Now a revolutionary technology, which for a decade has helped scientists keep Boeing planes aloft and NASA spacecraft soaring, is aiding University of Washington scientists as they try to reveal the secrets of these fantastic fliers. The research, using a unique paint that glows under ultraviolet light at varying intensity according to air pressure, will be the first to provide scientists with quantitative experimental answers to the bee-flight question.
Scientists plan to make a map showing the lift pressure across the bee wing during flight.
That would show where the force comes from to get the bees off the ground. Tom Daniel, a zoology professor working with Callis, said the project represents a new push nationally toward research on highly complex systems. But bees don't fly like a 747. The elaborate, curving strokes create vortexes and currents that allow precise maneuvering and hovering flight. To develop the big picture of how flight works, Daniel and his zoology students will share their expertise of wing structure and nervous system control.