Take A Closer Look At Bees

It seems they're everywhere. But scientists believe bees' survival is at risk. What has put bees at risk, and should we care? Imagine a world without these important pollinators and you'll see a world with fewer and fewer critical food sources.

Describes the role that bees play in pollinating most of the crops that feed the world's people, discusses the various factors that places these and other pollinators at risk, and suggests ways to help improve conditions.

It may be a parent's dream, but imagine life without the Internet or World Wide Web. Would airlines be able to fly? Would our nation's security be at risk? What can be done to safeguard the Internet?

Look around. Plastic is everywhere. But some experts say today's plastic will be in our landfills for thousands of years to come. Imagine a world without plastic. In some communities, it's a new reality. Explore the good and the bad of plastic in our lives.

Discusses the characteristics and habits of various species of bees and wasps and how they are beneficial to man.

Honeybees make decisions collectively--and democratically. Every year, faced with the life-or-death problem of choosing and traveling to a new home, honeybees stake everything on a process that includes collective fact-finding, vigorous debate, and consensus building. In fact, as world-renowned animal behaviorist Thomas Seeley reveals, these incredible insects have much to teach us when it comes to collective wisdom and effective decision making. A remarkable and richly illustrated account of scientific discovery, Honeybee Democracy brings together, for the first time, decades of Seeley's pioneering research to tell the amazing story of house hunting and democratic debate among the honeybees. In the late spring and early summer, as a bee colony becomes overcrowded, a third of the hive stays behind and rears a new queen, while a swarm of thousands departs with the old queen to produce a daughter colony. Seeley describes how these bees evaluate potential nest sites, advertise their discoveries to one another, engage in open deliberation, choose a final site, and navigate together--as a swirling cloud of bees--to their new home. Seeley investigates how evolution has honed the decision-making methods of honeybees over millions of years, and he considers similarities between the ways that bee swarms and primate brains process information. He concludes that what works well for bees can also work well for people: any decision-making group should consist of individuals with shared interests and mutual respect, a leader's influence should be minimized, debate should be relied upon, diverse solutions should be sought, and the majority should be counted on for a dependable resolution. An impressive exploration of animal behavior, Honeybee Democracy shows that decision-making groups, whether honeybee or human, can be smarter than even the smartest individuals in them.

A New York Times 2018 Holiday Gift Selection Honey bees get all the press, but the fascinating story of North America’s native bees—an endangered species essential to our ecosystems and food supplies—is just as crucial. Through interviews with farmers, gardeners, scientists, and bee experts, Our Native Bees explores the importance of native bees and focuses on why they play a key role in gardening and agriculture. The people and stories are compelling: Paige Embry goes on a bee hunt with the world expert on the likely extinct Franklin’s bumble bee, raises blue orchard bees in her refrigerator, and learns about an organization that turns the out-of-play areas in golf courses into pollinator habitats. Our Native Bees is a fascinating, must-read for fans of natural history and science and anyone curious about bees.

In the future, the world is in peril. Global warming has taken its toll, deforestation has wiped out too many forests and there’s worse yet to come. Earth is on its last legs, and the Cloud Watchers of old have disappeared into legacy. Deep in the forest, two environmentally conscious runaways live off grid to do their bit to save the planet. Up in the clouds, the floating airship The Cloud Lab watches over the Earth as best they can. A steamship captain, an old Cloud Watcher, workers in Kew Gardens, and more all watch and wonder what will be the final straw that tips the Earth into chaos. When the Anti-Environmental League forms, an unexpected revolt sets events into motion that cannot be undone. Difficult challenges arise that might just be the planet’s ultimate downfall – unless the world’s population can be roused to save itself.