Order Your Cyborg Cockroaches Today
If you’ve ever wanted to control a cockroach with your iPhone, today’s technology can fulfill your dreams. No, it’s not a new app. We’re talking about real live cyborg roaches that have been surgically modified with microelectronics.
How RoboRoaches Work
Tiny circuit boards affixed to their backs receive signals from Bluetooth-enabled devices; the signals stimulate electrodes inserted into their antennae. Roaches normally use their antennae to detect obstacles in their path. The signals trick them into thinking there is something in their way. They move right or left as directed to avoid the perceived objects. With a few strokes on a touch screen, you can make them walk in circles or navigate through an obstacle course. Neuroscience educators are excited about the prospect of teaching kids to modify their own roaches. They’re hoping the experiment will promote interest in the field. If you can’t wait to get your hands on a remote-control insect, you can pre-order a RoboRoach kit from Backyard Brains.
The Ethical Implications of Biobots
Not everyone is thrilled with the idea. Some feel the experiment may encourage kids to view living organisms as machines or tools rather than sentient beings. Turning a roach into a cyborg requires an invasive surgical procedure that includes amputation of body parts, and it’s uncertain whether roaches feel pain from the procedure or the electronic stimulation that it enables. Defenders of the experiment note that it can also reveal the similarities between human and insect neurological systems, and the enlightenment could theoretically promote empathy. After a few days, cyborg roaches adapt and stop responding to electronic signals. At this point, they’re retired and can resume a normal life.
Could This Creepy Concept Help Humankind?
Although the idea is certainly interesting, it’s hard for the average person to imagine a practical use for a bionic roach. Most people don’t care if roaches go right or left; they just want them to go away. However, Scientific American points out that these modified creatures could actually participate in search-and-rescue missions for victims of earthquakes and other disasters. They’re small enough to go into spaces human rescuers can’t, and their survival skills are top-notch. If you’re ever trapped in rubble without food or water, you might actually be happy to see a bug wearing a little backpack. If this happens, be sure you don’t panic and step on it.
ABC Austin Has Been Controlling Roaches for Years
We’re pleased to say that our experts at ABC Home & Commercial Services can control roaches without a Bluetooth device. In fact, we can provide the most effective pest control services available for all Austin’s insect problems. If your bugs are out of control, give us a call today.