Thursday, April 12, 2007

Meth Moths?

Student wins science fair award with new meth-finding tool
by Chad Plein, KY3 News

KAISER, Mo. -- A high school senior has piqued the curiosity of law enforcement officers by showing them a new tool in the war against illegal methamphetamines. The discovery came out of Lei’La’ Bryant’s science fair project and law enforcement officers say it works.

Bryant says, when looking for a project for the state science symposium, she started thinking about students and infants who she's seen affected by meth. Her project, How to Find Meth Labs, won a best-in-the-state award.

“I wanted to do something to change things,” said Bryant.

The evils of meth concerned Bryant so much that she hatched a plan to help law enforcement.

“It’s innovative to take something small and lead to chemicals,” said Camden County Sheriff John Page.

“Meth in Missouri has its own world ranking,” said Bryant.

Seven meth busts in her neighborhood over the last two years bugged Bryant. She had to find an answer.

“Yeah, I train moths,” she said.

That’s right: moths. The experiment is based on Pavlov's dog. She exposed moths to a meth chemical shortly before feeding them.

Rest of story HERE

3 comments:

Jen said...

Thats was intresting. But wouldn't it be hard to follow a moth through the woods for two days?
Nice blog it was fun visiting.

...roseykrh said...

Apparently they leave them in cages and observe which way the moths mouths are pointing to determine which direction to look for meth.

I would think that basically that means if they suspect a house they would bring the moth cage into the house to see if there are any reactions from the moths.

Jen said...

Ok that makes sense. I saw a documentery on criminal investgations, not long ago. To get a search warrent to get into a house, they put up fly paper near the house. Found traces of cocain on a dead fly.