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Do bees have feelings? Study reveals the insects' 'inner life'

New research found bumblebees showed "emotion-like behaviours" previously only seen in mammals.

Published July 9, 2026, 12:28 AM
Updated July 9, 2026, 5:36 AM3.4K
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Do bees have feelings? Study reveals the insects' 'inner life'

In a first-of-its-kind study from Australia's Macquarie University, in collaboration with Southern Medical University in China, researchers observed bees showing "emotion-like behaviours" previously only seen in mammals.

The BBC's Australia reporter Lana Lam explains how their work suggests that bees might have a much richer inner life than ever thought before.

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