[Gaia (OP)]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US military defense scientists have found a way to train the common honey bee to smell explosives used in bombs, a skill they say could help protect American troops abroad.

Scientists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico said in an online statement published Monday they had developed a method to harness the bee's exceptional olfactory sense.

"The new techniques could become a leading tool in the fight against the use of improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, which present a critical vulnerability for American military troops abroad and is an emerging danger for civilians worldwide," the research laboratory said.

more: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/28112006/323/military-trains-air-force-bomb-sniffing-bees.html

[another_someone]

I had heard they were being considered for mine clearance, but were considered too unreliable; but IED's would seem unlikely because I cannot see bees being trained to follow an armoured column on tour (releasing them into a minefield is one thing, having them fly alongside a patrol is another).

[neilep]

Now if only they could get them to diffuse them too !!...and then fly on to sting the nasty people !!....ah..but that would mean death for the Bee !! []

[Karen W.]

I am amazed at this topic.. Had no clue you could do such things with bee's!LOL

[ChrisDominic]

I worked in military for 10 years. I am in search of site to share my military experiences.

[StephenTomz]

StephenTomz,To share your experience logon to newbielink:http://www.mymilitaryyears.com/ [nonactive] . I have read so many articles about the experiences of brave men like you on this site.

[Madidus_Scientia]

lame.

ChrisDominic and StephenTomz are the same person.

If you were going to try this kind of spam wouldn't you at least try to do it a bit more convincingly?

[Chemistry4me]

Uhhh... was I not supposed to click that link?

[scigirence]

Hmmmm....

[Chemistry4me]

Hmmmm....

[] [] []
I was only joking about clicking it []