Posted on 04/18/2007 5:36:58 PM PDT by Daffynition
The radiation emitted by mobile phones and other gadgets could be responsible for wiping out up to 70 percent of the United States bee population, according to some reports.
Whilst the theory might seem far fetched scientists are blaming mobile phones as they attempt to solve the mystery of the disappearing bees. Apparently the radiation interferes with the bees navigation systems and prevents them from finding their way back to their hives.
Last autumn bee keepers started reporting Colony Collapse Disorder on a large scale. Apparently the bees vanish from the hive and die, alone and away from home. Without the bees the hive will die. The problem has now affected half of American states with the East Coast reporting 70 percent of its commercial bee population missing.
The problems are spreading throughout Europe with alarming implications. Albert Einstein famously stated that if bees disappeared "man would have only four years of life left".
Research in Germany has show that bees change their behaviour near power lines and a new study at Landau University indicates that bees refuse to return to their hives if a mobile phone is nearby.
Leading scientist Dr George Carlo, leader of a large scale US government study into the effects of mobile phones, said: "I am convinced the possibility is real."
Note to self: Keep mobile phone on more often.
What a shame. There may be a serious problem with the bees but then a story like this comes along and makes the whole subject a joke.
I can be as flippant as anyone ‘bout tinfoil science but when bees are depleted, we’re going to be in world of hurt.
We’ll just have to bee patient to see how this shakes out.
I’m breaking out in hives just thinking about it.
Bookmarking for later read...
Cell phones have been around a long time, why didn’t they affect the bees long before now?
Why are 30% of bees able to do what 70% can’t, that is, find their way home?
I keep seeing this article, but I haven’t seen any experiments published, seems like this theory could be tested rather easily.
Everyone, shut off your cell phones until all the bees get home!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1810560/posts?page=20#20
I mentioned this as a joke back on April second and now it’s fact... I need to remember to put my sarcasm tag on. Darn scientists stop reading my posts, I know you are!
meme this.
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It’s probably 802.11g. /sarcasm
OK! my cell phone kills bees then why won’t it work on
Mosquitoes? Have I missed something?
Just blame it on global warming. It takes no research and everyone will buy it.
Bee T Go Home!
And now that most cell phones are digital (replaced the old analog systems) the power output is drastically lower.
Personally, I think it's Algore's fault because his carbon offsets purchases from the company that he owns aren't truly erasing his carbon footprint.
You have to throw it at the mosquitoes.
It is an inconvenient fact that the bees started disappearing first where the mobile phones came last. Until I see some genuine science, I will not believe this ridiculous cause and its attributed effects. There is something else going on (germs, viruses, prions, spores from space, whatever, even sub spots). This is just sensationalism designed to panic the public because the problem hasn’t been sufficiently investigated to obtain rational and reasonable answers.
That can't be! The article states that the problem began last fall. So how could there have been cell phones before that?
Albert Einstein famously stated that if bees disappeared “man would have only four years of life left”.
We should pay careful attention. A physicist knows these things!
You beat me to the global warming punchline! : )
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