Turning Pests into Protection--A Cute and Cuddly Story Featuring Some Very Rigid Critters

Scientists have been trying to innovate the American national security by using the last thing everyday people would expect--common wildlife. Thus far, research has meant asking for the assistance of three animals in particular: bluegill fish, bees, and roaches.

Through regular testing and use, these critters have proven themselves a valuable asset not only to the scientific community, but also to a country that regards itself as second to none in technology.

Bluegill fish are already being put to work in reservoirs in Maryland, New York and California because they can detect impurities in the water. Something such as an increase in harmful water parasites can be picked up quickly by the bluegills, who react by drastically changing their vital organs.

The fine print here is that these guys are a bit trigger-happy--any slight impurity will set off changes in the fish. Because of this, the fish are closely monitored and tested to find whether the warning signal was a false alarm.

The expensive bomb-sniffing dog techniques currently used may be made obsolete by a fleet of flying insects that do the same job--for around $15,000 cheaper. According to Seiff, the bees can be trained to sniff out bombs for pennies on the dollar and actually outperform their canine competition. Carrying around a minion of bees in a jar can be somewhat intimidating, as the flying beasts do not come across as loving as dogs may.

Roaches may be considered nasty scavenging creatures, which is why scientists originally picked them up. Apparently, the common cockroach unknowingly carries around traces of whatever it scurries over, making it valuable in the sense that researchers can catch one and see what particles are in the area.

Ay, there's the rub. Releasing a few roaches into a building to check for toxins isn't a problem, but scientists will struggle over attempting to capture the insects, who also happen to be very good hiders. After all, roaches happen to be a recurring household pest for a reason.



Information for this post was obtained from Abby Seiff's article "Bugging Out on Homeland Security."

Just a Bit Skewed Up, Part Two: Other Rather Lovely Lies

This concludes the "Just a Bit Skewed Up" mini-series, with a look at odd scientific discoveries that don't deal with food (if you want that, you can scroll down the page to find that post).

1. Stark Naked Under the Sun

During the summer of 2006, researchers said that lying out without wearing sunscreen was actually good for people because it gave them a boost of Vitamin D. The scientists found that the D helped protect against certain skin cancers (specifically melanoma) and helped fight the disease in people who already had it.

They didn't specify, however, that in order to get a healthy amount of the vitamin without burning the skin, the maximum amount of time spent unprotected under the sun should be between 15 and 20 minutes. Any more and you run the risk of receiving those dreaded sunburns--the most common cause of potentially deadly skin cancer. So don't throw out the SPF 30 just yet.

2. Congratulations! Go Ahead and Pat Yourself on the Back.

Canada's CBC News reported last December on the positive effects of playing video games. Research showed gamers felt a "sense of accomplishment" after winning a few rounds of their personal virtual adventures.

The twist here is that you don't have to stay locked up in the house all day with a few hundred dollars of computer equipment. The same self-esteem boost attained from playing video games can be found in participating in outdoor activities, such as competitive sports.

3. How Often Did You Take Out the Trash to Get Knockers Like Those?

Want healthy breasts? Do some work around the house and you won't have to worry about breast cancer, according to Weekend Australian. "This study found that increased household activity seemed to reduce breast cancer among middle-aged and older women."

Daily exercise is just as effective, if not more, than performing household chores--an issue overlooked by the researchers in the study. Besides, for many it may break the monotony of sweeping and mopping floor after floor in a large home.

4. Why Get Glad? Get Mad.

Fear and anger were two of the most common expressions dealt with in a frustrating numbers study reported The Toronto Star. And people who became angry released less of the stress hormone that those who reacted in fear/hesitancy to the confusing countdown. People who reacted in anger made a healthier choice overall because they did not spike their stress levels, unlike those who were "afraid of screwing up."

The study did not mention the dangers of being an angry person. Releasing a little anger a little now and then is very healthy, but resorting to anger most of the time can raise blood pressure and cause problems for the cardiovascular system. Limiting angry outbursts is a healthy alternative to running into blood pressure complications later in life.



Information for this post was obtained from Jason Daley's article "The Science Behind the Hype.