Scientists solve mystery behind honeybee's sting

Australian scientists have unraveled the science behind the seemingly relentless sting of a honeybee. The revelation, published in the U.S. journal PNAS, could bring benefits beyond just a better understanding of bees.

High-speed filming revealed two tiny, specially shaped valves inside the bee's stinger that act like pistons to keep pumping venom even after the bee has flown away. These valves change shape during the downstroke to form a parachute-like seal, then collapse on the upstroke to prevent backflow. This unique geometry is what allows the venom to be delivered in a continuous flow.

Lead author Fiorella Ramirez-Esquivel, from Macquarie University and the University of New South Wales, described the project as a challenging but rewarding five years of work. The discovery could potentially be applied in medical technologies, such as in the design of insulin pumps.

The research, while meticulous and sometimes unpleasant due to handling live bees, was deemed a worthwhile endeavor by the scientists. Ramirez-Esquivel herself was stung once when trying to catch a bee, a fate she acknowledged was fair given her actions.