The reason behind a massive die-off of honey bees over the last several years has largely eluded scientists, but researchers at Punjab University now say radiation from cell phones is probably responsible for the decline. The technology is interfering with bee navigational senses and tampering with inner-hive life.

Researchers at the university used two hives in the experiment over a period of three months, exposing one to a cell phone turned on twice daily for 15 minutes at a time. The report shows a dramatic decrease in the number of bees spawned in the cell phone hive compared with the one not exposed to the technology. The number of worker bees returning to the hive also decreased, resulting in a drop in nectar production.

Prior research has faulted a combination of pesticides, disease and loss of habitat for the bee die-off.

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