The Grant Optima TX150 has helped to predict the potential impacts of extreme weather events linked to climate change looking at thermal limits of buff-tailed bumblebees at University of Sussex.
Background
Temperature control is a key part of many life science experiments. Success of these is reliant on precise environments that enables temperatures to be both controlled and accurate in real time.
The team wanted to determine the upper thermal limits of buff-tailed bumblebees to predict the potential impacts of extreme weather events linked to climate change focussed on temperature.
Water baths are the most commonly used method for temperature control in life science experimentation. However most are controlled manually and can cause spikes and fluctuations in temperature leading to a lack of consistency throughout the tank, therfore impacting research outcomes.
The solution
To ensure experimentation success the University of Sussex chose the Optima TX150 programmable water bath. This was due to its ability to increase temperatures gradually at a rate of 0.5 ºC/min. Additional to this they used Grant’s Labwise® software package that programs, controls, and records the real-time temperature of Optima TX150.
The results
The result was a controlled temperature environment using the Optima TX150 and Labwise® that led the scientists to understand the temperatures at which bees lose coordination (critical thermal maximum) and movement (heat coma).
The results were a buzzing success. See how the Optima TX150 can support your science here
