China Creates Lightest Mind-Control Device for Bees

Scientists in China have built the world’s lightest brain controller, which can control the flight of bees. Developed by a team at the Beijing Institute of Technology, the device turns bees into cyborgs that could be used in military missions or rescue operations. This invention opens new possibilities in using insects for work that humans or machines cannot easily do.

How the Device Works

The brain controller weighs just 74 milligrams, making it the lightest ever made. It is strapped to a bee’s back and has three tiny needles that enter the bee’s brain. The device sends electronic signals that guide the bee to fly left, right, forward, or back. In tests, the bees followed the commands 9 out of 10 times.

The signals create illusions in the bee’s brain, making it think it’s moving on its own. This allows scientists to guide it precisely. The project leader, Professor Zhao Jieliang, said these insect cyborgs can move better, hide more easily, and last longer than small man-made robots.

Use in Military and Emergency Work

Professor Zhao explained that these bee cyborgs could be used for secret military tasks, counterterrorism, drug searches, and even rescue work in disaster-hit areas. Insects like bees are small, quick, and can reach places where drones or people cannot go. This gives them an edge in urban combat and dangerous zones.

The idea was inspired by earlier research in Singapore, where beetles and cockroaches were controlled in a similar way. However, China’s version is three times lighter than the earlier model.

Future Challenges

The biggest challenge now is battery life. The current battery is small, so it runs out quickly. A bigger battery would be too heavy for the bee to carry. Also, the device needs changes to be used on different insects, since each species reacts to signals differently.

Professor Zhao’s team plans to improve the precision and repeatability of the insect’s movement by making the signals smarter and more controlled in future research.