IQ and wisdom are not the same thing, because war seems to have always accompanied the development of mankind. Advanced technology, while enhancing our intelligence, doesn’t necessarily impart wisdom. However, wisdom can often be studied from nature, as exemplified by bees’ extraordinary ability to detect bombs—a trait that brings to mind another future potential of micro-robots in world safety.

In 2006, Timothy Harman and his team at the Los Alamos Project (Stealth Insect Sensor Project) embarked on a groundbreaking study. They trained bees to extend their proboscis, a nectar-extracting organ, in the presence of explosives. This was achieved by blending sugar water with target substances, leveraging bees’ innate attraction to the sweet liquid. Remarkably, bees demonstrated a sensitivity and accuracy surpassing many sophisticated human-made devices, even detecting TATP, an explosive compound elusive to lab instruments. For training, bees were housed in tubes but had to be released within 48 hours to prevent high mortality.

Bees’ ability to discern explosive odors amidst complex human scents like lotions and tobacco further showcases their prowess. Similar research was conducted by Jerry Bromenshenk at the University of Montana, training bees to identify explosives, meth labs, and even cadavers. Bees exhibit specific behaviors, like slowing down and circling, upon detecting target odors. Bromenshenk’s team used audio, video, and laser systems to map these flight patterns, thus pinpointing probable locations of substances over vast areas.

This research opens up immense possibilities in biological mechanism studies. Parallel advancements in robotics, such as miniature medical robots capable of clearing arterial plaque or breaking down kidney stones, demonstrate the potential of microrobots in areas inaccessible by traditional surgery. The fusion of sensors, data computation, movement patterns, and energy harvesting and storage will revolutionize micro-robotics. In biodefense, for instance, microrobots equipped with special receptors could neutralize threats like nerve agents, bioweapons, or viruses.

Looking ahead, the synergy between trained bees and bee-like microrobots holds the promise of monitoring complex environments and swiftly detecting hazardous substances in events like chemical leaks or explosions.