'Star Wars' scientists create laser gun to kill mosquitoes

[Grinchie]

Source: CNN

LONDON, England -- Scientists in the U.S. are developing a laser gun that could kill millions of mosquitoes in minutes.

The WHO has reported that around half of the world's population is at risk of malaria. The laser, which has been dubbed a "weapon of mosquito destruction" fires at mosquitoes once it detects the audio frequency created by the beating of its wings. The laser beam then destroys the mosquito, burning it on the spot.

Developed by some of the astrophysicists involved in what was known as the "Star Wars" anti-missile programs during the Cold War, the project is meant to prevent the spread of malaria. Lead scientist on the project, Dr. Jordin Kare, told CNN that the laser would be able to sweep an area and "toast millions of mosquitoes in a few minutes."

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people from the bites of female mosquitoes.


Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/16/mosquito.laser.weapon/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

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Interesting approach to an ongoing problem. Sadly, it would open up huge areas of rainforest which are basically untouched by man due to the horrific numbers and Malaria laden mosquitoes.

[caseymoz]

1. After all this time and money the Star Wars program has paid off!

But of course, the little buggers would probably adapt to it some way, I would think by changing their wing frequencies.

[Iterate]

2. I built a small portable one once back in the '80's

and took it camping, in the tent. Bloody hell, couldn't switch it off fast enough.

[Demeter]

4. I Hope that Was a Joke

One never can be sure....

[MicaelS]

19. Burning Laser Pointer

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/756433/laser_flashlight_hack/

[Mithreal]

3. I can't wait for the handheld version. nt

[trof]

5. Yeah, and what about the laser 'chainsaw'?

Just slice through trees or firewood like butter.
I want one of those.
And a laser weedeater.

[groundloop]

6. Hell Yeah !!!

I thought it was a hell of a show to sit on the back deck with a cold Bud and watch the bug-zapper work. Give me one of these and I'd be in red-neck heaven.

[One_Life_To_Give]

7. A mini Navy CIWS?

Sounds like a miniature version of the updated Navy's CIWS missile defence system. Take alot less power to bring down a Mosquito, but the phased array tracking system for mosquitos would pay for alot of Mosquito Magnets(TM).

[Gman]

8. Please say it's not true that

of the billions Reagan spent on something he imagined after he watched Star Wars for the first time, the only thing useful that came out of it is a high tech bug zapper. Please, after Bush's wasting and allowing the theft of trillions of dollars, say it's not true that this is another Republican boondoggle.

[Lucky Luciano]

9. Don't poo poo this too much - the mosquito is the most

deadly animal in the world to humans!

[bif]

10. Obama needs to pull the plug on the entire project

What an incredible waste of money.

[Posteritatis]

17. Tell that to malaria victims

Also, a big "fuck that" to the idea of a president micromanaging scientific research on a project-by-project level.

[skipos]

11. Next they need to develop something for the flies in Australia. nt

[Ian David]

12. It's a small step to change the frequency from mosquito to Terry Jeffries. n/t

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

13. uhh... this was a joke a couple of years ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSIWpFPkYrk

[hedgehog]

14. And for the same money, how many mosquito nets could be purchased?

[Mithreal]

23. I thought same thing. The nets are like $10, right? nt

[bemildred]

15. You can't make these headlines up.

"The War on Mosquitoes".

[AlphaCentauri]

16. I don't want see mosquitoes around me when this device is in operation

[LeftHander]

18. Future: Billy Mays selling a lawn chair version with HUD....

"They're never coming in too fast!"

[hunter]

20. It's a rather nasty weapon if you aim it at eyeballs rather than mosquitoes.

I think I'll avoid looking at big black SUVs with odd bumps on them if a riot breaks out.

[jus_the_facts]

21. Down here we need it for West Nile Virus....not malaria.....

West Nile Virus - Louisiana
Cumulative Human Map



http://westnilemaps.usgs.gov/2002/louisiana/la_mosquito_apr_22.html

[MilesColtrane]

22. "The laser... fires at mosquitoes once it detects...

...the audio frequency created by the beating of its wings."

Celine Dion will not be safe around this thing.

[jmowreader]

24. Every city in the South will buy truck-mounted versions of these

In the summertime we have these trucks that drive down the street pumping Deadly Nerve Gas out into the atmosphere in an attempt to kill the mosquitoes. If they could replace the chemical warfare trucks with Star Wars trucks--or better, put the Star Wars Laser Mosquito Defense System shit on telephone poles--the amount of chemicals released into the atmosphere would decrease dramatically.

They'd have to make sure they weren't hooked to the internet or every 13-year-old computer geek would figure out how to turn them into laser light shows, but there's no reason for them to be Internet-enabled.