9 "What Ifs..." That Would Change Everything

We hear a lot, these days, about the bees disappearing. Most of us are aware that this probably isn't a good thing, but how much of an impact do these buzzy balls of fuzz really have? If the bees disappeared tomorrow, we'd have more to worry about than a honey shortage. Bees are prolific pollinators. Basically, if it has a flower, a bee has probably hit that.

They're so central to agriculture, being directly responsible for nearly $200 billion of revenue, that professional beekeepers are employed all over the world to ensure that the bees are where they need to be. Despite this effort, however, they're disappearing. This would mean that anything pollinated by the little guys is also going to be in short supply.

Love your morning coffee? Well, better start weaning yourself off it now as you currently have the bees to thank for that one. Oh, and tea. And orange juice. Don't even think about a nice glass of milk, either, because bees also pollinate a wide range of animal feeds. If we lose those, then we also lose livestock from which we get milk, cheese, meat and eggs. Whilst we're at it, you should probably get a taste for Lycra, as cotton plants are out.

Basically, without the bees, you'll be living on a diet of corn and rice (they're wind-pollinated), wearing a hideous 80s jumpsuit and dreaming of the last time you saw a flower.