Will humans die out within a week if bees go extinct? Einstein’s ‘famous’ quote is not…

“If the bee disappears from the surface of the Earth, man would have no more than four years left to live,” this famous quote, is often attributed to Albert Einstein. But did the famous scientist actually ever say this? Well, we give briefly delve into that later, but first let us find out if bees are really facing the threat of extinction and how important they are for human life to thrive on this planet.

Are bees important for human survival?

While not directly responsible for human survival (besides providing us with honey), bees are in fact a pivotal part of the food chain upon which our survival depends. The primary function of beefs, in human survival context, is that they collect pollen from plants and disperse, helping in the reproduction of earth’s flora.

These plants are consumed by millions of herbivorous animal species as food, who in turn are consumed by omnivores and carnivores, including humans. Thus, if plants that depend on bees to spread their pollen go extinct, when the bees do, the whole food chain will collapse in a matter of years, if not months or even days, posing an extinction level threat to all animal species, including human beings.

Are bees going extinct?

According to various studies, while bees may not go extinct in the immediate future, their numbers has dropped significantly over the last few years, due to various man-made factors such as deforestation, lack of safe spaces for beehives, lack of flowers, use of pesticides on crops, changes in the soil, and harmful radio waves emitted by our cell phones.

Some researchers have claimed that over 90 percent of species of bees are on the verge of extinction, but the claim has not been substantiated by fellow scientists.

Albert Einstein’s famous bee quote- did he say it?

While the sentiment behind the quote about bees often attributed to Albert Einstein is undoubtedly valid, there is no credible evidence to prove that the famous scientist actually said it. Scores of fact checks done by credible outlets across the globe have revealed the statement attributed to Einstein is not found in any book, library, or newspaper from his time.

However, the quote presents a valid question about the importance of bees in the planet’s ecosystem as these creatures play a vital role in pollination and food production, which is crucial for the survival of the food chain on which humans depend.

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