Clint Perry, a biologist who studies the evolution of cognition in insects at Queen Mary University of London, and his colleagues have released the results of a creative new experiment in which they essentially taught bumblebees how to play "bee soccer." "The insects' ability to grasp this novel task is a big score for insect intelligence, demonstrating that they're even more complex thinkers than we thought," reports Smithsonian. From the report: For the study, published in the February 23 issue of Science, researchers gave a group of bees a novel goal (literally): to move a ball about half their size into a designated target area. The idea was to present them with a task that they would never have encountered in nature. Not only did the bees succeed at this challenge -- earning them a sugary treat -- but they astonished researchers by figuring out how to meet their new goal in several different ways. Some bees succeeded at getting their ball into the goal with no demonstration at all, or by first watching the ball move on its own. But the ones that watched other bees successfully complete the game learned to play more quickly and easily. Most impressively, the insects didn't simply copy each other -- they watched their companions do it, then figured out on their own how to accomplish the task even more efficiently using their own techniques. The results show that bees can master complex, social behaviors without any prior experience -- which could be a boon in a world where they face vast ecological changes and pressures.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Eighty falcons flying together would be a grand sight wherever they were.

But eighty falcons flying together... on a plane?!

The above photo was posted by Reddit user lensoo, with the comment "My captain friend sent me this photo. Saudi prince bought ticket for his 80 hawks."

In the photo, about thirty of the birds (which are falcons, not hawks) are visible, hooded and ready for takeoff. They appear to be perched on planks of wood that have been laid out on the seats for the occasion. Plane travel is fairly common for hunting falcons in the Gulf States, and many airlines have their own rules and regulations for skybound birds.

It's not clear exactly where these came from, where they were headed, or what airline they chose. But odds are good that each one has his or her own falcon passport—which now has one more stamp.

Every day, we track down a fleeting wonder—something amazing that’s only happening right now. Have a tip for us? Tell us about it! Send your temporary miracles to cara@atlasobscura.com.