Yahoo has an AP article about what I find to be a pretty neat technology. Cities are pumping samples of their drinking water into tanks inhabited by bluegills. The fish’s bodies react when toxins are in the water, and those reactions are monitored. I’m impressed because it seems like such a great idea that I doubt I would have thought of.
But then the writer throws in this gem toward the end of the article.
They do have limitations. While the bluegills have successfully detected at least 30 toxic chemicals, they cannot reliably detect germs. And they are no use against other sorts of attacks — say, the bombing of a water main, or an attack by computer hackers on the systems that control the flow of water.
At least, I hope the writer has a sense of humor. Otherwise I can just imagine Marcus Wohlsen asking curiously, “well can the fish detect computer hackers?”
I wish I would have the guts to slip that past one of my editors.