Apinews

Cocaine Makes You Altruistic, Say Scientists

eivindm — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:28:00 +0000

Bees that are high on cocaine behave more altruistically than sober bees do. Scientists report today in The Journal of Experimental Biology that coked-up bees are much more enthusiastic about helping other bees find food.

The First Full Accounting of Colony Collapse Disorder

eivindm — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:31:59 +0000

A new study comprehensively describes the early and late symptoms, the visual signs and the progression of the mysterious affliction decimating U.S. beekeepers.

“Honey Laundering” Under the Spotlight

eivindm — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:30:19 +0000

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is out this week with a special report on the global honey industry that will leave a bitter taste in your mouth.

Majority of Bee Losses Could be CCD Related

eivindm — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 11:40:00 +0000

More than three-fifths of U.S. honeybee losses may be the result of Colony Collapse Disorder.

Bee experts look at breeding-in varroa resistance

eivindm — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:55:00 +0000

Nearly every agricultural crop or livestock line has been improved by cross-breeding, resulting in plants and animals that are disease- or insect-resistant and more productive.

Uganda: Agribusiness

eivindm — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:53:00 +0000

You have to feed hens to give you eggs and you need enough fodder for a cow to yield milk. But for bees it is a total contrast.

Deciphering honeybee dances and stock market swings

eivindm — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:51:00 +0000

What do dancing honeybees and stock markets have in common? At first glance, not much. But both are complicated dynamic systems that are extremely difficult to model — until now. An MIT graduate student has developed a methodology for automatically constructing computer models that can accurately describe the behavior of such complex systems with very little background information.

The Simpsons Take on Colony Collapse Disorder of Bees

eivindm — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:48:00 +0000

Buzz up! Pint-sized eco-pixie Lisa Simpson already won TDG’s “Heart of Green” award last year for her star turn in the blockbuster The Simpsons Movie. Last night, lovable, do-gooding Lisa wears a beard of bees and campaigns against a greedy billionaire in the episode “The Burns and the Bees” (full episode should appear on Hulu shortly).

Scientist cuts ties with manuka honey organisation

eivindm — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:05:05 +0000

The scientist who developed the system for measuring the anti-bacterial properties in manuka honey has severed his ties with the organisation that administers it.

Europe to Create Protected Areas for Endangered Bees

eivindm — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:56:26 +0000

In an effort to protect dwindling bee populations, the European Parliament has overwhelmingly approved of the creation of special “recovery zones.”