POLLINATOR DRONES
It might sound like an episode of Black Mirror, but researchers have begun using insect-sized drones to pollinate flowers in place of bees. The idea is not necessarily to replace bees but to compliment them as agricultural needs increase.
Researchers at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan unveiled the drones in early 2017, which use a special ionic gel to attach onto pollen. The team flew drones that dangled bristles made of horse hair (like a bee’s fuzzy exterior) laden with this gel. In tests on Japanese lilies, the team found the drones were able to successfully begin the process of seed production.
The research still has a long way to go, but the potential benefits are plain to see. While we shouldn’t turn a blind eye to bee decline, this research provides a promising back-up as needs increase.