Isn't nature awesome?
Mother Nature's genius (aka God's) is being harnessed in a novel way: fighting terrorism. Scientists and bio-terror researchers are studying ways to use various animals' traits to help us prepare for and defend against terrorist attacks.
...scientists are recruiting insects, shellfish, bacteria and even weeds to act as "bio-sentinels," which give early warning of biological and chemical attacks, detect explosives or monitor the spread of contamination.
June Medford, a plant biologist at Colorado State University, said the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America were a wake up call for her and many other scientists who had not previously thought of researching how nature can help domestic defense.
Medford, whose work is also funded by DARPA, is genetically modifying common weeds like the ones found in sidewalk cracks to make them change color if exposed to a biochemical attack.
...heat-sensing beetles can detect forest fires about 30 miles away. Naik's team is trying to learn how the beetles' sensors work, in order to replicate the processes in a lab.
Other researchers are using bees' uncanny sense of smell to find explosives -- including at airports. Carried in a portable hive, the bees can detect small quantities of a host of explosives including TNT and Semtex.
[also under examination are] the unique sensory abilities of dogs, fruit flies, lobsters and fish to recreate these skills with artificial sensors.
[other scientists] are hoping sea creatures from clams to worms and seaweed can help warn of and track hazardous materials in water.
...scientists are recruiting insects, shellfish, bacteria and even weeds to act as "bio-sentinels," which give early warning of biological and chemical attacks, detect explosives or monitor the spread of contamination.
June Medford, a plant biologist at Colorado State University, said the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America were a wake up call for her and many other scientists who had not previously thought of researching how nature can help domestic defense.
Medford, whose work is also funded by DARPA, is genetically modifying common weeds like the ones found in sidewalk cracks to make them change color if exposed to a biochemical attack.
...heat-sensing beetles can detect forest fires about 30 miles away. Naik's team is trying to learn how the beetles' sensors work, in order to replicate the processes in a lab.
Other researchers are using bees' uncanny sense of smell to find explosives -- including at airports. Carried in a portable hive, the bees can detect small quantities of a host of explosives including TNT and Semtex.
[also under examination are] the unique sensory abilities of dogs, fruit flies, lobsters and fish to recreate these skills with artificial sensors.
[other scientists] are hoping sea creatures from clams to worms and seaweed can help warn of and track hazardous materials in water.
posted by Seth at 4:30 PM
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