Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Bryan Shorten on 06/05/2010 10:30:02

Title: Are radio signals confusing bees?
Post by: Bryan Shorten on 06/05/2010 10:30:02

Bryan Shorten asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hey crew,

Love the show (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/) first off, just found you guys on itunes a month ago.  Almost caught up on all of the "ask the naked scientists" subscribe to all of your shows.

One of the last shows I listened to Chris mentioned a study that said bees also give danger directions, as in were danger is and that they stop other bees from giving directions near it.  

I wondered, when he said "they butt in and vibrate at 300hz," if there was a way that all of our radio and micro wave signals could be telling the bees to fly straight up?  Or just to fly in one direction without a destination?  Could this explain colony collapse?  

Have we expanded broadcast or increased broadcasts in correlation with the beginning of the collapses?  Could all of the bees just be getting mixed signals and flying off indefinitely?  

Just a thought, keep up the good work.

Thanks and cheers!

Bryan Shorten

Poulsbo, Washington USA

What do you think?

Title: Are radio signals confusing bees?
Post by: echochartruse on 07/05/2010 01:27:57

I would imagine pesticides would be a major hand in bee colony collapse. Radio waves may also contribute, anything we insert into our environment has a reaction.
Should there be any type of genetic modification to plants that could possibly contribute also.

Title: Are radio signals confusing bees?
Post by: Geezer on 07/05/2010 01:44:05

Quote from: echochartruse on 07/05/2010 01:27:57

Radio waves may also contribute,

I don't think there is any evidence to support that they do, but I'd be interested in hearing about it if there is some.

Quote from: echochartruse on 07/05/2010 01:27:57

anything we insert into our environment has a reaction.

If we can't quantify the reactions, how can we make such a claim?

Title: Are radio signals confusing bees?
Post by: brshorten on 08/05/2010 17:40:08

A friend of mine replies with "Pedanticism: Middle C on the piano is about 260Hz, the A an orchestra tunes up to is 440Hz. The bottom note on a standard piano (not a Bosendoerfer) is an A at 27.5Hz. The top note on the piano is a C at about 4160Hz. For most purposes, human hearing is considered the range of 25 - 20,000 Hz (the top end degrades with age and is much more variable in general." So I would have to assume we would be able to hear it if there was s direct correlation to the 300hz signal.

Title: Are radio signals confusing bees?
Post by: Geezer on 09/05/2010 04:38:33

Quote from: brshorten on 08/05/2010 17:40:08

A friend of mine replies with "Pedanticism: Middle C on the piano is about 260Hz, the A an orchestra tunes up to is 440Hz. The bottom note on a standard piano (not a Bosendoerfer) is an A at 27.5Hz. The top note on the piano is a C at about 4160Hz. For most purposes, human hearing is considered the range of 25 - 20,000 Hz (the top end degrades with age and is much more variable in general." So I would have to assume we would be able to hear it if there was s direct correlation to the 300hz signal.

The bee won't be able to tell the difference between an RF signal that sends Bee flat from an RF signal that sends bull's foot if it does not have a means of demodulating the RF signal into something that humans would consider as an audio signal.

Title: Are radio signals confusing bees?
Post by: Make it Lady on 09/05/2010 18:12:54

I want to be a bee then I wouldn't have to listen to Steve Wright and the crew. I don't think radio signals or any other signals are confusing the Bee but if they could hear Steve Wright they'd go mental.

Title: Are radio signals confusing bees?
Post by: Bored chemist on 09/05/2010 18:35:50

I think bees have the wrong sort of antennae.

Title: Are radio signals confusing bees?
Post by: Geezer on 09/05/2010 20:02:10

Quote from: Bored chemist on 09/05/2010 18:35:50

I think bees have the wrong sort of antennae.

LOL!