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Pentagon training bees to swarm into action
The Independent UK ^ | 14 May 2002 | By Andrew Buncombe in Washington

Posted on 05/14/2002 6:26:00 PM PDT by vannrox

Pentagon training bees to
swarm into action



By Andrew Buncombe in Washington

14 May 2002


The Pentagon is preparing a sting operation with a difference – training ordinary bees to smell out explosives, drugs and even to help clear minefields.


For the past three years government-funded scientists have been doing tests, training bees to detect materials other than pollen. Officials hope that they could be used as apian sniffer dogs, swarming into action when required.


In two tests last year, bees were able to detect two trucks tainted with explosives. Scientists say the bees are at least as sensitive to odours as dogs.


"The preliminary results have so far been very encouraging," said a spokeswoman for the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency, which is funded by the Pentagon.


The bees are trained to detect the various substances by a simple method of reward association. Scientists at the Air Force research laboratory in Texas said the bees were successful in 99 per cent of tests. "One of the methods is to associate the odour with a food source," they said.


The Pentagon is considering establishing bee colonies near security checkpoints.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: army; attack; battle; bio; cia; iran; iraq; military; navy; nsa; science; technology; war; weapon
COOL.
1 posted on 05/14/2002 6:26:00 PM PDT by vannrox
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To: vannrox
Already posted at least twice.
2 posted on 05/14/2002 6:35:37 PM PDT by martin_fierro
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To: vannrox
It sounds like these guys are dipping into the the reserves of LSD they still keep down in the basement...
3 posted on 05/14/2002 7:17:40 PM PDT by Vidalia
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To: All

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4 posted on 05/14/2002 7:18:05 PM PDT by Bob J
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To: vannrox
Set up killer bee hives near security checkpoints. :)
5 posted on 05/14/2002 11:46:32 PM PDT by flying Elvis
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To: 2sheep
send in the bees???...
6 posted on 05/14/2002 11:52:43 PM PDT by Governor StrangeReno
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