WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue University researchers are looking “down under” to see if bees can provide new building concepts for sustainable manufacturing.
Nik Chawla is a professor of materials engineering. He and his colleagues are studying how Australian stingless bees are building honeycombs.
Using advanced X-ray imaging, Chawla can study intricate designs that solidify the structure without damaging the comb. He was amazed by how the bees built precise vertical support structures between the levels.
Chawla, also Purdue’s associate dean for engineering in Indianapolis, says that in addition to manufacturing techniques, the research has shown how the bees exhibit intelligence and teamwork.
