questionmark Posted September 16, 2013 #1 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Police in the Netherlands are hoping to save money by training rats to sniff out things like drugs and gunshot residue. The animals are cheaper and faster than traditional lab work -- and they're very accurate. "Derrick" is unbeatable. He's right in 98.8 percent of all cases, the kind of accuracy only machines can achieve. But Derrick is no machine. He's part of an elite group of sewer rats currently being trained in Rotterdam to sniff out drugs, gunpowder or traces of other substances that cling to someone after they've committed a crime. Shooting a gun leaves behind gunshot residue that until now could only be detected in a costly laboratory. Dutch police, under pressure to save money, now see Derrick and his four classmates as a cheaper and faster option than traditional science. The project's potential savings has won it the support of the police's "innovation manager." Read more 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taun Posted September 16, 2013 #2 Share Posted September 16, 2013 So now when criminals are caught they can do their best Jimmy Cagney: "You dirty rat".... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikko-kun Posted September 18, 2013 #3 Share Posted September 18, 2013 Just dont put male and female rats in the same crime squad, you'll see maaany baby rats after. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ancient astronaut Posted September 18, 2013 #4 Share Posted September 18, 2013 The "Rat Squad" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ineffectiveArtist Posted September 18, 2013 #5 Share Posted September 18, 2013 The "Mousketeers"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pallidin Posted September 18, 2013 #6 Share Posted September 18, 2013 Interesting. From the original article it reads, in part: Biology is on his side -- rats have 1,000 different receptors that are crucial to the perception of smells. That's more than dogs, which have 900, and well more than humans, with a paltry 380. Huh, I never knew that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
order and chaos Posted September 18, 2013 #7 Share Posted September 18, 2013 Leave it to the dutch. The ones with relaxed drug laws to do this. And it saves money thats a plus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lava_Lady Posted September 19, 2013 #8 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Rats are amazing creatures!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconxwes Posted September 19, 2013 #9 Share Posted September 19, 2013 sounds like the plot to minority report 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ealdwita Posted September 19, 2013 #10 Share Posted September 19, 2013 An attempt to employ them on traffic duties failed, because apparently, there are certain things even rats refuse to do! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightly Posted September 20, 2013 #11 Share Posted September 20, 2013 ... and they kept falling over on their tiny motorcycles 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now