Bomb and Drug-Sniffing Wasps, page 1
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Topic started on 28-10-2005 @ 06:51 PM by Hellmutt
Scientists have discovered/invented wasps that react to the smells of explosives, illegal drugs and plant diseases. They can be used to detect illegal drugs or bombs and make a computer trigger an alarm. They can be trained within 30 minutes and bred by the thousands. They might make it to market in five to ten years.


National Geographic: Drug-Sniffing Wasps May Sting Crooks

October 27, 2005


Sneaky drug smugglers and terrorists may soon meet their match: a handheld chemical detector powered by trained wasps. Dubbed the Wasp Hound, the prototype tool houses five parasitic wasps that react to the smells of explosives, illegal drugs, and plant diseases. In theory, the insects' movements set off an alarm to alert authorities.

Researchers believe the insects are nearly ideal for the task of sniffing out bombs. Unlike dogs, the wasps can be trained within 30 minutes and bred by the thousands, providing a near limitless supply.

When the wasps aren't working "they just randomly walk around" in their chamber, Rains said. But when the wasps encounter a smell they have been trained to recognize, the hungry insects congregate near the odor source, hoping for food. The mini-cam tracks their movement, sending pictures to the computer, which analyzes the images and triggers an alarm within 30 seconds.

The wasps can be used for 48 hours. After they complete their shift "we just let them go"

The Wasp Hound has only been tested under laboratory conditions. It needs to be rigorously tested in cold weather, dusty conditions, and other real-world situations before it will be ready for widespread use

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

Very interesting concept. "Trained within 30 minutes and bred by the thousands", that´s quite a revolution. Dogs take much longer to train and breed. Hopefully these wasps can be used to detect landmines as well?


reply posted on 29-11-2006 @ 08:38 PM by sardion2000
Here is a link for a slightly slower method of detecting explosives of the landmine kind.

www.worldchanging.com...

They use a type of flower that absorbs Nitrogen Dioxide from the soil(which seaps from Landmines) and changes the color of the flower. It's a GMO so it should be possible to adapt this method for Chemical, Heavy Metal and Biological weapons/contaminants.
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