JOY Drive

6 Feb 2025

Dr Scarlett Howard: Bees and ordering numbers

Animals, Natural Sciences

Numbers are all around us, and as humans, we naturally organise them in a particular way, typically from left to right. But did you know we are not the only ones who do this? Research has found that some animals, including birds and bees, also have a mental number line. This challenges the idea that numerical thinking is unique to humans or large-brained animals.

A recent study revealed that bees, despite having tiny brains, tend to order numbers from left to right, just like many humans.

But how do researchers even test something like this in bees? And what does this tell us about how brains, big and small, process information?

Guest: Dr Scarlett Howard, Lecturer. School of Biological Sciences at Monash University

Presenter: Warren Andrew

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 7:37 — 10.5MB)

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21 Dec 2025

Associate Professor Liam Burke: What Netflix Buying Warner Bros Could Mean for Cinema

News & Politics, Society & Culture, TV & Film

Netflix’s move to buy Warner Bros has raised questions about the future of cinema. Associate Professor Liam Burke explains the ...

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Associate Professor Lauren Rosewarne: Why Christmas Songs Get Stuck in Our Heads

Music, Popular Culture, Psychology, Society & Culture

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Lee Knight: Preventing Domestic Violence Before It Happens

Health, Personal Safety, Psychology, Relationships, Science & Medicine

A world-first Australian trial is exploring whether treating impulsivity could help prevent domestic and family violence before harm occurs. Lee ...