Remember in 1997 when an episode of Pokemon gave hundreds of Japanese children seizures? The whole world took notice, including the Pentagon's top secret weapons division. Really.
If Pikachu could immobilize people non-lethally, why not the US Army? Wanting to be the Very Best, they began research into seizure-based weapons technology, literally using Pokemon, to understand the power that's inside.
Shortly after, the project failed.
If you harbor fears of the robot apocalypse, this little piece of technology won't put your mind at ease. The Pentagon has teamed up with universities to develop an attack-proof worm that can squirm its way through tight spaces, navigate rough terrain and withstand heavy blows. You know, all the things needed to take over humanity. And they're not done:
Other examples include a robotic "cheetah" that can run at speeds of 18mph (29km/h), a micro-aircraft equipped with a camera that looks like a hummingbird, and AlphaDog - a four-legged robot designed to carry soldiers' gear.
