Google is requesting approval from the federal government to release up to 32 million mosquitoes in California and Florida as part pf its “Debug” program.
The initiative looks to “stop bad bugs with good bugs” by releasing hordes of sterile mosquitoes to eliminate ones that carry disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says mosquitoes are the deadliest animal in the world. Google scientists say their eradication approach uses data analytics, sensors and automation to “scale the sterile insect technique.”
A notice from the Federal Register shows the Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing Google’s Experimental Use Permit applications under federal guidelines.