These are independent reviews of the products mentioned, but TIME receives a commission when purchases are made through affiliate links at no additional cost to the purchaser.
Most of us have heard that the world’s bees are in grave danger, but fewer are acquainted with one of their greatest nemeses – the Varroa mite, a parasite that U.S. beekeepers said accounted for the bulk of colony loss over winter 2020 to 2021. Beewise’s AI-powered BeeHome 4 is a hive that uses a new chemical-free heat treatment to fight off mites. The hives, available next year, boast robotic tech that monitors and optimizes conditions 24/7, reducing human beekeeping labor by roughly 90%. Beewise CEO Saar Safra says the company prefers to measure revenue in the number of bee lives saved: “Twelve for every dollar we make.”
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Breaking Down the 2024 Election Calendar
- What if Ultra-Processed Foods Aren’t as Bad as You Think?
- How Ukraine Beat Russia in the Battle of the Black Sea
- The Reintroduction of Kamala Harris
- Long COVID Looks Different in Kids
- How Project 2025 Would Jeopardize Americans’ Health
- What a $129 Frying Pan Says About America’s Eating Habits
- The 32 Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2024