Propolis Science

02/20/2026

Scientists issue warning after observing concerning change in bees' behavior: 'This could limit'

Honeybees are critical pollinators for food security.

Honeybees are struggling to survive rising summer temperatures, and scientists are sounding the alarm. New research shows that even with their natural cooling behaviors, hives are overheating for long stretches of the day, a trend that could make some regions too hot for colonies to survive.

Why does this matter? Bees are essential for pollinating the fruits, vegetables, and crops that feed both people and livestock. Their decline threatens food availability, raises grocery prices, and puts additional strain on already vulnerable communities.

The good news is that small actions at home can make a real difference: planting native flowers, reducing pesticide use, offering clean water, and letting parts of your yard grow wild all help bees stay resilient in a warming world.

Rising global temperatures have had far-reaching effects, from sea-level rise to ecosystem disruption to honeybee colony survival.

02/20/2026

Good news: We saved the bees. Bad news: We saved the wrong ones

Public campaigns have focused on “saving the bees.” Most of that attention went toward honeybees, an abundant, domesticated species that was never at risk. Meanwhile, native wild bees, which are far more important for biodiversity and ecosystem health, continue to decline. The surge in backyard beekeeping and the spread of non‑native honeybees have actually intensified competition for food and habitat, worsening the pressures on native pollinators.

In short, the well‑intentioned movement to protect bees ended up helping the wrong species, and in doing so, may have accelerated the decline of the ones that truly needed saving.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/science/ecology/good-news-we-saved-the-bees-bad-news-we-saved-the-wrong-ones/ar-AA1VNCtc

Honeybees have never been in danger of extinction. But scientists are finding that they can accelerate the demise of native bee populations.

02/20/2026

14 Perennials That Draw Bees to Your Garden Year After Year - Yahoo Creators

Attract pollinators with 14 perennials that bloom year after year. These bee-loving plants support wildlife, add color, and create a thriving, lively garden.

02/18/2026

What If the Bees Had Something to Say About Blood Sugar?

For the millions of people navigating type 2 diabetes or struggling with blood sugar balance, propolis may be worth a closer look. Research shows that this remarkable gift from the hive works through several pathways at once to support healthier glucose levels. It slows the digestion of carbohydrates, reducing those sharp spikes in blood sugar after meals. It helps the body become more responsive to insulin, so cells can take up glucose more efficiently. It protects the pancreatic cells responsible for producing insulin in the first place. And it dials down the chronic inflammation and oxidative stress that quietly drive insulin resistance over time. In some clinical trials, propolis produced improvements in fasting blood sugar and long-term glucose markers comparable to standard interventions. None of this makes propolis a replacement for medical care or prescribed treatment. But as a natural ally in the broader effort to support metabolic health, the evidence is growing and it is worth knowing about.

02/18/2026

THE HIVE'S BEST KEPT SECRET FOR METABOLIC HEALTH

Most of us think of propolis as something bees use to seal their hives. But science is revealing something far more compelling. Research suggests that the same rich mixture of polyphenols and flavonoids that protects the hive may also help protect some of our most vital systems. Studies point to propolis supporting healthier blood sugar levels, improving insulin sensitivity, reducing inflammation, protecting the heart and blood vessels, and even showing promise for liver health and kidney function. What makes propolis particularly fascinating is that it doesn't work through a single pathway. It appears to address multiple root causes of metabolic decline simultaneously, calming chronic inflammation, neutralizing oxidative stress, and supporting the body's own repair mechanisms. From the hive to the human body, propolis continues to earn its place as one of nature's most versatile gifts. As always, it works best as a complement to a healthy lifestyle and under the guidance of a knowledgeable healthcare provider.

https://almanac.a1c.io/2025/09/03/propolis-for-metabolic-health-polyphenols-target-inflammation-oxidative-stress-and-insulin-resistance/

02/18/2026

Candida infections are common, stubborn, and increasingly resistant to conventional treatment. Researchers are now looking at propolis and niaouli essential oil as potential natural allies, and the early results are encouraging. Sometimes the hive and the forest have answers worth exploring.
https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A16%3A37293296/detailv2

02/18/2026

https://www.dailysabah.com/life/science/california-photographer-documents-native-bees-at-risk

With patience and a lens, Krystle Hickman brings the secret world of native bees into focus, fighting to save species disappearing from our deserts

02/18/2026

The honeybee may be small, but her inner compass is extraordinary. New research using drone-based tracking technology has revealed that individual bees navigate to familiar destinations with remarkable precision, often retracing their own flight paths to within just a few centimeters. Each bee, it turns out, develops her own preferred route and sticks to it with striking consistency, using landmarks in the landscape to guide her way. Scientists even noted that in visually rich environments with trees and hedgerows, bees were most precise, while their paths became less predictable over featureless terrain like open cornfields. As one researcher put it, you could almost say each bee has her own personality. The more science looks at the honeybee, the more she rewards that attention with wonder.

Photo by İbrahim Erkan Bayram

02/18/2026

Bees to the Rescue: How Propolis May Safeguard Fertility During Chemotherapy

For women of reproductive age facing cancer treatment, one of the most heartbreaking side effects of chemotherapy can be the loss of fertility. Cisplatin, a powerful and widely used chemotherapy drug, is known to deplete the ovarian follicles that carry a woman's eggs, sometimes causing permanent infertility.

New research published in Current Issues in Molecular Biology suggests that propolis, the remarkable resin-like substance honeybees craft from plant compounds to protect their hives, may offer meaningful protection against this damage.

In the study, female rats given cisplatin experienced severe ovarian injury, including tissue inflammation, cellular stress, and significant follicle loss at every stage of development. When propolis was administered alongside the chemotherapy, the results shifted considerably. Follicle counts were better preserved, oxidative stress was reduced, and key markers of cellular damage dropped closer to normal levels.

Propolis works through multiple protective pathways simultaneously, calming inflammation, neutralizing harmful free radicals, reducing cell death signals, and quieting a form of internal cellular distress known as endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Bees have been producing propolis for millions of years. Science is only beginning to catch up with what they knew all along.

Cisplatin-induced ovarian damage is a significant concern for young women receiving chemotherapy. Although propolis, a polyphenol- and flavonoid-rich natural product, has been proposed as a protective agent, its effects on cisplatin-related ovarian injury remain insufficiently defined. This study ai...

02/18/2026

How do busy bees avoid overheating from flying?

New measurements could help predict pollinators’ ability to withstand climate change

New measurements could help predict pollinators’ ability to withstand climate change

02/17/2026