# Cyborg Beetles (honest) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 26, 2009, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyborg-beetles-honest/487504 "2009-02-26T14:20:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyborg-beetles-honest/487504/1 "2009-02-26T14:20:10Z")
A colleague of mine brought this to my attention and I felt I had to share it. It looks like it really is possible to create [cyborg beetles](http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=1420) for espionage purposes. Apparently by implanting electrodes before they pupate (sp.?) then the beetle grows around the electrodes and accomodates them. It can then be controlled. While amazed at the technology, I find it mildly disturbing as this could in theory be applied to other animals and perhaps one day people. The idea of remote controlled cyborg assassins is no longer confined to sci fi, it is a near possibility. Any body else got an opinion on this? I didn’t put in in GD, because I doubt this will generate much debate. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyborg-beetles-honest/487504/2 "2009-02-26T14:26:59Z")
> [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](#): > > It looks like it really is possible to create [cyborg beetles](http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=1420) for espionage purposes. It’s possible to create them, but they haven’t finished their testing yet. > [@](#): > > While amazed at the technology, I find it mildly disturbing as this could in theory be applied to other animals and perhaps one day people. The idea of remote controlled cyborg assassins is no longer confined to sci fi, it is a near possibility. Doesn’t sound near at all to me - they’re not sure it works on the beetles and I think the human nervous system is a lot more complex. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyborg-beetles-honest/487504/3 "2009-02-26T14:29:48Z")
Somewhere, Mary Shelley is rolling over in her grave, trying to warn us. ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyborg-beetles-honest/487504/4 "2009-02-26T14:33:28Z")
I guess what you say is true, the human nervous system is much more complicated and we don’t go through a larval cycle so it may be difficult to implant electrodes without danger of rejection or infection. The actual paper by Sato et al gives more details and it appears to have worked quite succesfully, since it was published originally in Jan 2008, I guess things have moved on a bit since then. We discussed this at work yesterday and were trying to consider the ethical implications of the work. In a few years it may be possible to use small insects as spies with micro cameras or microphones under remote control. Since this work is in the public domain, it makes you wonder if the intelligence agencies have funded other work not yet published. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyborg-beetles-honest/487504/5 "2009-02-26T14:44:10Z")
> [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](#): > > I guess what you say is true, the human nervous system is much more complicated and we don’t go through a larval cycle so it may be difficult to implant electrodes without danger of rejection or infection. An implant of comparable scale would also be very, very conspicuous on a person. 😉 > [@](#): > > We discussed this at work yesterday and were trying to consider the ethical implications of the work. In a few years it may be possible to use small insects as spies with micro cameras or microphones under remote control. Well, it’s like I always say - if you can’t trust governments to use their spying powers ethically, who _can_ you trust? ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyborg-beetles-honest/487504/6 "2009-02-26T14:45:26Z")
> [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](#): > > Since this work is in the public domain, it makes you wonder if the intelligence agencies have funded other work not yet published. > [@](#): > > HI-MEMS is a DARPA program initiated by Program Manager Dr. Amit Lal. I’d wager my life it hasn’t just been given up to the public domain. ---
**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyborg-beetles-honest/487504/7 "2009-02-26T15:33:33Z")
Before you know it, someone will be spreading the rumor that Cyborg-Paul is dead… ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyborg-beetles-honest/487504/8 "2009-02-26T15:43:56Z")
> [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](#): > > I find it mildly disturbing as this could in theory be applied to other animals and perhaps one day people. As long as human gestation and growth don’t include a pupa phase I think we are safe. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyborg-beetles-honest/487504/9 "2009-02-26T15:50:36Z")
Fly, my pretties, fly. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyborg-beetles-honest/487504/10 "2009-02-26T15:56:04Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Fly, my pretties, fly. A wonderful thread/user/post combo! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyborg-beetles-honest/487504/11 "2009-02-26T21:13:33Z")
> [@](#): > > Quote: > While amazed at the technology, I find it mildly disturbing as this could in theory be applied to other animals and perhaps one day people. The idea of remote controlled cyborg assassins is no longer confined to sci fi, it is a near possibility. > > Doesn’t sound near at all to me - they’re not sure it works on the beetles and I think the human nervous system is a lot more complex. What if they use the Beetles as assasins? Implant teeny tiny bombs. Of have them fly in the face of your plane’s pilot, or something? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyborg-beetles-honest/487504/12 "2009-02-27T04:53:58Z")
neat! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyborg-beetles-honest/487504/13 "2009-02-27T04:58:57Z")
> [@Ale](#): > > As long as human gestation and growth don’t include a pupa phase I think we are safe. Better check that guy in the cube down the hall… he hasn’t moved since Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyborg-beetles-honest/487504/14 "2009-02-27T05:06:21Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Fly, my pretties, fly. Ooooh, the OP then does explain \*\*at last \*\*why the Wicked Witch of the East said “I sent a little insect on ahead to take the fight out of them!” \* - Yes, I already know why she did say that in the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyborg-beetles-honest/487504/15 "2009-02-27T05:31:12Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Somewhere, Mary Shelley is rolling over in her grave, trying to warn us. Instead, she’s spinning a turbine powering the research plant. Irony makes her spin faster and harder, so this is entirely sustainable. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyborg-beetles-honest/487504/16 "2009-02-27T16:07:38Z")
Damn you. I now have the[Beetleborg](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bad_Beetleborgs)theme song as an earworm. ---
**Author:** ![turner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@turner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turner)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyborg-beetles-honest/487504/17 "2009-02-27T16:16:59Z")
Great, I can be the first to say it for a change… I for one welcome our cyborg beetle overlords