Hi, I'm Wendy Zuckerman and you're listening to Science Versus from Gimlett Media.

This is the show where we pit facts against fuzzy flying things.

On today's show, bees.

Because from what we've been hearing, they're in an awful lot of trouble.

Massive, mysterious reduction in the bee population and it's becoming a serious concern.

A mysterious disease that is killing honey bees across the country.

Dead bees are washing up on a popular beach in Naples.

Bees are key to our food system.

They help pollinate a bunch of things that we love to eat and drink,

like blueberries and squash, tomatoes, pears, and even coffee.

And all that pollination makes bees powerhouses for the economy.

A report by the United Nations found that the work that bees do is worth hundreds of billions of dollars.

And now they seem to be in danger.

Even everyone's favorite liberal is breaking out.

Future generations will judge us by how we cared for the tiniest creatures.

I am not just asking you to save the bees.

I am asking you to save your souls.

To see just how much trouble these tiny creatures are in,

we went to meet a beekeeper who's living through the bee poccalips right now.

Steve Ellis.

Yes, my name is Steve.

I love bees.

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