4 ms·

NSF Weak Stomach warning, the images are not pretty. I would like to see a solution of the 'mosquito genocide' variety.

by thret 15y ago

epicureanideal 15y ago
Seriously, I would love to see an engineered virus that wipes out all mosquitoes everywhere, or at least within a very large radius like a medium sized country. I would also like to see spiders taken care of next, as well as killer ants and killer bees.
nakkiel 15y ago
Images are not that bad. Having witnessed myself a severe case of Malaria at the said border (Myanmar/Thailand), I can tell you that the guy in the picture might have been running just two days after the picture was taken (I've worked with the SMRU / http://www.shoklo-unit.com/ http://www.shoklo-unit.com/).
iacvlvs 15y ago
We're already working on a mosquito genocide solution. Ever since the Nature article ( http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100721/full/466432a.html http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100721/full/466432a.html ) about how the ecosystem would be fine without mosquitoes I've seen a number of mosquito genocide solutions that just yell "mad scientist". We're using lasers http://www.physorg.com/news185463943.html http://www.physorg.com/news185463943.html We're using smelly socks http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-07/sock-science-fighting-malaria-bearing-mosquitoes-stinky-socks http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-07/sock-science-f... We're tricking them into drinking poison http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/health/27mosquito.html http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/health/27mosquito.html We're even genetically engineering them to self destruct http://gizmodo.com/5852703/mosquitoes-genetically+engineered-to-self-destruct-could-wipe-out-dengue-fever http://gizmodo.com/5852703/mosquitoes-genetically+engineered... It's a bad time to be a mosquito. (Also, I think this is how a Starship Troopers / Ender's Game scenario starts.)
- nakkiel 15y ago
  A quick search on the Internet for the downside of such a genocide has yielded no results. Would you care to give some pointers or explanations if you have any? I'm a firm believer that all actions have consequences and even if presented with "proves" that a mosquito genocide is without risks for the environment as a whole, I still wouldn't believe it totally. For instance, mosquitos are traditionally eaten by Geckos (Mourning Gecko) in SEA which can be found in very large quantities. People mostly don't pay attention to them (although some people are scared of them) and couldn't care less when they emit their "weird sounds". Such a large quantity of Geckos is abundant food for all sort of animals such as snakes, birds, and whatnot. I'm not even a scientist so I really don't know why I'm following this obvious path unless an outreach of creationism has blind-folded actual the scientists?
  - thret 15y ago
    Species die out every day, and they will continue to do so with our without our help. That's natural selection. Deliberate genocide is an irrevocable step in theory, but with something as ubiquitous as the mosquito it's unlikely to ever be completely successful. That said, it's doubtful their extinction would cause any other species immediate trouble. What it will do is save hundreds of millions of human lives.

NSF Weak Stomach warning, the images are not pretty. I would like to see a solution of the 'mosquito genocide' variety.

by thret 15y ago

NSF Weak Stomach warning, the images are not pretty. I would like to see a solution of the 'mosquito genocide' variety.

Seriously, I would love to see an engineered virus that wipes out all mosquitoes everywhere, or at least within a very large radius like a medium sized country. I would also like to see spiders taken care of next, as well as killer ants and killer bees.

nakkiel 15y ago

Images are not that bad. Having witnessed myself a severe case of Malaria at the said border (Myanmar/Thailand), I can tell you that the guy in the picture might have been running just two days after the picture was taken (I've worked with the SMRU / http://www.shoklo-unit.com/ http://www.shoklo-unit.com/).

iacvlvs 15y ago

We're already working on a mosquito genocide solution. Ever since the Nature article ( http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100721/full/466432a.html http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100721/full/466432a.html ) about how the ecosystem would be fine without mosquitoes I've seen a number of mosquito genocide solutions that just yell "mad scientist". We're using lasers http://www.physorg.com/news185463943.html http://www.physorg.com/news185463943.html We're using smelly socks http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-07/sock-science-fighting-malaria-bearing-mosquitoes-stinky-socks http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-07/sock-science-f... We're tricking them into drinking poison http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/health/27mosquito.html http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/health/27mosquito.html We're even genetically engineering them to self destruct http://gizmodo.com/5852703/mosquitoes-genetically+engineered-to-self-destruct-could-wipe-out-dengue-fever http://gizmodo.com/5852703/mosquitoes-genetically+engineered... It's a bad time to be a mosquito. (Also, I think this is how a Starship Troopers / Ender's Game scenario starts.)

nakkiel 15y ago
A quick search on the Internet for the downside of such a genocide has yielded no results. Would you care to give some pointers or explanations if you have any? I'm a firm believer that all actions have consequences and even if presented with "proves" that a mosquito genocide is without risks for the environment as a whole, I still wouldn't believe it totally. For instance, mosquitos are traditionally eaten by Geckos (Mourning Gecko) in SEA which can be found in very large quantities. People mostly don't pay attention to them (although some people are scared of them) and couldn't care less when they emit their "weird sounds". Such a large quantity of Geckos is abundant food for all sort of animals such as snakes, birds, and whatnot. I'm not even a scientist so I really don't know why I'm following this obvious path unless an outreach of creationism has blind-folded actual the scientists?
- thret 15y ago
  Species die out every day, and they will continue to do so with our without our help. That's natural selection. Deliberate genocide is an irrevocable step in theory, but with something as ubiquitous as the mosquito it's unlikely to ever be completely successful. That said, it's doubtful their extinction would cause any other species immediate trouble. What it will do is save hundreds of millions of human lives.