Honeybee

Viewers find out about the latest research into the mysterious world-wide honeybee die-off as Nature opens its 25th season with "Silence of the Bees," airing Sunday, Oct. 28 at 8/7 p.m. on KET2 and at a new time, Saturday, Nov. 3 at 4/3 p.m. on KET1. It airs in high definition Thursday, Nov. 1 at 8/7 p.m. CT.

From the beginning, honeybees have played a key role in human survival. Most fruit trees and vegetable species are entirely dependent on bees to produce, and there's no artificial replacement for natural pollination. But the bees are disappearing. Massive die-offs, first reported in November 2006, are now the subject of international emergency research as scientists race to discover the cause of this ecological disaster. Could it be a disease? Is it caused by pesticides, genetically modified foods or radiation from cell phone towers? Whatever the cause, the consequences of losing honeybees would be catastrophic from the local to the global level -- failed businesses, skyrocketing food prices, unsustainable labor costs and depleted supplies of fruits, nuts, vegetables, plants and more.

Other programs this season include "In the Valley of the Wolves," which presents the dramatic saga of Yellowstone's Druid wolf pack, the most celebrated pack in North America, as these remarkable animals try to restore an entire ecosystem; "The Cheetah Orphans," which tells the story of two orphaned cheetah cubs and the veteran filmmaker who becomes their new parent; and "The Beauty of Ugly," which explores how and why ugly can be beautiful -- even when it isn't pretty. In December, Lynn Sherr hosts "The Best of Nature -- 25 Years," which presents great moments from the first 25 years of the Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series.

Nature is produced by WNET/New York.