US seeking to use sharks for 'stealth' work

Published on 02/03/2006 11:24

PENTAGON scientists hope to create "stealth sharks" guided by electrodes in the brain, it was revealed today.

The aim is to exploit the natural ability of sharks to glide swiftly and silently through water.

Swimming invisibly in a ship's wake, a remote-controlled shark could track an enemy vessel's movements without being detected.

The research builds on developments in brain implant technology which have already seen scientists controlling the movements of fish, rats and monkeys.

Scientists from the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) plan to implant devices into blue sharks and release them into the ocean off the coast of Florida.

Sonar beamed from naval acoustic signalling towers will be used to communicate with the sharks. The towers, which already exist in the area, are suitable for relaying messages from a ship to a shark up to 300 kilometres away.

Another group at Boston University has used neural implants that react to phantom odour signals to "steer" spiny dogfish in a tank.

A similar tactic has been used by scientists at the University of New York to guide rats through rubble piles.