Researchers from Ben M’sik Hassan II University create a new robot that easily milks scorpions for their venom. A mockup of the device that clamps the scorpion’s tail (Picture via Ben M’sik Hassan II University)
Did you know that scorpions can be milked? And if that wasn’t terrifying enough, their venom is actually used in a variety of medical fields. As you can imagine, this isn’t an easy task and isn’t necessarily the safest. A team of researchers at Ben M’sik Hassan II University in Morocco believes they’ve found the solution to take the sting out of extracting the venom: robots.
The team created a robot designed to extract and store scorpion venom that makes the process faster and safer. It’s a lightweight, VES-4 device and is portable, making it ideal for lab use or field work. According to team designer Mouad Mkamel, the traditional method of extracting venom is difficult and requires “at least two experimenters.” The process is also risky; not only do you stand a chance of getting stung, but you can also get shocked from the stimulators used to get the venom. Other methods, like mechanical stimulation, are unreliable. In addition, the method of puncturing the venom gland, it’s harmful to the animal.
So how does it work exactly? The robot clamps the scorpion’s tail and electrically stimulates the arachnid to get the venom, which it captures and stores. The device can even be controlled by a remote, and it needs only one person to operate ensuring safety for those assigned to this terrifying task. It also can be programmed to remember different settings for different species and even has an LED screen display. Having the robot clamp the scorpion’s tail doesn’t sound very pleasant, but the team assures that it doesn’t harm the animal. They’ve already tested the device on numerous species of scorpions.
This isn’t the first time a robot has been used by medical scientists. Similar robotic devices have been used to create drugs to treat malaria. There’s even been talk of humanoid robots with the ability to grow human tissue grafts.
This new device keeps everyone involved in the task safe and ensures venom can continue to be used for medical science. Currently, venom is used is medical applications, like immunosuppressants, cancer research, and anti-malarial drugs. Surprisingly, the properties of the venom act as a painkiller, helps prevents organ rejection, and can treat arthritis. Having this bit of knowledge, it makes you wonder what other things are hiding in your medication. Maybe it’s best not to think about it.
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