Season 8 Episode 0: About Bees, Culture & Curiosity Podcast – Spring 2026 Trailer and News Briefs

Starting off Spring 2026 with a preview of the season ahead plus some chat about 12 recent bee news stories.

From the United Kingdom, Bee brain model offers insights into next-gen AI.

https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/news/bee-brain-study-offers-insights-into-next-gen-ai/

Social encapsulation of parasite eggs by honeybee colonies

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-40183-5

In Sweden, the trade association Beekeeping Entrepreneurs collected honey from Swedish grocery stores, sent samples to Estonia for analysis using new DNA method.

https://www.landlantbruk.se/dna-test-av-importhonung-visar-omfattande-fusk

From Spain: New traps at Palma Port aim to detect deadly invasive hornets before they spread across Mallorca https://www.majorcadailybulletin.com/news/local/2026/03/05/140661/new-traps-palma-port-aim-detect-deadly-invasive-hornets-before-they-spread-across-mallorca.html

From the NYTimes: A Study Is Retracted, Renewing Concerns About the Weedkiller Roundup

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/climate/glyphosate-roundup-retracted-study.html

March 8, NYTimes: A Trump Order Protected a Weedkiller

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/08/climate/bayer-white-phosphate-glyphosate-roundup-trump-executive-order-munition.html

Canada's population declined by more than 100,000 people in 2025

Canada reports first annual population decline on record - The Globe and Mail

Pascarella's 2024 paper on bee diversity

Bombs versus bees: bee diversity on military bases and preserves in Texas, USA

Wild populations of Apis mellifera have now been classified as endangered in the European Union following a recent reassessment for the IUCN Red List.

Wild honeybees now officially listed as endangered in the EU

Bees Kneez Apiaries: Beechina emergency-level bushfire destroyed 50 hives, kills about three million bees

https://www.perthnow.com.au/wa/bees-kneez-apiaries-beechina-emergency-level-bushfire-destroyed-50-hives-kills-about-three-million-bees-c-21933066

From CBC, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation making butter.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/how-to-churn-butter-while-running-9.7127209

From Taipei Times, Beehive tech could help boost fruit production

https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/03/16/2003853892

USDA American beekeeping statistics

https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Todays_Reports/reports/hony0326.pdf

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Podcast website: https://sites.libsyn.com/540327/site About Ron Miksha: https://about-bees.org/about-ron/

Finally: email your questions, comments, and angst: [email protected]