21
May
Dolphins: Unexpected treasure hunters
The U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program combines technology and biology to train bottlenose dolphins to find sea mines, enemy divers and even artifacts.
21
May
Dolphins: Unexpected treasure hunters
The U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program combines technology and biology to train bottlenose dolphins to find sea mines, enemy divers and even artifacts.
12
Apr
Military limits use of live animals in combat medic training
Goats, pigs and other animals die annually in training exercises. The military says the training saves lives, but activists argue that simulators are more effective.
29
Mar
U.S. solider and stray cat save each other in Afghanistan
Koshka the cat saved Staff Sgt. Jesse Knott’s life while he was serving in the war-torn country. The soldier knew he had to return the favor.
07
Mar
Semper Fido: 7 famous military mascots
These furry and feathered animals serve as symbols for military units across the globe and often hold ranks that afford them special privileges.
22
Jan
21
Jul
From spying cats to bomb-sniffing bees, animals have served some bizarre roles in military operations. Here are 10 of the strangest ways the world’s militaries have used animals to gather intelligence, nab terrorists and fight our wars.
10 ways animals have served the military
11
Jun
Does military’s tough-guy culture keep suicidal soldiers from getting help?
As wars overseas ramped up, recruiting standards were relaxed, allowing recruits with drug and alcohol violations, risk factors for suicide, to join.
05
Jun
Honeybees are natural-born sniffers with antennae able to sense pollen in the wind and track it down to specific flowers, so bees are now being trained to recognize the scents of bomb ingredients. When the bees pick up a suspicious odor with their antennae, they flick their proboscises — a tubular feeding organ than extends from their mouths.
In practice, a honeybee bomb-detection unit would look like a simple box stationed outside airport security or a train platform. Inside the box, bees would be strapped into tubes and exposed to puffs of air where they could constantly check for the faint scent of a bomb. A video camera linked to pattern-recognition software would alert authorities when the bees started waving their proboscises in unison.
10 weird ways animals have served the military
14
May
Intelligent clothing may save U.S. military lives
The smart uniforms would include medical sensors built into the fabric to monitor the health of U.S. troops, including wounds and radiation exposure.
03
Apr
U.S. military sees a threat in global warming
Climate policy may be a minefield on Capital Hill, but the Pentagon sees liabilities of a different kind in climate change.
