The Buzz and the Bees

Let's hope they're wrong. If not, this could pose a considerable quandry for several million cell phone users. This is from http://www.earthweek.com/online/ew070420/ew070420f.html

Cell Phone Signals May Cause Bee Disappearance

Studies conducted by German researchers indicate that the growing use of cell phones could in some way be responsible for the sudden disappearance of bees seen across America and parts of Europe since last fall.

A limited study conducted at Germany’s Landau University has found that bees refuse to return to their hives when mobile phones are placed nearby.

Lead researcher Dr. Jochen Kuhn said this could provide a “hint” to a possible cause of what has been termed Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).

The phenomenon has seen entire bee colonies disappear from their hives, leaving only the queen, eggs and a few immature workers.

Kuhn cautioned that his research was on how cell phone signals might affect learning, and not on CCD.

Dr. George Carlo, who headed an extensive study by the U.S. government and mobile phone industry on the hazards of mobile phone use during the 1990s, told Britain’s Independent newspaper the “possibility is real” that the use of cell phones could be contributing to CCD.

The Independent's article, actually more alarmist in tone than the one at earthweek.com, is at http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/wildlife/article2449968.ece

Bill Maher had a sarcastic yet sobering Earth Day take on this. A You Tube version is posted at http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2007/04/bill_maher_on_earth_day.php