The Bee Economy Things You Forget in an Uber and More

Hey folks! Some people lose money in the stock market. Others? Well… they lose 25 kilograms of cow ghee in an Uber.

Uber’s Lost and Found Index Reveals Forgetful Trends

Uber’s latest Lost and Found Index reveals some truly bizarre items left behind by passengers. While bags, wallets, and phones are common, this year’s list includes a bansuri (flute), a gold biscuit, a wedding saree, and even a gas stove. Delhi has been dethroned as the most forgetful city, with Mumbai now taking the lead. Hyderabad has dropped out of the top five, making way for Kolkata.

Most items are forgotten at 7 pm, especially on Saturdays. Festive days see an even higher rate of lost items, turning Uber drivers into unofficial lost-and-found officers.

The Bee Economy Is Crashing

Bees, the unsung heroes of our food supply, are disappearing at an alarming rate. This winter, US beekeepers lost nearly 60% of their colonies, the highest loss since tracking began in 2011. California’s almond orchards, which rely on bees for pollination, are already feeling the impact.

Scientists are still unsure of the exact cause, but factors like viruses, pesticides, and climate stress are likely culprits. Since the early 2000s, Colony Collapse Disorder has been a growing concern, where entire hives vanish without warning. Bees are also starving due to erratic weather patterns disrupting blooming cycles.

This isn’t just a US problem. India has faced similar crises in states like Orissa, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Kerala, linked to pesticide use and non-native bee species.

Beekeepers are resorting to cloning hives or turning to mason bees, which pollinate more efficiently but don’t produce honey. Localized beekeeping and rooftop hives offer some hope, but the decline of bees signals a deeper environmental issue.

Titanic’s Financial Legacy

On April 10, 1912, the RMS Titanic set sail on its maiden voyage, only to sink four days later. Beyond the human tragedy, the disaster had a profound financial impact. The ship was insured for $5 million, a staggering sum at the time. Life and accident insurance claims exceeded $3.4 million, with some individual policies paying out over $170,000.

The disaster led to stricter underwriting standards, higher premiums for transatlantic voyages, and the creation of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) in 1914. These changes revolutionized risk management in the insurance and shipping industries.

Recommendations

This week’s book recommendation comes from Anuradha Rao: Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar, a humorous take on philosophy by Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein.

That’s all for this week. Stay tuned for more!