Could mice be the answer to our airport security woes in America? What if we could leave our shoes on, avoid pat-downs, and avoid virtual strip-searches, all while getting a more accurate assessment of who is concealing explosive devices on their person? According to Israeli scientists, that day is here.
Israeli scientists have created a passenger screening device that looks like a full-body scanner, but contains three compartments, each with eight specially trained mice. Yes, mice. The mice work four hour shifts and initial test results (1,000 people were screened at a Tel Aviv mall and all 22 people carrying mock explosives were picked out) indicate this "technology" works.
Think of it like a mice running when he smells a cat. When a mice senses explosives, he runs to a side-chamber where he triggers an alarm. Secondary screening results.
I have suggested K9 searches in the past and I really like the concept of a mice replacing an x-ray machine. Yet I remain skeptical, not that the mice will miss anything, but that there will be too many false-positives. Nevertheless, it is always refreshing to learn about companies developing viable alternatives to full body scanners and as this new security product is further tested, I will be following it closely.
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