Bees
The dystopian future is already underway in Maja Lunde's novel 'The History of Bees'
“Our children and grandchildren” is a phrase often wheeled out in conversations about climate change. For politicians searching for heartstrings to tug, this is a logical rhetorical strategy, appealing to voters’ instincts to protect their kin. But it backfires in projecting the changing world into …
BooksAssumed safety of widespread pesticide use is false, says top government scientist
Damning assessment by one of the UK’s chief scientific advisers says global regulations have ignored the impacts of ‘dosing whole landscapes’ and must change<p>The assumption by regulators around the world that it is safe to use pesticides at industrial scales across landscapes is false, according to …
EnvironmentButterflies released at wedding 'condemned to death'
<b>Couples planning to release butterflies at weddings have been urged to reconsider after non-native insects were found in Dorset.</b><p>Butterfly Conservation Dorset began investigating after several monarch butterflies - native to north America - were spotted in Canford Cliffs, Poole.<p>Although the species …
NatureLoyalty Nearly Killed My Beehive - Issue 52: The Hive
Some time ago I read a short story by Roald Dahl called “Royal Jelly.” It’s the tale of a father desperately searching for ways to save his …
Roald DahlNo More Room for Doubt About Impact of Pesticides on Birds, Bees, Says Scientists
OTTAWA—A group of international scientists met in the national capital on Sept. 19 to try to convince parliamentarians there is no longer any doubt …
International Union for Conservation of NatureGetting to know you, honey.
For the JC's Rosh Hashanah magazine - out tomorrow - I was asked to write about the different types of honey and how bees do their thing.<p>A lovely …
Jewish CultureAustralia and New Zealand in a champagne-esque manuka honey war
Australia and New Zealand are locked in a battle over ownership of the word ‘manuka’ as the expensive honey’s popularity booms.<p>In a champagne-esque …
New Zealand12 Things You Can Do to Help Native Bees
Whether we know it or not, we've declared war on our native bees. Habitat destruction, overdevelopment, and shrinking plant diversity all impact …
GardeningRaspberry Pi Multisensor Beehive Monitor (video)
Beekeeper Vladimir Kulyukin has created a new Raspberry Pi powered multi sensor beehive monitor which has been amply named the BeePi and allows you …
Raspberry PiMonarch way station provides habitat for Monarch butterflies
The California State Society Daughters of the American Revolution created a butterfly way station at their Glendora headquarters, with milkweeds and …
American RevolutionA game of drones: why some bees kill their queens
In a palace intrigue worthy of George R R Martin, a new study has shown that some bee workers are queenslayers who will rise up and kill their queen …
BiologyHow a sweet Jewish New Year tradition causes a bitter fight in Israel
Israeli beekeepers are concerned about shrinking living spaces for bees, the challenges of wild bees and nature preservation activists.
IsraelThis Honey Made in a Brooklyn Cemetery Is Probably Not Haunted
Jars of Sweet Hereafter honey, made at Green-Wood Cemetery, are available on-site in limited quantities for a short window each year.<p>Every other …
Bee swarm hospitalizes 6, including firefighter
Six people, including a firefighter, were hospitalized Saturday afternoon after being attacked by a swarm of bees in Monterey Park.<p>The incident …
Los AngelesBan ‘neonic’ pesticides. Our food supplies are at risk
<i>Dr. Jean-Marc Bonmatin is vice-chair of the international Task Force on Systemic Pesticides as(TFSP) and a research scientist at the French National Centre for Scientific Research</i><p>The science of pesticide development and regulation is complex, so let's put things simply: Human beings rely on food to …
AgricultureAttracting Bees to the Garden
Since the dawn of agriculture in the Neolithic Period, mankind has depended on bees to pollinate food crops. Bees of all varieties put in long days …
GardeningHow animals vote to make group decisions
Today we opt for ballot boxes but humans have used numerous ways of voting to have their say throughout history. However we’re not the only ones …
Costa RicaBirds and Bees Responsible for 1 of Every 3 Bites of Food
Birds and Bees Responsible for 1 of Every 3 Bites of Food ANNAPOLIS, Md. – As we enjoy the late-summer crops produced in this country and around the …
Social JusticeFarmers, beekeepers put aside differences to aid bees
A new pilot project in North Dakota aims to get past frequent finger-pointing between beekeepers and farmers over the decline in bee populations and …
BusinessSelf-pollinating almond trees offer hope for better yield as industry continues to grow
Progress is being made in the almond industry with new varieties of self-pollinating trees that do not rely so heavily on nature.
South AustraliaEssential Tips for Backyard Hives
Pick the right location<p>Bees need five things:<p>1. Sun, or afternoon shade if your weather is hot.<p>2. Access to fresh water near the hive. Use a large …
When do wasps die off?
Coming to the end of the summer brings a kind of sweaty melancholy to the population, as we all realise how quickly the year is passing us by.<p>The one …
Sudden swarm of bees blankets Pickering home
It’s a scene worthy of Hitchcock: thousands of bees suddenly blanketing a home, darkening the sky like a menacing storm cloud while a worried couple …
Science or snake oil: is manuka honey really a 'superfood' for treating colds, allergies and infections?
Manuka honey is often touted as a “superfood” that treats many ailments, including allergies, colds and flus, gingivitis, sore throats, staph …
Alternative MedicineA Novel That Imagines a World Without Bees
Maja Lunde’s climate-fiction debut uses species extinction to ask its human characters: What’s more important, self-interest or sacrifice?<p>The category of literature known as climate fiction—“cli-fi,” as it’s known—has gotten quite crowded in recent years. Even just in the past six months, there’s …
Climate Change Effects Could Mean the End of Coffee Beans
The predictions for the future of coffee plants are grim.
Climate ChangeClimate change is happening now
You can’t deny it — or rather, you can, but you have to ignore all the evidence. Here’s a list of seven climate hotspots where the shifts are already …
Climate ChangeDCU scientist is using chemistry to protect the environment
Dr Blánaid White of DCU is using analytical chemistry to help protect the environment and the food we eat. She spoke to Dr Claire O’Connell.<p>For Dr …
‘Supergenes’ drive evolution
Male ruffs, mountain honey bees, zebra finches, and several other organisms have a secret weapon to help them be successful—a flipped piece of DNA …
EvolutionThe Buzziest Beauty Ingredient Is One You Haven't Heard of Yet
Not that we're the type to overuse the word "literally," but when it comes to this skincare ingredient, it's <i>literally</i> what it sounds like. Propolis, …
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