New homeland security buzz: Bomb-sniffing bees

[alexey]

How awsome is this??

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/11/28/bombsniffing.bees.reut/index.html

PHOENIX, Arizona (Reuters) -- Scientists at a U.S. weapons laboratory say they have trained bees to sniff out explosives in a project they say could have far-reaching applications for U.S. homeland security and the Iraq war.

Researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico said they trained honeybees to stick out their proboscis -- the tube they use to feed on nectar -- when they smell explosives in anything from cars and roadside bombs to belts similar to those used by suicide bombers.

Researchers in the program, dubbed the Stealthy Insect Sensor Project, published their findings Monday.

By exposing the insects to the odor of explosives followed by a sugar water reward, researchers said they trained bees to recognize substances ranging from dynamite and C-4 plastic explosives to the Howitzer propellant grains used in improvised explosive devices in Iraq.

"When bees detect the presence of explosives, they simply stick their proboscis out," research scientist Tim Haarmann told Reuters in a telephone interview. "You don't have to be an expert in animal behavior to understand it as there is no ambiguity."

The findings followed 18 months of research at the U.S. Energy Department's Los Alamos facility, the nation's leading nuclear weapons laboratory.

"We are very excited at the success of our research as it could have far-reaching implications for both defense and homeland security," Haarmann said.

While scientists have trained wasps to respond to the trace of explosives, Haarmann said research with bees appeared to show more promise.

Haarmann said the bees could be carried in hand-held detectors the size of a shoe box, and could be used to sniff out explosives in airports, roadside security checks, or even placed in robot bomb disposal equipment.

He said the next step would be to manufacture the bee boxes and train security guards in their use.

"It would be great to start saving some lives with this," he said.

[SkinsOrlando]

And all this time I've been training hummingbirds, DAMMIT!!!

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

Anyone post about the sharks they're training?

[WARLORD1863]

I think we have seals already trained by the Navy, and are already in action in the Persian Gulf. Read that a long time ago.

I believe the Nazis were experimenting with dolphins.

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

I think we have seals already trained by the Navy, and are already in action in the Persian Gulf. Read that a long time ago.

I believe the Nazis were experimenting with dolphins.

We definitely use dolphins to detect underwater mines TODAY.

Here is a link to the shark spies we are developing

http://www.livescience.com/scienceoffiction/060307_shark_implant.html

[Sarge]

Could you imagine if we gave these to the Israeli's?

They see a palestinian "Freedom fighter" coming toward them with a suicide belt.

Let loose the bee hive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MurrayH81]

just a practical thought here.

Won't the bees also respond that way to the smells of their food (sugary smells).

I can see it now, some little kid has a pop and the airport goes into lockdown while the TA people go whacko on him in the backroom.

"I am sorry for the disturbance ma'am, our bee's got excited about his soda pop, but it could have been a WMD."

/grins evilly

/hail:helmet:

[TradeTheBeal!]

All i want is freakin' sharks with freakin' lasers on their heads! Is that so much to ask for?