Mosquito Laser!

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Kai
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Mosquito Laser!

Unread postby Kai » Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:29 pm

No really!

<blockquote>LONDON, England -- Scientists in the U.S. are developing a laser gun that could kill millions of mosquitoes in minutes.
<p> 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.</p><p> The laser beam then destroys the mosquito, burning it on the spot. </p><p> 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. </p><p> 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." </p><p> Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people from the bites of female mosquitoes. </p> <p> It is particularly prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world and kills an African child every 30 seconds, according to the World Health Organization. </p><p> There are an estimated 300 million acute cases of malaria each year globally, resulting in more than one million deaths, the WHO reports. </p><p> Responding to questions about any potential harm the laser could pose to the eco-system, Kare said: "There is no such thing as a good mosquito, there's nothing that feeds exclusively on them. No one would miss mosquitoes," he said. </p><p> "In any case," he added. "The laser is able to distinguish between mosquitoes that go after people and those that aren't dangerous." </p> <p> He added that other insects would not be affected by the laser's beam. </p><p> The research was commissioned by Intellectual Ventures, a Washington, U.S.-based company that was founded by Nathan Myhrvold, a former Microsoft Corporation executive. </p> His previous boss, Bill Gates, who funded the research, asked Myhrvold to look into new ways of combating malaria. </blockquote>

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pd Rydia
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Unread postby pd Rydia » Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:44 am

But what happens when anti-laser mosquitos develop as a result of this?

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darthapples
 
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Unread postby darthapples » Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:44 am

Why haven't we already come up with other uses for this product, like killing Russians... Oh wait, that was it's original intention.
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BrainWalker
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Unread postby BrainWalker » Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:58 pm

darthapples wrote:Why haven't we already come up with other uses for this product, like killing Russians... Oh wait, that was it's original intention.

It's really only a matter of time.

Umm... and apparently time is cyclical?
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