Bomb-sniffing dogs may someday be replaced by specially-trained insects,thanks to studies underway at Iowa State University. Fast-flying wasps arebeing trained to seek out certain smells like bombs, land mines andfactories where toxic killers like anthrax are made. I-S-U entomologyprofessor Tom Baker says his colleagues are seeing much progress, thoughit’s not all for the sake of national defense and anti-terrorism. Bakerhopes the research can eventually apply to farming by using wasps topinpoint where other insects are damaging fields. He says the tiny insectscan be tracked using modern technology:.Tiny radar tags can be placed on the wasps, so they can be tracked andspotted as they congregate on whatever they’ve been trained to sniff out.The research is being funded by the Department of Defense.
SEARCH THIS SITE
RECENT NEWS
- Students get a look at Air National Guard jobs in Sioux City
- Speaker says House GOP to seek UI, ISU, UNI tuition caps
- Supreme Court rules in favor of UI in Children’s Hospital construction dispute
- Law lets police check for minors inside vape shops, tobacco retailers
- Singer with ‘Iowa roots’ has dual role in Michael Jackson musical (AUDIO)