How much technology would it take to replace a bee? That’s the question industrial-design student Anna Haldewang aims to answer with Plan Bee, a hand-size drone that detects flowers with an ultraviolet camera, then uses a suction mechanism to suck pollen from one plant and blow it into another. For now, the product prototype–which won’t hit the market for at least two years–is meant to help people understand how bees pollinate, says Haldewang, adding that she has no plans to “take over the bee population.” But similar technology may soon be necessary on a larger scale, as pesticides and climate change threaten the future of bee colonies around the world–and, by extension, the crops they pollinate.
For more on these stories, visit time.com/ideas
More Must-Reads from TIME
- How the Economy is Doing in the Swing States
- Harris Battles For the Bro Vote
- Our Guide to Voting in the 2024 Election
- Mel Robbins Will Make You Do It
- Why Vinegar Is So Good for You
- You Don’t Have to Dread the End of Daylight Saving
- The 20 Best Halloween TV Episodes of All Time
- Meet TIME's Newest Class of Next Generation Leaders
Write to Julia Zorthian at julia.zorthian@time.com