From Israel: The latest in high-tech security - a mouse, no, not a pc mouse

Mice get it right every time

Forget X-ray body scanners and sniffer dogs, Israel's Bioexplorers has developed a foolproof system for security agencies to detect explosives, by using mice.

If the mice sniff explosives or drugs they move into another chamber, setting off an alarm.

Israeli startup Bioexplorers has developed a new and unique way to sniff out terrorists - literally. After years of research, company CEO Eran Lumbroso tells ISRAEL21c, Bioexplorers has hit upon a foolproof, non-invasive and easy method to detect contraband in purses, luggage and even cargo - using mice.

It's no joke. "Mice have an excellent sense of smell, and they're relatively easy to train. And they're easier to use for odor detection than other animals traditionally used for their olfactory capabilities."

Dogs are most often used by security forces to detect drugs and explosives, says Lumbroso, but they generally respond to the directions of their trainer, making their work more of an art than a science. "I was looking for a way to automate and mechanize the training process, so it could be duplicated easily and installed in a variety of settings. And we have been able to achieve that goal using mice."

Mice get it right every time