Scientists recently made an amazing discovery about bumblebees. They found that queen bumblebees can breathe underwater and survive for up to a week while fully submerged.

This was surprising because bees are not known to spend time in water. The discovery happened after vials holding queen bees flooded in a lab accident.

To investigate further, scientists conducted an experiment. They placed hibernating queen bees in vials filled with cold water for eight days. They measured oxygen and carbon dioxide* levels to confirm whether the bees were still breathing. The results showed that the bees were taking in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide even while underwater.

How bumblebees are able to breathe underwater remains unclear. However, it is possible that they use a thin layer of air around their bodies, like some aquatic insects.

This discovery is significant because it shows how strong and adaptable bees are. It may also help scientists understand how bees survive floods in nature.

* carbon dioxide 이산화탄소