Juha-Heikki%22">Kantola, Juha-Heikki</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Loukola%2C+Olli+J%2E%22">Loukola, Olli J.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Science%22">Science</searchLink>. 6/4/2026, Vol. 392 Issue 6802, p1046-1049. 4p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Problem+solving%22">Problem solving</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Object+manipulation%22">Object manipulation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Animal+cognition%22">Animal cognition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+testing%22">Cognitive testing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bumblebees%22">Bumblebees</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+flexibility%22">Cognitive flexibility</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Action+theory+%28Psychology%29%22">Action theory (Psychology)</searchLink>
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  Data: Problem-solving using novel solutions without explicit training is often considered a hallmark of cognitive flexibility. We investigated whether bumble bees (Bombus terrestris) could solve a novel object manipulation task spontaneously. Bees trained to associate a blue ring ("flower") on the floor with a reward successfully moved a ball underneath a flower relocated to the ceiling to reach the flower. In control experiments in which the flower was out of sight when ball movement began and remained hidden during transport, bees still succeeded in the task. These results suggest that these were goal-directed actions rather than reinforcement-based associations driven by perceptual feedback. Our findings provide evidence that bumble bees can exhibit spontaneous problem-solving, challenging the notion that such advanced cognitive abilities are exclusive to large-brained vertebrates. Editor's summary: Recent research has revealed that bumble bees are much more cognitively advanced than previously thought: They play with balls, count, recognize faces, and even feel rhythm. However, it has not been shown that they could achieve one of the highest peaks of cognitive performance: the ability to spontaneously solve a problem. Bhambore et al. tested this ability by providing bees with a ball that could be used as a tool to reach an otherwise unreachable flower reward. Bees that had been allowed to play with a ball and experience the flower spontaneously learned to move the ball to access the flower when they were present together. —Sacha Vignieri [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Science is the property of American Association for the Advancement of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – SubjectFull: Action theory (Psychology)
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              Text: 6/4/2026
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