(CNN) Researchers in Japan have successfully used a tiny drone to pollinate an actual flower, a task usually accomplished by insects and animals. The remote-controlled drone was equipped with horsehairs coated with a special gel, which the researchers say was crucial to the process. The key is in the gelTo create the artificial pollinator, the researchers first picked a $100, commercially available small drone. The artificial pollinator was commandeered towards the stamens and pistils of L. japonicum flowers, a type of wild lily. The proposed artificial pollinator does not have any of these specialized behaviors, and thus really can only 'pollinate' flowers that are extremely easy to pollinate," she added.

Source: CNN March 09, 2017 09:56 UTC