Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Make it Lady on 30/12/2009 23:37:14

Title: Can we really create sniffer bees?
Post by: Make it Lady on 30/12/2009 23:37:14

I read recently that Bees can be trained to sniff out Semtex and C4 explosives. They put sugar solution near the explosives so that bees associate the two. As bees stick out their tongues when they smell nectar they can be watched to see if they stick out their tongues near explosives.
I'm not sure if this is a wind up. If it is not, how are they going to control the bees in an airport situation and who is going to watch out for bees sticking their tongues out? Can anyone help?

Title: Can we really create sniffer bees?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 31/12/2009 01:37:22

We have all the bees on leashes.
Seriously though, what the heck does a bee's tongue even look like?

Title: Can we really create sniffer bees?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 31/12/2009 01:41:18

Hang on, that's a tongue??

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages-0.redbubble.net%2Fimg%2Fart%2Fsize%3Alarge%2Fview%3Amain%2F2315739-3-bees-tongue.jpg&hash=96fd53e0fdc4bef2342d742d1ca2090c)

Title: Can we really create sniffer bees?
Post by: Make it Lady on 31/12/2009 16:47:23

Wow, what a tongue, but how would you spot the bees tongue is out when it is flying around the airport? Perhaps they have special Bee cages.

Title: Can we really create sniffer bees?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 01/01/2010 00:01:46

Well if that's the size of it's tongue just imagine the size of it's...

This is probably the article you were reading from

Quote

After training three or four bees are put in a shoebox-sized "sniffer box", held in position on plastic mountings. Air is sucked by a fan into the box via plastic tubes and wafts gently over the bees.

If they detect explosives in the air, the trained bees all stick out their proboscises together.

A miniature video camera in the box is trained on them and is connected to a computer programmed with movement recognition software. As soon as the movement of the proboscises is detected, an alarm sounds to alert the security operator.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23376248-sniffer-bees-set-to-snare-suicide-bombers.do

Title: Can we really create sniffer bees?
Post by: Make it Lady on 01/01/2010 18:33:45

Oh, bee wind tunnels, how fantastic. No this wasn't the article I read. The one I read didn't say how the bees were used in a sniffer bee situation. It only said how they were trained. I guessed they must have to cage them some how. What a clever idea. I guess they blew up too many Fidos. Bees are more discreet.

Title: Can we really create sniffer bees?
Post by: Geezer on 02/01/2010 02:59:39

Woops! My mistake. I thought the topic was stiffer bees.

Title: Can we really create sniffer bees?
Post by: Make it Lady on 02/01/2010 23:40:50

Thanks DD I really love this type of story as it is the kind of thing Kids find fascinating. I think we should have bees and rats on patrol at airports and stations to stop the terrorist from doing their thing. Just imagine if the "underwear bomber" had, had a rat shoot up his trouser leg and scratch at his crotch. That's reason enough for any bomber to give up and go home.

Title: Can we really create sniffer bees?
Post by: Geezer on 03/01/2010 05:03:14

LOL!!!!

What a great idea.