US unleashes bomb-sniffing bees

[mawilson 2,133]

Scientists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico have rather splendidly

announced the immediate availability of the bomb-sniffing bee, Reuters reports.

The boffins declared they'd "trained honeybees to stick out their proboscis when they

smell explosives in anything from cars and roadside bombs to belts similar to those

used by suicide bombers". The terror-busting insects can "recognise substances ranging

from dynamite and C-4 plastic explosives to the Howitzer propellant grains used in

improvised explosive devices in Iraq", according to researchers.

Research scientist Tim Haarmann told Reuters: "When bees detect the presence of

explosives, they simply stick their proboscis out. You don't have to be an expert in

animal behaviour to understand it as there is no ambiguity."

Haarmann enthused: "We are very excited at the success of our research as it could

have far-reaching implications for both defense and homeland security."

The plan is, as Haarman explained, to deploy the bees in "hand-held detectors the

size of a shoe box", and train security operatives in their use. Whether detected

suicide bombers would be attacked by swarms of SWAT Brazilian killer bees is not noted.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

Scientists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico have rather splendidly

announced the immediate availability of the bomb-sniffing bee, Reuters reports.

The boffins declared they'd "trained honeybees to stick out their proboscis when they

smell explosives in anything from cars and roadside bombs to belts similar to those

used by suicide bombers". The terror-busting insects can "recognise substances ranging

from dynamite and C-4 plastic explosives to the Howitzer propellant grains used in

improvised explosive devices in Iraq", according to researchers.

Research scientist Tim Haarmann told Reuters: "When bees detect the presence of

explosives, they simply stick their proboscis out. You don't have to be an expert in

animal behaviour to understand it as there is no ambiguity."

Haarmann enthused: "We are very excited at the success of our research as it could

have far-reaching implications for both defense and homeland security."

The plan is, as Haarman explained, to deploy the bees in "hand-held detectors the

size of a shoe box", and train security operatives in their use. Whether detected

suicide bombers would be attacked by swarms of SWAT Brazilian killer bees is not noted.

will they give out magnifying glasses to tell if the bee stuck out its probiscus?

[Mags 112]

. Whether detected suicide bombers would be attacked by swarms of SWAT Brazilian killer bees is not noted.

We can hope...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

This sounds stupid.

[Sinergy 3]

This sounds stupid.

i agree

[Savanphil 3]

I'm going to let PETA know about this