Nature

Silence Of The Bees

Honeybees first appeared on earth around 80 million years ago, and from the beginning have played a key role in our survival. Most fruit trees and vegetable species are entirely dependent on bees to produce, and there is no artificial replacement for natural pollination. But the bees are disappearing. Massive die-offs, first reported in November of 2006, are now the subject of international emergency research, as scientists race to discover the cause of this ecological disaster. Could it be a disease? Or is it caused by pesticides, genetically modified foods or the radiation from cell phone towers? Whatever is happening, we must solve the mystery soon and correct the problem or face unimaginable consequences.