Mosquitos, your days are numbers.

**Mormon Red Death** · 02-14-2010, 08:01 PM

Originally posted by UtahDan View Post

Intellectual Ventures Labs has built a device that targets and kills 50-100 of them per minute using lasers. The devise was built using common pats found in printers, digital cameras and projectors. Very cool.

TED Talks mischief: lasers killing mosquitoes by the hundreds - Engadget

http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/14/ted-talks-mischief-lasers-killing-mosquitoes-by-the-hundreds/

Malaria is a huge problem worldwide, so it's no surprise to anyone that plenty of people spend lots of time trying to think of ways to rid the world of mosquitoes, prime movers of the disease. Nathan Myhrvold's company Intellectual Ventures Labs (and former chief technology officer at Microsoft) is focusing on just that. Using widely available and common electronics parts, Intellectual Ventures has made lasers which can kill mosquitoes mid-flight -- at a rate of about 50 to 100 per second. Myhrvold first publicly demonstrated this laser (which is made of parts of printers, digital cameras, and projectors) at the TED conference the other day, using hundreds of mosquitoes in a clear glass case to make his point. The laser's software determines the size and shape of the target before deciding whether or not to shoot, so, for instance -- it wouldn't take aim at a person or a bumblebee. The lasers could be used to protect hospitals and clinics in areas with high mosquito populations and in areas with a high rate of malaria infestation. Now, this is surprisingly not the first time we've seen such a trick -- though it is the first time we've seen video evidence of it working. There are some insanely informative (and murderous) videos at the source link. Be sure to check them out. Update: Video is after the break.

I read about that in superfreakenomics. Just wait till IV unleashes there hurricane stopper!

**All-American** · 02-14-2010, 08:02 PM

Originally posted by UtahDan View Post

Intellectual Ventures Labs has built a device that targets and kills 50-100 of them per minute using lasers. The devise was built using common pats found in printers, digital cameras and projectors. Very cool.

TED Talks mischief: lasers killing mosquitoes by the hundreds - Engadget

http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/14/ted-talks-mischief-lasers-killing-mosquitoes-by-the-hundreds/

Malaria is a huge problem worldwide, so it's no surprise to anyone that plenty of people spend lots of time trying to think of ways to rid the world of mosquitoes, prime movers of the disease. Nathan Myhrvold's company Intellectual Ventures Labs (and former chief technology officer at Microsoft) is focusing on just that. Using widely available and common electronics parts, Intellectual Ventures has made lasers which can kill mosquitoes mid-flight -- at a rate of about 50 to 100 per second. Myhrvold first publicly demonstrated this laser (which is made of parts of printers, digital cameras, and projectors) at the TED conference the other day, using hundreds of mosquitoes in a clear glass case to make his point. The laser's software determines the size and shape of the target before deciding whether or not to shoot, so, for instance -- it wouldn't take aim at a person or a bumblebee. The lasers could be used to protect hospitals and clinics in areas with high mosquito populations and in areas with a high rate of malaria infestation. Now, this is surprisingly not the first time we've seen such a trick -- though it is the first time we've seen video evidence of it working. There are some insanely informative (and murderous) videos at the source link. Be sure to check them out. Update: Video is after the break.

[YOUTUBE]0C5vkbtpdN4[/YOUTUBE]

I wonder what devices such as these suggest about the nature of warfare in the years to come. This is what we can do to mosquitoes now. What could it do to infantry in twenty or thirty years?

**Slim** · 02-14-2010, 08:04 PM

Had dengue fever on my mission.

I HATE mosquitoes. The serve no purpose on this earth other than to spread disease.

I'd love to have my very own mosquito death ray.

**Jeff Lebowski** · 02-14-2010, 08:15 PM

That is awesome.

That would be a great company to work for.

**Mormon Red Death** · 02-14-2010, 08:18 PM

Originally posted by Jeff Lebowski View Post

That is awesome.

That would be a great company to work for.

I agree. The chapter on them in superfreakenomics was the coolest thing I've read in awhile.

**UtahDan** · 02-14-2010, 08:36 PM

Originally posted by Mormon Red Death View Post

I agree. The chapter on them in superfreakenomics was the coolest thing I've read in awhile.

Are they the same ones who want to combat global warming by running a garden hose to outer space and releasing sulfur into the atmosphere? Seems like they were on 60 Minutes or something and yeah they have some amazing ideas.

**Mormon Red Death** · 02-14-2010, 08:41 PM

Originally posted by UtahDan View Post

Are they the same ones who want to combat global warming by running a garden hose to outer space and releasing sulfur into the atmosphere? Seems like they were on 60 Minutes or something and yeah they have some amazing ideas.

They are the same ones.

**pellegrino** · 02-14-2010, 08:50 PM

so when can I get this for my backyard?

**il Padrino Ute** · 02-14-2010, 10:58 PM

IV Labs should expect a visit from PETA in the near future.

**myboynoah** · 02-15-2010, 12:12 AM

Don't dragonflys eat mosquitos? I feel bad for the dragonflys.

Why is man compelled to see and then destroy?

**Uncle Ted** · 08-31-2013, 06:39 AM

OK, it has been over three years... Where can't I buy a laser mosquitos killer? Or even find the plans to build one myself? Maybe it has something to do with the "AVOID BLINDING YOUR GUESTS!" section of this info graphic...

Mosquitos, your days are numbers.

Mosquitos, your days are numbers.

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