十万个为什么·科学启蒙30篇（1）

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蜜蜂如何把花蜜变成蜂蜜？

Bees collect nectar from flowers using their long, tube-like tongues.
They store the nectar in a special stomach called the honey stomach.
Back at the hive, worker bees pass the nectar mouth-to-mouth to reduce its water content.
Enzymes added during this process break down complex sugars into simpler ones.
Bees fan their wings to evaporate more water until the nectar becomes thick honey.
Once water drops below 18%, the honey is sealed in wax cells for storage.
This low moisture level prevents bacteria and yeast from growing inside.
A single bee makes only about 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.
Honey’s natural acidity and hydrogen peroxide also help keep it fresh for years.
Humans have harvested honey for over 9,000 years using sustainable methods.