Its rebirth as a bug killer came thanks to Nathan Myhrvold, a former Microsoft Corp. executive who now runs Intellectual Ventures LLC., a company that collects patents and funds inventions.
It does a lot more of the first than the second. I wish they'd just leave it alone as the results will probably be a non-practical, gee-wiz laser gizmo that makes no sense to deploy anywhere and a raft of vague patents that freeze innovation in the field preventing the inventions that might actually help.
As a Swede, I'd be as excited as anyone to get rid of mosquitoes. That said, I doubt they would make a significant dent in the mosquito population but it seems like another example of a technological "fix" without considering the wider effects: Which species depend on mosquitoes as food, and what will happen when they can't eat anymore?
Oh my, yes. Then we would truly have a silent spring, wouldn't we? Perhaps if we wrote a book of some sort, that would stir up people to save the mosquitoes.
Probably we can say the laser causes egg shell thickness depletion, Nobody who knows enough statistics to laugh at us will be heard, if we create enough public outcry.
I don't share your concern that this will cause an ecological problem. I do share your concern that it's a little silly, if you truly want to have an effect on mosquito populations in mosquito heavy areas.
If only there were a substance that's so safe, you can eat it by the gallon, that actually took care of the mosquito problem without needing to have sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads, to do it. Surely if such a substance existed, we wouldn't let millions die from malaria, while we played with lasers. This is impressive, technologically, but it's like ... I don't know, 'using a laser to kill a mosquito', I guess.
I think this is the best example I have ever seen of "Black people have to die so that white people can feel comfortable".
Seriously. Look at what you're saying. Too dangerous to protect African children from wasting death, but perfectly safe to prevent casual nuisance at your next barbecue? (Psst: what is the size of the average American backyard relative to the average African dwelling?)
Actually, look at what you're saying. When did I mention anything about race? I am saying that I don't think this would work on a massive scale because it would destabilize ecosystems, but when used in smaller areas that wouldn't be a risk.
When you mentioned malaria. Its a disease that white people don't get, largely because we eliminated it in our countries prior to getting religion on that environmentalism thing. After that, we collectively decided that while our kids were worth cracking a few eggs to make an omlette, African kids were not.
Take a look at this graph here, particularly the one in the top left corner:
That shaded land mass, 60% of the continental US? That used to be Malaria Country. In 2009, there isn't a spec of the US that is Malaria Country. The reason: we bombed the shit out of the mosquitoes, pure and simple, and we kept doing it until malaria wasn't a problem anymore. If there was a malaria flareup in a US suburb this year, we would do a bit of obligatory handwriting and then promptly bomb the shit out of it.
(You think we'd make white people put up with expensive, ineffective countermeasures like treated crib nets? I'd like to hear that planning meeting: "Well, we've run the numbers, and have decided that by spending a few million on bed nets, crib nets, and outdoor abatement programs, only about five of your kids, plus or minus three or so, will die in the next year due to malaria in our township. Remember to be really conscientious about putting up your nets -- not that they're going to save everyone, because they can't, but remembering the nets every night gives your child the maximum chance of survival until the school year starts. Why don't we just bomb the shit out of the bugs, you ask? Oh, well, we considered doing that but are concerned the local birdwatchers will be upset.")
Over a million African children died last year of malaria. Five hundred million people caught the disease. But when it is Africans dying, and not us, then we get all sorts of picky about how much ecological damage is being done.
(Incidentally, not much. But given the choice between 1 million Africans a year and Very Bad Environmental Things that presumably happened in the US between 1880 and 1950 when we were spraying DDT like it was going out of style, I think we have a moral imperative to choose Very Bad Environmental Things.)
> Too dangerous to protect African children from wasting death,
Why? Do the mosquitoes only bite black people? Are they racist?
> Too dangerous to protect African children from wasting death, but perfectly safe to prevent casual nuisance at your next barbecue?
Treatment of malaria is usually effective. The biggest hindrance in the prevention and treatment of malaria is corrupt and despotic African governments - not white people who never visited the continent.If he wants a thing that shoots skeeters at his barbecue he will not hurt anybody.
> Psst: what is the size of the average American backyard relative to the average African dwelling?
The size of many African backyards is about the same size as that of Americans homes - it depends. In rural areas (where malaria is the biggest problem) the are around the home can be much bigger.
People (at least in my country) spend a longer time outdoors - and the use of other areas (non yard) is higher.
The are of only the home (kitchen/rooms) is however smaller (flat size).
Wow, I've wanted to see this for many years. (I suspect many people who followed the 'Strategic Defense'/'Star Wars' programs, and suffered from flying insects, had the same thought.)
It does a lot more of the first than the second. I wish they'd just leave it alone as the results will probably be a non-practical, gee-wiz laser gizmo that makes no sense to deploy anywhere and a raft of vague patents that freeze innovation in the field preventing the inventions that might actually help.