Until fairly recently, it was a mystery how certain large bees, bumblebees in particular, were able to fly. To scientists who study the physical laws of flight a bee’s body seemed too heavy and its wings too small for it to become airborne and remain so. Bees "can’t" fly... but do. The mystery became so intriguing that a few scientists decided to study it.

Most insects fly by using muscles that flap their wings with great speed. For example, the locust beats its wings at a rate of about 20 times per second to fly. Other flying insects have to beat their wings even faster  — some as rapidly as 100 times per second.

But bees must work extra hard to become airborne. Honeybees, for instance, must beat their wings about 200 times a second to fly. Yet larger bees  — like bumblebees  — whose bodies are heavier, wider, and longer  — have to do even better.