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Wasps Better Than Dogs At Sniffing Out Bombs

Posted by Hemos on from the the-hive-mind-reigns-supreme dept.

boinx writes "Researchers have found that certain wasps can be trained in a matter of minutes to detect the odoriferous substance of your choice. All it takes is a PVC pipe, some wasps and a webcam. Check it out."

10 of 34 comments (clear)

  1. Nah no point... by Elitist_Phoenix · · Score: 2, Funny

    Cause when they detect something, they're to small to have fricking laser beams attached to their heads!

    --
    "I'm going to f***ing bury that guy, I have done it before, and I will do it again. I'm going to f***ing kill Google"
  2. Old News by n0dalus · · Score: 3, Informative

    Similar stories have been reported in places like New Scientist (best example I could find at the moment) for several years. Often they just come to a conclusion that dogs, once trained, are far easier to handle than wasps and live a lot longer.

    1. Re:Old News by I(rispee_I(reme · · Score: 3, Funny

      Well, hell, let's just train some Giant Sequoias to do our bombsniffing, then.

  3. Welcome... by Elitist_Phoenix · · Score: 2, Funny

    I for one welcome our insect overlords! I'd like to remind them that as a trusted slashdotter I could be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground hives.

    --
    "I'm going to f***ing bury that guy, I have done it before, and I will do it again. I'm going to f***ing kill Google"
    1. Re:Welcome... by moro_666 · · Score: 2, Funny

      while your at it, please try to explain to people at the airport why they have to go through a swarm of wasps before entering the airplane ....

      --

      I'd tell you the chances of this story being a dupe, but you wouldn't like it.
    2. Re:Welcome... by Bifacial · · Score: 2, Funny

      That will be easy. Assault rifle at forehead can be VERY ASSURING argument.

      --
      bifacial [bifeishel] - n., Lat. 1) Having two faces...
    3. Re:Welcome... by Elitist_Phoenix · · Score: 2, Funny

      and by assault rifle we mean Patroit Act.

      --
      "I'm going to f***ing bury that guy, I have done it before, and I will do it again. I'm going to f***ing kill Google"
  4. Title confusion by trurl7 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Did anyone else think: "Well, certainly wasps can sniff *money* better than dogs, but bombs?...", before figuring out that article was talking about the other kind of "wasp"?

  5. Keys by Gleng · · Score: 3, Funny

    My first thought was that I could train wasps to find my keys. After consideration, I think my keys may smell rather similar to the pocket I usually keep them in, which is in my jeans, next to my groin.

    The last thing I need is a groin full of wasps.

    --
    "Proudly Posting Without Reading The Article"
  6. Some distinct disadvantages by Sockatume · · Score: 2, Funny

    I wouldn't feel particularly threatened by a couple of law enforcement personnel pursuing me with wasps on leashes, for one. Although I suppose the inevitable case of giggles might give my position away.

    --
    No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?