Attention all…Bees to the rescue!!! Scientists at a U.S weapons laboratory say that they are training bees to sniff out explosives and think this is could be huge revelation in homeland security and the war in Iraq. Bombs away!

Researchers believe that they have succeeded in training honeybees to stick out their proboscis (the tube that they use to feed on nectar) when exposed to the smell of explosives by rewarding them with a sugar water treat. So now, when a bee detects an explosive odor they stick their proboscis out, simple as that.

Researcher Tim Haarmann is very excited with the news and explains the benefits of having such small little helpers. Haarmann notes, “the bees could be carried in hand-held detectors the size of a shoe box, and could be used to sniff out explosives in airports, roadside security checks, or even placed in robot bomb disposal equipment.” I would like to suggest the name “Box-o-Bee” for the hand-held detectors. Researchers have tried to train wasps in the past, but honeybees show more promise–they seem to have explosive detectors in their blood. So in the next few weeks, months, years, if you see a bee- a honeybee- shake its hand, give it a high five, and say thank you Bee, thanks a lot!