Mosquito laser
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A mosquito laser is a proposed device that would use lasers to kill mosquitoes. The primary goal would be to reduce malaria infection rates.
In 2007, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation asked Intellectual Ventures to find a way to fight and eventually end malaria.[1] There, astrophysicist Lowell Wood had the idea to use lasers.[1] Their project received considerable media attention around 2010,[2] but the device was still under development as of 2017.[2]
Initial vision
At a brainstorming session in 2007, to think of solutions for malaria, Wood, one of the architects of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), also known as "Star Wars", suggested designing a system to kill mosquitoes with lasers. Soon after, the idea was followed up by many scientists at Intellectual Ventures and mosquitoes were being shot down within a year.[1]
The original idea incorporates laser technology that stems from the SDI, scaled down to insects. Although the malaria-carrying parasite is gone from most developed nations, it is getting worse in undeveloped countries, and it is also becoming more resistant to drugs.[3] Rather than continue with drugs or other pesticides, the mosquito laser takes a more direct approach by instantly killing mosquitoes or burning off their wings and rendering them harmless. One of the design goals was to minimize collateral damage to other species and the environment.[citation needed]
The laser, humorously referred to by some as a WMD (Weapon of Mosquito Destruction), works effectively at a range of 100 feet (approx. 30 meters).[1] Although the team at Intellectual Ventures is confident in the effectiveness of the laser, they do not expect it to eliminate malaria altogether. They believe several technologies must be combined for maximum eradication and minimal cost.[4]
Scientists involved
The team includes several scientists that previously worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Wood worked with Edward Teller, the father of the hydrogen bomb, and architect of the SDI anti-missile laser program.[1] Currently there are several scientists involved with the project, including scientist Jordin Kare, PhD, and principal investigator Eric Johanson. These scientists' knowledge spans several fields; the scientists include engineers, an insect physiologist, an optical specialist, a computational modeling scientist, and an epidemiologist.[citation needed]
Implementations
Several concepts were explored, considering cost and efficiency. Devised implementations included a hand-held model, flying drones, and the current prototype, the Photonic Fence. As of early 2008, Intellectual Venture's prototype consisted of a hand-held laser, capable of shooting down mosquitoes in limited numbers.[1] The Intellectual Ventures scientists once suggested attaching a mosquito laser system to a small flying drone so that it could patrol the air.[1] The current prototype idea being pursued is a perimeter based implementation known as the Photonic Fence. However, a device that can kill mosquitoes at a long enough range to make it practical has never been implemented.[citation needed]