Bees understand the idea of zero.

In a 2018 study, honeybees were trained to choose cards with fewer shapes. When shown a blank card, they understood it as fewer than one. Zero is a concept many young children take years to grasp.

Truth label: Established. Strong evidence and broad agreement among experts.

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Bees can count

Other studies show they can track up to about four landmarks to find food.

Tiny brains

A bee's brain has under a million neurons, suggesting maths needs less brainpower than we thought.

Learn

1. Why it matters. If bees get there, the roots of number sense may be very old and widespread in nature.

Test yourself

Sources

• Bee learning and communication

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