{"id":1878395,"date":"2026-04-12T05:00:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T02:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1878395"},"modified":"2026-04-12T05:00:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T02:00:41","slug":"resilience-to-environmental-extremes-queen-bees-survive-winter-by-breathing-underwater","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1878395","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Resilience to environmental extremes\u2019: Queen bees survive winter by breathing underwater"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/74\/00\/1200x675_cmsv2_821efc2a-1fec-5da5-a2e8-b3c1c4cb4588-9717400.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2885166-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2885166\" data-cid=\"9717249\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885166-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/72\/49\/189x106_cmsv2_02d60bb7-a709-5d11-a614-dfb2d9c43fc5-9717249.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People walk next to a campaign poster which reads, &quot;Our message to Brussels: We won't pay&quot; in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday, March 14, 2026, ahead of the April 12 parliamenta\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Hungary begins to vote: Orb\u00e1n and Magyar face off in historic vote\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885254-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2885254\" data-cid=\"9717732\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885254-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/77\/32\/189x106_cmsv2_381518b3-5291-5229-a29f-7c28178bff6e-9717732.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A cashier changes a 50 Euro banknote with US dollars at an exchange counter in Rome, Wednesday, July 13, 2022.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Economy<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU\u2019s top 5 economies vs top 5 US states: How do they compare in GDP?\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885498-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2885498\" data-cid=\"9718633\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885498-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/86\/33\/189x106_cmsv2_4368446d-0e95-54fd-aefb-d0f9825f9756-9718633.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Pope Leo XIV leads a vigil for peace inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, April 11, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;Enough of war!&#8217; says Pope Leo XIV who grows increasingly frustrated\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885483-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2885483\" data-cid=\"9718594\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885483-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/85\/94\/189x106_cmsv2_7d9201ee-a6bf-53d9-b51e-079232e6889c-9718594.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A roundtable held with the participation of Azerbaijani and Armenian civil society representatives as part of the \u201cPeace Bridge\u201d initiative.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Azerbaijan<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Armenia and Azerbaijan civil societies hold talks to push peace plans\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885166-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2885166\" data-cid=\"9717249\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885166-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/72\/49\/189x106_cmsv2_02d60bb7-a709-5d11-a614-dfb2d9c43fc5-9717249.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People walk next to a campaign poster which reads, &quot;Our message to Brussels: We won't pay&quot; in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday, March 14, 2026, ahead of the April 12 parliamenta\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Hungary begins to vote: Orb\u00e1n and Magyar face off in historic vote\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885254-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2885254\" data-cid=\"9717732\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885254-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/77\/32\/189x106_cmsv2_381518b3-5291-5229-a29f-7c28178bff6e-9717732.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A cashier changes a 50 Euro banknote with US dollars at an exchange counter in Rome, Wednesday, July 13, 2022.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Economy<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU\u2019s top 5 economies vs top 5 US states: How do they compare in GDP?\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885498-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2885498\" data-cid=\"9718633\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885498-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/86\/33\/189x106_cmsv2_4368446d-0e95-54fd-aefb-d0f9825f9756-9718633.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Pope Leo XIV leads a vigil for peace inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, April 11, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;Enough of war!&#8217; says Pope Leo XIV who grows increasingly frustrated\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885483-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2885483\" data-cid=\"9718594\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885483-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/85\/94\/189x106_cmsv2_7d9201ee-a6bf-53d9-b51e-079232e6889c-9718594.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A roundtable held with the participation of Azerbaijani and Armenian civil society representatives as part of the \u201cPeace Bridge\u201d initiative.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Azerbaijan<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Armenia and Azerbaijan civil societies hold talks to push peace plans\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Earth<\/p>\n<p>                          Nature<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            \u2018Resilience to environmental extremes\u2019: Queen bees survive winter by breathing underwater<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/74\/00\/1536x864_cmsv2_821efc2a-1fec-5da5-a2e8-b3c1c4cb4588-9717400.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Queen bees can breathe underwater, allowing them to stay alive over winter as melting snow floods their burrows.\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Queen bees can breathe underwater, allowing them to stay alive over winter as melting snow floods their burrows.<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Jamie Street<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Jamie Street\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspRebecca Ann Hughes\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1775883641\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-04-11 07:00:41 +02:00\">11\/04\/2026 &#8211; 7:00 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-partage-commentaire-share\"><span>Share<\/span><\/span><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup-overlay js-c-article-partage-commentaire-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-partage-commentaire-popup\" class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup js-c-article-partage-commentaire-popup\">\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup__header u-display-flex\"><span>Share<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-close.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"Close Button\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-partage-commentaire-close\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup__content u-display-flex\">\n<div id=\"partage-commentaire-popup-content-container\" class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup__content__container u-display-flex\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-facebook.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"facebook\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-facebook.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"facebook\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-twitter.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"twitter\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-twitter.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"twitter\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-flipboard.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"flipboard\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Flipboard<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-flipboard.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"flipboard\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-send.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"send\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Send<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-send.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"send\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-reddit.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"reddit\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Reddit<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-reddit.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"reddit\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-linkedin.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"linkedin\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Linkedin<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-linkedin.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"linkedin\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-messenger.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"messenger\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Messenger<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-messenger.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"messenger\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-telegram.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"telegram\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Telegram<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-telegram.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"telegram\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-vk.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"vk\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>VK<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-vk.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"vk\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"bluesky\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Bluesky<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Queen bees can breathe underwater, allowing them to stay alive over winter as melting snow floods their burrows.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content c-article-content--earth js-article-content\">\n<p>Bumblebee queens can survive underwater for at least a week, according to new research.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>This remarkable feat occurs over winter, when the insects are buried underground and have entered a hibernation-like state known as diapause.<\/p>\n<p>During this six to nine-month period, the queens are vulnerable to waterlogged conditions as rain and melting snow flood their shallow burrows. <\/p>\n<p>Scientists have discovered that queen bees manage to stay alive until spring by breathing underwater, the only members of the colony to do so. <\/p>\n<h2>Queen bees can survive underwater<\/h2>\n<p>The finding comes from a new study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.<\/p>\n<p>The investigation was sparked by an earlier chance finding by researcher Sabrina Rondeau, a co-author of the new study. <\/p>\n<p>During an experiment looking at how pesticides affect bumblebees, she placed diapausing queens in soil-filled tubes in a refrigerator. <\/p>\n<p>One day, she found that water from condensation had filled some of the tubes, leaving four queens completely submerged. To her surprise, the bees were still alive. <\/p>\n<p>Rondeau then confirmed her discovery in a 2024 study which showed that queen bumblebees can survive underwater for a week. <\/p>\n<h2>Why queen bees don\u2019t drown in flooded ground<\/h2>\n<p>The new study wanted to dig into how the queen bees had this unusual ability.<\/p>\n<p>To investigate, the team induced healthy queens into diapause by placing them in a cold, dark refrigerator that recreated winter conditions. <\/p>\n<p>After several weeks, they then submerged the insects in chambers flooded with water.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id data-event=\"widget_related\">\n<div class=\"c-widget-related__title\"><b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b><\/div>\n<ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">\u2018A celebration for the bugs\u2019: Flowers burst into colour after southern Spain\u2019s record rainfall <\/li>\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">Spiders are \u2018fundamental\u2019 for planetary health \u2013 so why are they forgotten in conservation efforts?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Some bees were kept underwater for a few hours, while others stayed for up to eight days.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout the experiment, the researchers measured their metabolic rate and recorded physiological changes.<\/p>\n<p>They found that the submerged queens continued to produce carbon dioxide at a low, but detectable, rate, showing they were breathing underwater.<\/p>\n<p>The metabolic rate remained steady whether the bees were submerged for a few hours or the full eight days.<\/p>\n<h2>Ability to endure flood-prone conditions \u2018may be critically important\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>As well as respiration, the bees relied on a supplementary anaerobic energy system, which led to lactate accumulation in their bodies, the researchers found.<\/p>\n<p>Once removed from the flooded chambers, the queens\u2019 metabolic rate spiked dramatically for two to three days as their bodies recovered and worked to clear the lactate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSuch physiological capacity underpins [queen bees\u2019] resilience to environmental extremes and provides insights into how terrestrial insects may persist in flood-prone habitats,\u201d the team wrote in their paper.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe ability to endure such conditions may be critically important, especially in the face of changing spring flooding patterns.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                          Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-partage-commentaire-share\"><span>Share<\/span><\/span><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__container\">\n<article id=\"abe-2884881-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2884881\" data-cid=\"9715716\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884881-label-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/57\/16\/480x270_cmsv2_26a7e4b8-107c-5c09-8cb9-ba299679576a-9715716.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The Mont Blanc is visible in background with the Feyzin oil refinery, near Lyon, central France, Nov. 7, 2022. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Climate<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    France is turning its back on fossil fuels \u2013 with a \u20ac240m plan<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884840-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2884840\" data-cid=\"9715504\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884840-label-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/55\/04\/480x270_cmsv2_504907bb-0b2b-5b7a-9222-eec9605dcf10-9715504.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Geologist Tuomas Pere walks down a disposal tunnel inside the Posiva Onkalo nuclear waste repository on the island of Olkiluoto, Finland, Tuesday 24 February, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Earth News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Inside the world&#8217;s first facility to bury nuclear waste in Finland<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2881873-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2881873\" data-cid=\"9705281\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2881873-label-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/70\/16\/33\/480x270_cmsv2_973fad95-bdbe-53b5-90da-f8ccf748c964-9701633.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"S\u00e3o Jo\u00e3o da Caparica Beach \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Earth News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Inside Portugal&#8217;s \u20ac111m battle to stop its beaches from vanishing<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    underwater<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    hibernation<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    Bees<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    Floods<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    Winter<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    breathing<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2885131-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2885131\" data-cid=\"9716982\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885131-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/69\/82\/320x180_cmsv2_d9bfe1d6-0d8a-5726-a0dd-213d0fb53b6e-9716982.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\" A couple walk at the salt lake during sunset in southeast coastal city of Larnaca in southeast Mediterranean island of Cyprus, on Sept. 5, 2022.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Europe hit with second-warmest March on record after February floods<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2884320-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884320\" data-cid=\"9714678\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884320-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/28\/50\/320x180_cmsv2_fd978172-fd55-56fb-99f5-b8ba4e526542-9712850.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt='Volta\" machine in a commercial establishment' height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Portugal introduces refund scheme for recycled bottles and cans<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2884881-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884881\" data-cid=\"9715716\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884881-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/57\/16\/320x180_cmsv2_26a7e4b8-107c-5c09-8cb9-ba299679576a-9715716.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The Mont Blanc is visible in background with the Feyzin oil refinery, near Lyon, central France, Nov. 7, 2022. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    France is turning its back on fossil fuels \u2013 with a \u20ac240m plan<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2884840-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884840\" data-cid=\"9715504\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884840-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/55\/04\/320x180_cmsv2_504907bb-0b2b-5b7a-9222-eec9605dcf10-9715504.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Geologist Tuomas Pere walks down a disposal tunnel inside the Posiva Onkalo nuclear waste repository on the island of Olkiluoto, Finland, Tuesday 24 February, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Inside the world&#8217;s first facility to bury nuclear waste in Finland<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2881873-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2881873\" data-cid=\"9705281\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2881873-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/70\/16\/33\/320x180_cmsv2_973fad95-bdbe-53b5-90da-f8ccf748c964-9701633.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"S\u00e3o Jo\u00e3o da Caparica Beach \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Inside Portugal&#8217;s \u20ac111m battle to stop its beaches from vanishing<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-2\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-most-viewed\">\n<h2 class=\"c-most-viewed__title qa-section-title\">Most read<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__list\">\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2885441-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2885441\" data-cid=\"9718446\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    How many birds die from wind turbines? Surprising findings<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2884881-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884881\" data-cid=\"9715716\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    France is turning its back on fossil fuels \u2013 with a \u20ac240m plan<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2884115-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884115\" data-cid=\"9711950\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    How Germany proved that plug-in solar is worth the investment<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2881873-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2881873\" data-cid=\"9705281\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Inside Portugal&#8217;s \u20ac111m battle to stop its beaches from vanishing<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">5<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2885259-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2885259\" data-cid=\"9717751\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Emperor penguins and Antarctic fur seals are now endangered<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-3\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884881-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2884881\" data-cid=\"9715716\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884881-label-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/57\/16\/480x270_cmsv2_26a7e4b8-107c-5c09-8cb9-ba299679576a-9715716.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The Mont Blanc is visible in background with the Feyzin oil refinery, near Lyon, central France, Nov. 7, 2022. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Climate<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    France is turning its back on fossil fuels \u2013 with a \u20ac240m plan<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884840-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2884840\" data-cid=\"9715504\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884840-label-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/55\/04\/480x270_cmsv2_504907bb-0b2b-5b7a-9222-eec9605dcf10-9715504.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Geologist Tuomas Pere walks down a disposal tunnel inside the Posiva Onkalo nuclear waste repository on the island of Olkiluoto, Finland, Tuesday 24 February, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Earth News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Inside the world&#8217;s first facility to bury nuclear waste in Finland<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2881873-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2881873\" data-cid=\"9705281\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2881873-label-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/70\/16\/33\/480x270_cmsv2_973fad95-bdbe-53b5-90da-f8ccf748c964-9701633.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"S\u00e3o Jo\u00e3o da Caparica Beach \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Earth News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Inside Portugal&#8217;s \u20ac111m battle to stop its beaches from vanishing<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885131-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2885131\" data-cid=\"9716982\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885131-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/69\/82\/320x180_cmsv2_d9bfe1d6-0d8a-5726-a0dd-213d0fb53b6e-9716982.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\" A couple walk at the salt lake during sunset in southeast coastal city of Larnaca in southeast Mediterranean island of Cyprus, on Sept. 5, 2022.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Europe hit with second-warmest March on record after February floods<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884320-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884320\" data-cid=\"9714678\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884320-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/28\/50\/320x180_cmsv2_fd978172-fd55-56fb-99f5-b8ba4e526542-9712850.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt='Volta\" machine in a commercial establishment' height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Portugal introduces refund scheme for recycled bottles and cans<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884881-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884881\" data-cid=\"9715716\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884881-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/57\/16\/320x180_cmsv2_26a7e4b8-107c-5c09-8cb9-ba299679576a-9715716.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The Mont Blanc is visible in background with the Feyzin oil refinery, near Lyon, central France, Nov. 7, 2022. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    France is turning its back on fossil fuels \u2013 with a \u20ac240m plan<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884840-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884840\" data-cid=\"9715504\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884840-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/55\/04\/320x180_cmsv2_504907bb-0b2b-5b7a-9222-eec9605dcf10-9715504.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Geologist Tuomas Pere walks down a disposal tunnel inside the Posiva Onkalo nuclear waste repository on the island of Olkiluoto, Finland, Tuesday 24 February, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Inside the world&#8217;s first facility to bury nuclear waste in Finland<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2881873-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2881873\" data-cid=\"9705281\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2881873-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/70\/16\/33\/320x180_cmsv2_973fad95-bdbe-53b5-90da-f8ccf748c964-9701633.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"S\u00e3o Jo\u00e3o da Caparica Beach \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Inside Portugal&#8217;s \u20ac111m battle to stop its beaches from vanishing<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885441-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2885441\" data-cid=\"9718446\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    How many birds die from wind turbines? Surprising findings<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884881-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884881\" data-cid=\"9715716\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    France is turning its back on fossil fuels \u2013 with a \u20ac240m plan<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884115-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884115\" data-cid=\"9711950\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    How Germany proved that plug-in solar is worth the investment<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2881873-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2881873\" data-cid=\"9705281\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Inside Portugal&#8217;s \u20ac111m battle to stop its beaches from vanishing<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885259-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2885259\" data-cid=\"9717751\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Emperor penguins and Antarctic fur seals are now endangered<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">Bumblebee queens can survive underwater for at least a week, according to new research.This remarkable feat occurs over winter, when the insects are buried underground and have entered a hibernation-like state known as diapause.During this six to nine-month period, the queens are vulnerable to waterlogged conditions as rain and melting snow flood their shallow burrows.\u00a0Scientists have discovered that queen bees manage to stay alive until spring by breathing underwater, the only members of the colony to do so.\u00a0\u00a0Queen bees can survive underwaterThe finding comes from a new study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.The investigation was sparked by an earlier chance finding by researcher Sabrina Rondeau, a co-author of the new study.\u00a0During an experiment looking at how pesticides affect bumblebees, she placed diapausing queens in soil-filled tubes in a refrigerator.\u00a0One day, she found that water from condensation had filled some of the tubes, leaving four queens completely submerged. To her surprise, the bees were still alive.\u00a0Rondeau then confirmed her discovery in a 2024 study which showed that queen bumblebees can survive underwater for a week.\u00a0Why queen bees don\u2019t drown in flooded groundThe new study wanted to dig into how the queen bees had this unusual ability.To investigate, the team induced healthy queens into diapause by placing them in a cold, dark refrigerator that recreated winter conditions.\u00a0After several weeks, they then submerged the insects in chambers flooded with water.Some bees were kept underwater for a few hours, while others stayed for up to eight days.Throughout the experiment, the researchers measured their metabolic rate and recorded physiological changes.They found that the submerged queens continued to produce carbon dioxide at a low, but detectable, rate, showing they were breathing underwater.The metabolic rate remained steady whether the bees were submerged for a few hours or the full eight days.Ability to endure flood-prone conditions \u2018may be critically important\u2019As well as respiration, the bees relied on a supplementary anaerobic energy system, which led to lactate accumulation in their bodies, the researchers found.Once removed from the flooded chambers, the queens\u2019 metabolic rate spiked dramatically for two to three days as their bodies recovered and worked to clear the lactate.\u201cSuch physiological capacity underpins [queen bees\u2019] resilience to environmental extremes and provides insights into how terrestrial insects may persist in flood-prone habitats,\u201d the team wrote in their paper.\u201cThe ability to endure such conditions may be critically important, especially in the face of changing spring flooding patterns.\u201d<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/04\/12\/resilience-to-environmental-extremes-queen-bees-survive-winter-by-breathing-underwater&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/74\/00\/1200x675_cmsv2_821efc2a-1fec-5da5-a2e8-b3c1c4cb4588-9717400.jpg&#8221;] Europe News Hungary begins to vote: Orb\u00e1n and Magyar face off in historic vote Economy EU\u2019s top 5 economies vs top 5 US states: How do they compare in GDP? Europe News &#8216;Enough of war!&#8217; says Pope Leo XIV who grows increasingly frustrated Azerbaijan Armenia and Azerbaijan civil societies hold talks to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-1878395","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1878395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1878395"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1878395\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1878395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1878395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1878395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}