Bomb-ble Bees

[Paul's Here 0]

Bees have been trained to detect TNT and C-4 explosives in the parts per trillion range. Don't get stung at the airport!!

Pavlov's Bees

Take a little behavioral psychology, add sugar water, and what have you got? Trained bees. Bomb-sniffing bees.

In Pavlovian tradition, members of the Laboratory's Stealthy Insect Sensor project have used sweet treats to condition honeybees to respond to the chemical scent of explosives.

The bees extend their proboscis (tongue) when exposed to explosives. Team members have trained the bees to do this by rewarding them with a dose of sugar each time they react to the smell of explosive chemicals such as TNT and C-4. Proboscis extension is a reflex normally triggered by the presence of nectar.

[Arnold 0]

Bees have been trained to detect TNT and C-4 explosives in the parts per trillion range. Don't get stung at the airport!!

Pavlov's Bees

Take a little behavioral psychology, add sugar water, and what have you got? Trained bees. Bomb-sniffing bees.

In Pavlovian tradition, members of the Laboratory's Stealthy Insect Sensor project have used sweet treats to condition honeybees to respond to the chemical scent of explosives.

The bees extend their proboscis (tongue) when exposed to explosives. Team members have trained the bees to do this by rewarding them with a dose of sugar each time they react to the smell of explosive chemicals such as TNT and C-4. Proboscis extension is a reflex normally triggered by the presence of nectar.

That's a lot of bee training. How long do they live?

[Carlos 0]

That is fascinating! Thanks for the story Paul.

[Paul's Here 0]

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That's a lot of bee training. How long do they live?

After they've had they're fill of C-4, they are put in a hive and are exploded in one glorious shower of sparklers, every July 4th.