Army Software Helps Scientists Identify Cause of Honeybee Colony Collapse

A fascinating collaboration between Army scientists in Maryland and bee experts in Montana has led to an explanation for the "colony collapse" phenomenon that has devastated 20-40 percent of the bee colonies in the United States.

A new Army software system, designed to test and identify biological agents in circumstances where commanders might have no idea what sort of threat they face, has been used to study affected bees, and it suggests that the phenomenon is caused by an interaction between a fungus and a virus.

Not only is this good news for those of us who have been concerned with the fate of the bees (not to mention its implications for agriculture and human life), but it is a wonderful example of the benefits of cross-disciplinary collaboration -- where very diverse disciplines can learn from each other and mutually benefit in unexpected ways.

For more information about this exciting collaboration, see the New York Times.