Saturday, October 22, 2005

Trained Wasps: Who Knew? 'Wasp Hound' Breakthrough Device

I didn't even think it was possible, much less do I fully believe the technical description of the device: Essentially a PVC cup with miniature breathing holes for the half-dozen live wasps living inside; a miniature camera records their actions, notifying the human user when they react to a specific scent, say a corn fungus, or chemical agent.
Apparently, however, scientists at the University of Georgia have made the darn thing work, and promise commercial availability in just a few years. It's called a Wasp Hound.

It is worth noting the following facts: A dog's nose is about 100 times more sensitive than our own; a butterfly has an olfactory sense 10,000 times more sensitive than a dog's.
I have no idea where a wasp fits into that scale, but it must be closer to the butterfly than the dog.
It only takes about five minutes to train a wasp, by the way, and they are not the only animals tested for their unique noses: Rats, honeybees, fish and even yeast have also been tested with modest success.

Wow...The things I never knew.

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