4 ms·

Are the bees actually sleeping (in the neurological sense) or is their metabolism slowed by the cold?

• nn3 8y ago
  All animals sleep.
  • croo 8y ago
    This comment is in a dire need of citation. Let me provide it: Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker. The book states that every living organism on earth so far tested has shown signs of sleep or sleep like behaviour (like not moving for periods of time, relaxed state, etc).
• saagarjha 8y ago
  Sleep is ill-defined for non-mammals, so it really depends on what you mean by "sleep".
  • labster 8y ago
    Mammals and birds sleep. Everything else has some kind of circadian rhythm that approximates sleep to varying degrees.
  • presscast 8y ago
    I'm opposing the slowing of metabolic state due to external temperature versus a neurological origin.
• jhbadger 8y ago
  Even insects sleep in general. A recent finding of mutant fruit flies that don't seem to sleep (and appear fine) is actually a big deal. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/02/scientists-say-every-animal-needs-sleep-these-fruit-flies-didn-t-get-memo https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/02/scientists-say-every...