Why Honeycombs are Tilted at Exactly 13 Degrees (It’s Not Why You Think!)

Описание: For centuries, beekeepers thought bees tilted their cells to stop honey from dripping out. They were 100% wrong. Discover the 13-degree secret that turns a simple honeycomb into an engineering marvel.

In this video, we debunk the oldest myth in beekeeping and explore the structural mechanics of beeswax. We look at groundbreaking 2021 research and a fascinating 1985 NASA space experiment to understand how bees sense gravity to build their hives. It turns out, the 13° tilt isn't about hydrodynamics—it's about surviving the crushing weight of 25kg of honey.


References
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Müllenhoff, K. (1883) Ueber die Entstehung der Bienenzellen. Pflüger, Arch 32: 589–618 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01628867. Accessed December 7, 2022.

Oeder, R., and Schwabe, D. (2021) The upward tilt of honeycomb cells increases the carrying capacity of the comb and is not to prevent the outflow of honey. Apidologie 52: 174–185 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-020-00.... Accessed November 23, 2022.

Vandenberg, J.D., Massie, D.R., Shimanuki, H., Peterson, J.R., and Poskevich, D.M. (1985) SURVIVAL, BEHAVIOR AND COMB CONSTRUCTION BY HONEY BEES, APIS MELLIFERA, IN ZERO GRAVITY ABOARD NASA SHUTTLE MISSION STS-13. Apidologie 16: 369–384 http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/apido:19850402. Accessed December 7, 2022.