(Credit:
ariadna)
With news of a new kind of dengue emerging in Singapore, this sounds like a job for...a mosquito laser zapper! Punnily dubbed a "weapon of mosquito destruction" (WMD), scientists are finally declaring a Cold War against malaria and all mosquito-related ailments.
This particular one appears to take a Death Star leaf out of the "Star War" book, with the laser designed to detect the audio frequency of beating wings, zero in on the culprit, and burn it on the spot. The good news is the WMD will be capable of sweeping an entire area or village and "toast(ing) millions of mosquitoes in a few minutes", physicist and project lead scientist Dr. Jordin Kare told CNN.
Intellectual Ventures, a company founded by former Microsoft executive Nathan Myhrvold, commissioned the research.
Now all we need is a home version that we can set up to fry those miniscule terrorists before they can infect any loved ones around.
(Via Crave Asia)
(Credit:
Brando)
Some years ago, after a particularly bad outbreak of bug bites, we purchased a $500 propane-powered mosquito-repellant system that was supposedly effective enough to be used by the military. (Is that an official gadget cliche yet?) We never got it to work, naturally, and it sits in a corner of the garage mocking us daily.
So we're somewhat dubious about any device that claims to eradicate the winged leeches unless it involves mass quantities of highly toxic industrial-strength pesticides. But this mosquito repeller claims to do just that with ultra-sonic sound in adjustable frequencies.
Please forgive our skepticism, but we can't help but notice that it comes from the same company--Hong Kong-based Brando--that gave us the massaging mouse and a pig-shaped USB card reader. But hey, it's only $9, and it doubles as a lighted keychain. Once a sucker, always a sucker.
(Credit:
Discovery Store)
This orange abomination might look like a really ugly iPod speaker, but it's actually a device that promises to keep mosquitoes away and restore your summer evenings to a more sanguine state by emitting a "natural, chemical-free" odor. (But it doesn't say how bad it smells.) You can clip the Mosquito Shield onto your belt (um, dorky) or put it on a nearby table or porch in an attempt to declare hegemony over your exposed skin when the bugs might be biting.
Here's the problem: I doubt it actually works.
You see, mosquitoes are vehement little fellows, and something tells me that they'll find some way to get around this thing just as they've always managed to do with citronella candles, weird little sonic pinging devices, and spray-on bug repellant. Because they want to suck your blood.
But at only $19.95, it might be worth a try. Most of us are probably desperate enough by now.
(Via Cribcandy)
(Credit:
RoboCommunity)
When we started seeing remote-controlled mini-helicopters and mosquito choppers buzz into the market, we kiddingly warned that a locust-like invasion must have been imminent. We're now sorry to say that the joke may be on us.
RoboCommunity is reporting that WowWee--maker of the hugely popular Robosapien--has submitted applications with the FCC for a remote-controlled "FlyTech Dragonfly." Quoting a user manual submitted to the agency, RoboCommunity says the device "has wings (like a dragonfly) and a tail rotor like on many helicopters, and is supposed to be 'crash-proof' due to what they term the 'high-flex' design. The wings are replaceable, it is rechargeable and there are 2 flying modes: beginner and expert." (Submitted photo shown here.)
Given WowWee's successful track record, we could be entering a whole new era of airborne annoyances. But we'll still take them over the flying alarm clocks.
(Credit:
BoysStuff)
(Credit:
Shiny Shiny)
What could be more annoying than a remote-controlled mosquito helicopter? A flying alarm clock that buzzes like one, as seen on Newlaunches. Think about it: Not only would you have a foreign object bouncing off your bedroom walls and ceiling, but it would be blaring its irritating alarm the whole time.
If this were in our house, it would only go off once. After that, it would be thrown out the window--open or not. So if you absolutely must have a flying alarm clock, we recommend this one instead. As Shiny Shiny points out, it's tethered to the ceiling and, more important, it isn't even a real clock (and therefore has no real alarm). Three advantages right off the bat.
(Credit:
Firebox.com)
In posting an item on what may be the most annoying toy of this holiday season, it seemed only natural to compare the remote-controlled helicopter with a mosquito. Now we learn that a competing mini-chopper is actually named after the pest and is designed to look like one to boot.
The "Micro Mosquito," which also comes with its own launchpad/charger, claims to be more maneuverable than its rivals because it has two sets of "counter-rotating" blades. It is sold on Firebox.com but at last sighting was listed as "not available"--which either means that it's sold out or has been wiped out altogether by irritated consumers. We'll hang a Zapper outside our door just in case.
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