Bumblebees with brains the size of a sesame seed can solve problems that challenge chimpanzees, according to a new study published in the journal Science. The finding upends the idea that complex, goal-oriented problem-solving requires a large brain.
What the Researchers Found
Biologists at Finland's University of Oulu, led by Olli Loukola, set out to test whether bumblebees could use an object as a tool to reach a reward, a cognitive feat previously observed only in vertebrates. They first taught bees to associate a blue dot with a sugary reward, then placed the dot out of reach on the ceiling of the enclosure.
The bees were given a small styrofoam ball. Without any prior training to move the ball, the bees spontaneously rolled it under the blue dot and climbed on top to collect the reward. This mirrors the classic "box-and-banana" experiment with chimpanzees, where a chimp stacks boxes to reach a hanging banana—inventing a solution on the spot.
The study, published on June 4, 2026, also ruled out that the bees were simply following visual cues. When researchers placed barriers so the bees couldn't see the blue dot while rolling the ball, they still succeeded, indicating they had a mental representation of the goal.
Why This Matters for Human Intelligence
This research challenges the assumption that cognitive abilities like insight and tool use require a large brain. A bee has about 1 million neurons, whereas a chimpanzee has roughly 2.8 billion—2,800 times more. Yet both species can solve novel problems that require understanding cause and effect.
For humans, this suggests that intelligence is not solely a product of brain size or neuron count. Instead, the brain's wiring and problem-solving strategies may matter more than raw processing power. This has implications for how we view and measure human intelligence, which often focuses on speed and volume of information processing rather than creative problem-solving.
What You Can Do
You can train your own problem-solving skills by exposing yourself to novel challenges. Instead of always using a familiar approach, try to find new ways to reach a goal. For example, when stuck on a task, ask: "What if I had never seen this problem before—what would I do?" This kind of thinking can improve your cognitive flexibility.
Source: Nautilus
Curious about your own brain? Take our free adaptive IQ test or try 306 brain training levels.