[Gadarett]

Could you give up your cell phone if this plays out as true?


Are mobile phones wiping out our bees?

Scientists claim radiation from handsets are to blame for mysterious 'colony collapse' of bees

It seems like the plot of a particularly far-fetched horror film. But some scientists suggest that our love of the mobile phone could cause massive food shortages, as the world's harvests fail. They are putting forward the theory that radiation given off by mobile phones and other hi-tech gadgets is a possible answer to one of the more bizarre mysteries ever to happen in the natural world - the abrupt disappearance of the bees that pollinate crops. Late last week, some bee-keepers claimed that the phenomenon - which started in the US, then spread to continental Europe - was beginning to hit Britain as well.
The theory is that radiation from mobile phones interferes with bees' navigation systems, preventing the famously homeloving species from finding their way back to their hives. Improbable as it may seem, there is now evidence to back this up.
Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) occurs when a hive's inhabitants suddenly disappear, leaving only queens, eggs and a few immature workers, like so many apian Mary Celestes. The vanished bees are never found, but thought to die singly far from home. The parasites, wildlife and other bees that normally raid the honey and pollen left behind when a colony dies, refuse to go anywhere near the abandoned hives.
The alarm was first sounded last autumn, but has now hit half of all American states. The West Coast is thought to have lost 60 per cent of its commercial bee population, with 70 per cent missing on the East Coast.
CCD has since spread to Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece. And last week John Chapple, one of London's biggest bee-keepers, announced that 23 of his 40 hives have been abruptly abandoned.
Other apiarists have recorded losses in Scotland, Wales and north-west England, but the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs insisted: "There is absolutely no evidence of CCD in the UK."
The implications of the spread are alarming. Most of the world's crops depend on pollination by bees. Albert Einstein once said that if the bees disappeared, "man would have only four years of life left".
No one knows why it is happening. Theories involving mites, pesticides, global warming and GM crops have been proposed, but all have drawbacks.
German research has long shown that bees' behaviour changes near power lines.
Now a limited study at Landau University has found that bees refuse to return to their hives when mobile phones are placed nearby. Dr Jochen Kuhn, who carried it out, said this could provide a "hint" to a possible cause.
Dr George Carlo, who headed a massive study by the US government and mobile phone industry of hazards from mobiles in the Nineties, said: "I am convinced the possibility is real."
The case against handsets
Evidence of dangers to people from mobile phones is increasing. But proof is still lacking, largely because many of the biggest perils, such as cancer, take decades to show up.
Most research on cancer has so far proved inconclusive. But an official Finnish study found that people who used the phones for more than 10 years were 40 per cent more likely to get a brain tumour on the same side as they held the handset.
Equally alarming, blue-chip Swedish research revealed that radiation from mobile phones killed off brain cells, suggesting that today's teenagers could go senile in the prime of their lives.
Studies in India and the US have raised the possibility that men who use mobile phones heavily have reduced sperm counts. And, more prosaically, doctors have identified the condition of "text thumb", a form of RSI from constant texting.
Professor Sir William Stewart, who has headed two official inquiries, warned that children under eight should not use mobiles and made a series of safety recommendations, largely ignored by ministers.

[Wmshyrga]

I would give mine up, but the majority of people would not because it is one of those paradoxes. People will think "Oh, well I am not going to give my cell phone up, I'm not killing that many bees.". But if everyone thinks that, no one will give their phone up. So whether or not this is a real issue doesn't matter, because no one will give their phone up.

[cristmiff]

Oh well. I rather talk on a phone then have a bee sting me.

[StoyaFanst]

I'm going to quote my professor in electrodynamics on his view on cell phones. With he amount of power being radiated from the cell phone, you'd raise the temperature of your brain about 1 degree in 24 hours of constant talking, and that doesn't take into effect cooling from the circulation of blood.

Let the people who understand this stuff the most do the talking. You can find trends between the most unrelated things if you try hard enough. It could be global warming for all we know. It might even be use of pesticides. We just don't know. Seems like a lot of hand waving for attention from these 'scientists'.

[Yessaniloas]

Cell Phones aren't killing bees.

That said, I don't use a cell phone. Or a real phone for that matter.
People who want to talk to me do it over MSN.

[avaicavum]

I rarely use my ancient mobile anyway, it's one piece of technology I've never been particularly fond of.

[M1zdL0hh]

I rarely use my ancient mobile anyway, it's one piece of technology I've never been particularly fond of.

Yup, phones are the most invasive, annoying devices ever invented. Never owned a cell and never shall. If I'm not home (or not answering the phone), then I don't want to be disturbed. I don't need to take that ball and chain with me everywhere.

Landline phones are annoying enough, and at least they don't scare the bees away or possibly cause brain cancer.

[Discus]

Yup, phones are the most invasive, annoying devices ever invented. Never owned a cell and never shall. If I'm not home (or not answering the phone), then I don't want to be disturbed. I don't need to take that ball and chain with me everywhere.

Landline phones are annoying enough, and at least they don't scare the bees away or possibly cause brain cancer.

They definatly do not cause cancer [rofl] meh I just like having one, the occasional call and security of being able to call for help is nice [yes]

[ElenaEvgeevna]

Yup, phones are the most invasive, annoying devices ever invented. Never owned a cell and never shall. If I'm not home (or not answering the phone), then I don't want to be disturbed. I don't need to take that ball and chain with me everywhere.

Landline phones are annoying enough, and at least they don't scare the bees away or possibly cause brain cancer.

I hate telephones in general,recently I found a very good reason to have a cell phone though. They're good to have in case of emergency too...mines off 99% of the time.

[Gadarett]

meh, i hate phones in general myself as well... there are instances though where i wish i owned a cellphone

that said, if we really are killing bees with our cellphones we're screwed.[thumbup]

[M1zdL0hh]

They definatly do not cause cancer [rofl] meh I just like having one, the occasional call and security of being able to call for help is nice [yes]

When I call for help I just usually wave my arms about madly and scream like a little girl.

It works, try it.

[yasmin]

Yup, phones are the most invasive, annoying devices ever invented. Never owned a cell and never shall. If I'm not home (or not answering the phone), then I don't want to be disturbed. I don't need to take that ball and chain with me everywhere.

Landline phones are annoying enough, and at least they don't scare the bees away or possibly cause brain cancer.

Erh, you do realise that mobile phones can be switched off right? You make it sound like you have to answer the phone no matter the costs - whenever. They have things called profiles, which will alter the phones characterisitcs to a set critera, such as "at work" (for me, this is vibrate only, with no audio alert).

If you don't want to receive a call, it's very simple, either let it ring or send to answerphone.

Personally, I think they're brilliant, espically now cameras are getting much better not to mention texting.

[ElenaEvgeevna]

Personally, I think they're brilliant, espically now cameras are getting much better not to mention texting.

I'd be happier if the service were a little better...I do live in the middle of nowhere though.

[M1zdL0hh]

Erh, you do realise that mobile phones can be switched off right?

Yes, but why pay for it if I'm going to leave it at home anyway? There's a landline already there, and it's a lot cheaper.

I take two kinds of calls:

1. The one's I'm expecting.
2. The one's I make.

And when I'm on the phone, the faster I can get off, the better.

[JonnLeejsp]

I don't have one but as I've an elderly mother, I've been considering one if she needs to contact me in a hurry.

be interested to know if they've tried different frequencies - quite possible it sets up some sort of resonance that the bees find irritating.

[yasmin]

Yes, but why pay for it if I'm going to leave it at home anyway? There's a landline already there, and it's a lot cheaper.

I take two kinds of calls:

1. The one's I'm expecting.
2. The one's I make.

And when I'm on the phone, the faster I can get off, the better.

I never said leave it at home, I merely pointed out that your view of them being the most invasive / annoying (i'll agree to an extent on annoying) is a little narrowminded when you consider if you do not want to receive a call, it's quite easy and expected to be able to stop the person from calling you - pretty much all modern mobiles can easily be switch to a Do not disturb mode of sorts.

If you don't like phones fair enough, but invasive? pfffft.

IMO the only annoying thing about mobiles is the bloody ringtones.

I now don't even own a landline, nor have use of one other than a phone box arround the corner. In terms of cost, my tarrif is pretty mint, 500mins to anyone a month and 500 texts all for £20, it covers my needs.

[Discus]

When I call for help I just usually wave my arms about madly and scream like a little girl.

It works, try it.

[yawn]

[Ivanaishere]

i would give mine up real quick

[PekHyvac]

yeah id give mine up, i only got it incase my (old) car broke down on me

id rather have food to eat