Mosquito laser gun may sound the death knell for malaria

London, Mar 15 (ANI): A ray gun to kill mosquitoes is being created by American scientists.

The zapper is being built in Seattle where astrophysicists have created a laser that locks onto airborne insects.

The device is being made using technology developed under the Star Wars anti-missile programme.

The laser - dubbed a weapon of mosquito destruction (WMD) - has been designed with the help of Lowell Wood, one of the astrophysicists.

"We like to think back then we made some contribution to the ending of the cold war," The Times quoted Dr Jordin Kare, another astrophysicist, as telling The Wall Street Journal.

"Now we're just trying to make a dent in a war that's claimed a lot more lives," the expert added.

The WMD laser works by detecting the audio frequency created by the beating of mosquito wings. A computer triggers the laser beam, the mosquito's wings are burnt off and its smoking carcass falls to the ground. (ANI)