In a groundbreaking discovery, bumblebees (大黄蜂) have shown a previously unseen level of cognitive (认知的) ability. A new study, published in Nature, shows that they can learn difficult, multi-step tasks through social interaction, even if they cannot figure them out on their own.

Led by Dr Alice Bridges and Professor Lars Chittka, the research team designed a two-step puzzle (谜题) box requiring bumblebees to perform two separated actions to get a sweet reward at the end. Training bees to do this was no easy task, and bees had to be helped along by the addition of an extra reward at the end of the first step. This reward in the middle was finally taken away, and bees later had to open the whole box before getting their treat. Then some trained bees repeated the whole process for demonstration.

Surprisingly, while bees that worked on their own had great difficulty in solving the puzzle, those allowed to watch a demonstrator bee finished the two steps easily — even the first — while only getting a reward at the end.

This study shows that bumblebees have a level of social learning previously thought to be unique to humans. They can share and learn behaviors that are beyond their individual cognitive abilities. Professor Chittka further notes the implications, “This challenges the traditional view that only humans can socially learn difficult behavior beyond individual learning. It raises the amazing possibility that many of the greatest achievements of the social insects, like the nesting architectures of bees or the agricultural habits of ants, may have initially spread by copying clever innovators, before they finally became part of the species-specific behaviors.”

This groundbreaking research opens new possibilities for understanding animal intelligence and the development of social learning. It challenges longstanding assumptions and helps us learn more about the cognitive wonders of insects, even suggesting the exciting possibility of advanced culture amongst seemingly simple creatures.

A new study, published in The Journal of Experimental Psychology, found that communication interactions that included voice, like a phone call or video chat, created stronger social bonds than communication through typing, like text messaging or email.

In the study, researchers used various experiments to gauge (测量) connectedness. In one, they asked 200 people to make predictions about what it would be like to reconnect with an old friend by email or by phone and then assigned people at random to do one or the other. Although people predicted that a phone call would be more awkward, hearing someone’s voice actually made the experience better. However, people who participated in the experiment reported that they did form a significantly stronger bond with their old friend on the phone versus email, and they did not feel more awkward.

In another experiment, the researchers had strangers connected by either texting, talking over video chat, or talking using only audio(声音). They found that both forms of voice communication — whether video or audio only — made the strangers feel significantly more connected than when they communicated via text.

Sabrina Romanoff, a Harvard trained clinical psychologist based in New York City, says people tend to text or email instead of calling because of convenience, as they see it as a controlled form of communication where they can express thoughts without being disturbed.

Romanoff says that in reality, texting can make it hard to determine the true meaning behind a conversation. A phone call is actually more convenient when considering the net effects of the message. In face-to-face communication, people are able to gauge the meaning behind the content more easily without thinking the endless possible meanings behind words and punctuation.

No matter where you go in the world, you will notice something unusual about the trees — their trunks (树干) are painted white, People whitewash trees for a variety of reasons, depending on the area they live in.

In Mexico, the purpose of whitewashing is to protect the tree and fight against a specific type of ant.

Greece is another country where you can find trees painted white. According to tradition, during Easter (复活节), everything gets whitewashed. Make sure to plan your next trip to Greece if you won’t want to miss this interesting and unique tradition.

Generally speaking, the main purpose of whitewashing is to protect the tree from heat and insects. And few are as effective and accessible as whitewashing.

When the tree is exposed to too much sun in the daytime, the tree cells become more active; however, the roots as well as the other unexposed areas of the tree remain inactive. If the water that the tree needs cannot be provided from the roots, the tree will have a dry surface. Once you whitewash them, the surfaces of young trees won’t get dry easily.

Pure white paint works efficiently when it comes to reflecting both heat and sunlight away from the tree. White paint allows the tree to spend more time taking in carbon dioxide (CO₂). The more carbon dioxide the trees take in, the more energy they create. Gardeners whitewash trees not only for protecting their trees but also increasing fruit production.

If the tree is suffering from being sunburned, the wound can also allow the insects to enter the inside of the tree. Moreover, relative diseases can affect how the tree grows. Whitewash prevents any access to the inside of the tree.

Painting the trees white won’t stop traffic accidents, but it can make them less frequent, because drivers can see the trees much more clearly, even during the night.