Chapter 1: Understanding the Language of Nature

The moment I asked my father if he perceives the same hue of green in the grass as I do, and he replied that we can never truly know, ignited a lifelong intrigue in me about perspective — the distinct ways in which every individual and organism perceives our shared world. This concept, known as umwelt, encapsulates the subjective experiences of different life forms. In essence, no matter how much we share about ourselves, we can never completely understand one another’s thoughts, memories, or emotions, just as I cannot comprehend how my cats or plants experience life.

Yet, there is much to uncover about different species. While it's relatively straightforward for humans to connect through dialogue and observation, delving into how flora and fauna perceive their environments presents a greater challenge. Although we often consider our species superior, other organisms possess incredible capabilities that remain beyond our understanding. For instance, humans rely on verbal communication, while other beings have unique methods for exchanging information. Bees, for example, don’t randomly select flowers; instead, they are informed by flowers about their pollen status and whether they are currently occupied with another bee through the use of electric fields.

Section 1.1: The Electric Connection

Scientific inquiry into the role of natural electric forces in the relationship between pollinators and flowers began in the mid-1970s and early 80s. However, the lack of technological advancement at the time hindered further exploration. This theory remained dormant until it was revived in 1995 and 2001, when empirical evidence began to surface, yet additional research was still required.

In 2013, sensory biologist Daniel Robert from the University of Bristol approached this concept from a fresh angle. Unlike many of his contemporaries who were botanists, Robert focused on how animals perceive their surroundings. He posed a question to National Geographic that had seemingly gone unanswered: “Does the bee know anything about this process?” Surprisingly, this inquiry had not been explored before. Robert remarked, “We read all of the papers. We even had one translated from Russian, but no one had made that intellectual leap.”

Instead of abandoning his curiosity, Robert collaborated with physicist Dominic Clarke, biologist Gregory Sutton, and botanist Heather Whitney to investigate further. Their findings were published in Science in February 2013, with additional research featured in the Journal of Comparative Physiology in June 2017.

Subsection 1.1.1: How Pollination Works

The research team discovered that bumblebees can detect a flower’s electric field, differentiate between fields created by various floral shapes, and recognize if another bee has recently visited a flower. Both bees and flowers emit electric fields. While flying, bees encounter charged particles, which can strip electrons from their bodies, resulting in a positive charge. Conversely, flowers typically carry a negative charge, especially during mild weather. This negative charge is influenced by a plant’s roots and the surrounding atmosphere, creating a subtle electric field around them.

Interestingly, pollen can leap from the flower to the bee when a positively charged bee approaches a negatively charged flower. Robert explained to National Geographic, “We found some videos showing that pollen literally jumps from the flower to the bee as the bee approaches… even before it has landed.”

When a bee lands on a flower, it temporarily increases the flower's charge, signaling to other bees that it has been visited and may have depleted nectar, akin to the flower saying, “I’m out of stock. Check back later.” This interaction also communicates to other bees that the flower is occupied.

Chapter 2: Broader Implications of Electric Fields

The first video, The Perils and Secret Language of Bees, explores how bees navigate their environments using electric fields and the implications for their survival.

As research continues, scientists have found that bees are not alone in their ability to detect electric fields. Since 1962, it has been suggested that insect exoskeletons can acquire electric charges. Notably, a 2018 study revealed that spiders also utilize Earth’s electric field for traveling across vast distances, challenging previous assumptions that they solely relied on the wind.

Returning to the interaction between bees and flowers, future studies aim to explore how environmental factors, such as humidity and canopy density, influence these electric fields and the foraging behavior of pollinators. For instance, high humidity can prevent charge buildup, while dense foliage may obstruct the atmospheric electric field, potentially hindering floral electric fields altogether.

Insects are just one category of organisms sensitive to electric fields. Numerous species across the animal kingdom have developed the ability to detect and use electric fields for hunting, navigation, and communication. Ongoing research promises to reveal even more about these remarkable abilities.