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April 24, 2007
Cell Phone Buzz is Media Overhype
The Colony Collapse Disorder issue surrounding billions of bee deaths in the U.S. and around the world has reached epic proportions in the blogosphere. The most recent element of the unfolding drama has centred around a 'report' from Germany on the effects of cell phones on bee navigation.I included this aspect in our recent Colony Collapse Disorder - a Moment for Reflection story, a post that has attracted a significant amount of attention. Given that the majority of blog readers also happen to be cell phone owners, people have tended to focus on this issue above all the other possibilities mentioned. Thus, a simple and inconclusive story from a few researchers in Germany has circumnavigated the globe in a blog-feeding frenzy that has blown the issue out of proportion compared to the more likely culprits: the lack of biological diversity inherent in modern human-managed environments, pesticide usage, and pollen and horizontal gene transfer from genetically modified crops.
The researchers themselves have been battling phone calls trying to put their study into context ever since the UK's Independent newspaper ran the story a few weeks ago
Muhahaha! Once again, my science brain defeats media hype! You will recall last week that I expressed a serious doubt about the notion that cell phones could be the cause of the CCD problem. This week the academics that did the original study jump in to say it was taken completely out of context. Critical thinking my friends is so important these days of instantaneous communications. Unfortunately it's become a lost art form in this country. Which given the Republican "reforms" to our education system shouldn't surprise anyone.
Read more over at Celsias.
Posted by Jamison at April 24, 2007 4:51 PM
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