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Scientists found that giving bees absorbenthydrogel can help them survive harmful pesticides. Bees are important for plants and crops but can get sick from chemicals in pollen. Hydrogel, a safe material, can stick to pesticides in the bees’ bodies. Researchers tested this on common eastern bumblebees.
Julia Caserto and her team from Cornell University in New York did the study. They put tiny hydrogel particles in sugar water for the bees to drink. The bees then got a lot of pesticides. Bees that had hydrogel had a better chance of staying alive.
When bees had pesticides that could make them sick, hydrogel helped them feel better. Bees with hydrogel could eat, walk, and fly more easily. This could be a good solution for managed bee colonies, like those for honey and crops.
Hydrogel can be added to bee food to protect them from pesticides. This can help bees stay healthy and safe while working.
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Vocabulary List:
6 words · tap to reveal
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Hydrogel/ˈhaɪ.drəʊ.ɡɛl/noun
A water-absorbing gel used in various applications including agriculture and medicine.
Pesticides/ˈpɛs.tɪ.sɑɪdz/noun
Chemical substances used to kill pests that harm crops and plants.
Absorbent/əbˈzɔr.bənt/adjective
Having the ability to soak up liquid or moisture.
Survive/sərˈvaɪv/verb
To continue to live or exist especially after a dangerous situation.
Colony/ˈkɑː.lə.ni/noun
A group of organisms living together especially in reference to social insects like bees.
Chemicals/ˈkɛmɪkəlz/noun
Substances with a defined composition used in or produced by chemical processes.
