Cockroaches’ astonishing survival skills make them the bane of many households – but perhaps we’ve under-appreciated these tough little insect warriors.



In the above video, our colleagues at Click explore a surprising new initiative – to send remote-controlled, cyborg cockroaches into disaster zones. The scientists attach a small electronic chip to the insect’s brain, using minuscule acupuncture needles. (The researchers assured Click that the cockroaches suffer no pain – they are just a little startled by the operation.) The chip can then stimulate the nerves involved in movement, allowing the researchers to control the cockroach over a wireless connection.

In this way, an army of remote-controlled insects could scout out regions that would be difficult for humans to reach – such as nuclear disaster zones, or the rubble after an earthquake.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn