In what might be the best news ever for backyard barbecues, the Department of Agriculture has begun testing a new type of bug zapper. The Photonic Fence, as the new device is called, uses cameras paired with more advanced optic technology to identify insects in an area 30 meters wide by 3 meters high. If they’re classified as a good or tolerable insect, they’re allowed to pass by the machine unharmed. If they’re on the kill list, the Photonic Fence kills it with lasers. The Fence has a potential kill rate of 20 insects per second. To put it in backyard barbecue terms, means it could kill up to 72,000 mosquitoes per hour, which is basically a miracle. Right now, it’s only in testing for farmland, but even that could have huge benefits. Pesticides don’t exactly discriminate, so they’re killing good and bad bugs alike. But with technology like this, farmers can be much more selective with their pest control and won’t have to put deadly poisons anywhere near our food. We never thought we’d say it, but this killer laser robot doesn’t seem to have any downsides.
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Huckberry’s Essential Holiday Gift Guide
Unzip your coat and have some mulled wine on the house—you’ve arrived at your final gifting destination: The Holiday Gift Guide. It’s like your friendly neighborhood one-stop holiday shop, except instead of balsa wood ornaments, ours is packed with thoughtful gifts for everyone on your list. Future heirlooms, small-but-significant stocking stuffers, and gear for getting out there (or staying in)—are all right here. There’s no music playing in the background though, so you’ll just have to hum Bing Crosby while you click around instead.
