tech
America Is Missing Out on the Ultimate Mosquito Weapon
The announcement of the new “air defense” system was issued from Changzhou. A company called Photon Matrix Lab claimed to have developed a new technology for identifying and eliminating deadly threats mid-flight. A video on Indiegogo showed potential buyers how it works: After detecting a mosquito, the device fires off what looks like a blue-violet lightning bolt. When struck, the insect does not just fall straight down, no—it is more satisfying than that: Its body somersaults and tumbles out of the frame, bringing its career of vampiric air raids to a sudden end.
TL;DR
- Photon Matrix Lab in Changzhou has developed a laser system designed to identify and eliminate mosquitoes mid-flight.
- The technology was inspired by an idea from Lowell Wood and Nathan Myhrvold, who previously explored similar concepts.
- The Chinese device has received nearly 4,000 preorders through Indiegogo, with many customers from the U.S.
- Nathan Myhrvold expressed skepticism about the Chinese device's range compared to his earlier prototype.
- Photon Matrix Lab is awaiting production, patent approvals, and safety certifications.
- Alternative mosquito control methods, including genetic modification, are also being researched.
- The author advocates for an aggressive industrial policy to accelerate mosquito-killing technology development.