Covered in BEES!

Robot bees, that is. Yes, today's Illumination comes from Delft University in the Netherlands, where scientists are working on creating robot bees to replace/supplement natural bees in pollinating plants around the world.

The scientists have studied the flight patterns and movements of fruit flies to get that evasive motion nailed down for their bees. Currently, they can't fly for long - about six minutes on the current batteries - but the robots are being fitted with sensors that will allows them to move automatically from flower to flower and avoid running into each other.

Bees have been having a hard time as of late, but it's great to see that some scientists are working on a way to keep things pollinated, even as other scientists are working on saving the bees themselves.

So useful, and stylish, too!