Military Scientists On The Frontline

What Do UK's Military Scientists Do On The Frontline? -- BBC

It's a little known fact that the UK Ministry of Defence deploys scientists to the frontline in Iraq and Afghanistan. But what do military science advisers do?

To find out, Quentin Cooper from BBC Radio 4's Material World programme interviewed Nick Barrett, programme leader for support to operations at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).

QC: Nick, a lot of us are used to the idea that alongside soldiers there are embedded journalists. But aside from medics and engineers, we don't really hear about scientists going to war.

NB: I guess it's not something which has received a lot of media attention in the past, but it's a growing capability. It's a growing initiative to send scientists on to the front line to assist and support our troops.

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My Comment: Fascinating reading .... there is a lot of smart people out there who are risking their lives everyday to better protect the soldiers.

Why Fireflies Are Important To The Military

Male fireflies flashing in unison (Malaysia)

Military Eyes Glowing Secrets Of Fireflies, Others -- Washington Times/AP

NEW LONDON, Conn. (AP) — Someday, the secrets of fireflies or glowing sea plankton could save an American soldier in battle, a Navy SEAL on a dive or a military pilot landing after a mission.

That's the hope behind a growing field of military-sponsored research into bioluminescence, a phenomenon that's under the microscope in laboratories around the country.

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My Comment: This research makes sense. Many of natures common insects/plants/etc. have implications far beyond their own ecology .... with new scientific focus, I expect more interesting research projects popping up in the near future.

India's Military Studying The Secrets Of The Yogi Masters

India Seeks Super Soldiers By tapping the techniques of a holy man who claims he's gone without food and water for 70 years, India's military research arm hopes to train soldiers to last longer on the battlefield.

Seeking Troop Longevity, Indian Military Taps A Holy Man On A Supposed 70-Year Fast -- Popular Science

India's Defense Research Development Organization thinks it may have found a new secret weapon: an 82-year-old holy man named Prahlad Jani. His tactical advantage: longevity. Jani claims via the UK's Telegraph that he has not consumed food or drink for 70 years, and military authorities are conducting a rigorous study to see if he's onto something they could use.

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My Comment: So much for staring at goats.

So Much For The Argument That Somali Pirates Protect The Fishing Grounds Off Their Coast

Scourge of the Indian Ocean (Image: Mohamed Dahir/AFP/Getty Images)

Somali Pirates Hold Science To Ransom -- New Scientist

SOMALI pirates terrorising the Indian Ocean are a hazard to more than shipping and tourists. They are also killing important scientific research and may be indirectly damaging the ocean's ecosystem.

Fishing boats in the Indian Ocean routinely carry scientists who gather data about fish stocks and threatened species while ensuring that boats comply with fishing rules. The piracy threat has put a stop to that. "We can't monitor and we can't do experiments because of the pirates," says Laurent Dagorn of France's Research Institute for Development (IRD).

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My Comment: For the past two years I have been reading stories about how many of the Somali pirates are actually fishermen who were driven to piracy for a living .... while this is probably true it is also true that these pirates are now exacerbating a terrible problem in the industry that they are claiming they are saving.