Researchers at Cardiff University's Manufacturing Engineering Centre (www.mec.cf.ac.uk) developed an algorithm to work out the most efficient settings on welding systems and for the design of springs. The algorithm is based on the "waggle dance" of bees foraging for nectar, and is called the "Bees Algorithm."

The algorithm is based on bees' behavior when they communicate the direction and distance of a flower patch to other bees in their hive. It is used to calculate the most efficient settings for a certain job.

Researchers claim the algorithm can be used to consider as many as to 3,000 variables, and is faster than existing methods of calculation.