AI Helps Grow 6 Billion Roaches at China's Largest Breeding Site (cnet.com) 105
With the help of AI, folks at a Chinese pharmaceutical company are breeding cockroaches by the billions every year, South China Morning Post reports. From a report: Their purpose: To make a "healing potion" that can cure respiratory, gastric and other diseases. The "potion," consumed by over 40 million people in China, is made by crushing the cockroaches once they reach a desired weight and size, according to the publication. There is a "slightly fishy smell" to the potion, which tastes "slightly sweet" and looks like tea, it added. Some insects are known to have potential health benefits. Besides China's cockroach potion, scientists are also exploring how milk-like protein crystals in roaches could be an excellent source of calories and nutrition. Chewing down on bugs like crickets and mealworms can also give us more protein, according to studies.
I thought it was just in one restuarant (Score:5, Interesting)
Seriously, aren't cockroaches right up there in causes of asthma?
And this is certainly a place I'd totally NOPE out of...
Re: (Score:3)
Not in liquid form, you drink them not snort them in a dry from.
While under snake oil Territory in my book. I expects it has the same health befits as a protein shake, without the sugar. Giving some one who is ill (probably not eating much) a drink with protein and some other nutrients to help them get over the illness a little easier, and like many American Drugs, it has a strong smell which make you feel that it is working. Like eating hot peppers to clear your sinuses, or mint to make your teeth feel c
Re: (Score:2)
I liked it better when they just added laudanum to everything to make it "work better".
Actual reasons for peppers and alcohol. (Score:3)
you might think it's snake oil, but there are reasons for the "American Drugs" examples you give.
- Regarding peppers:
These will increase the secretion of the mucosae (i.e.: they'll cause your eye to produce more tear and will get your nose more runny. all this additional water you'll produce wil basically help washing your nose/sinuses)
(most of the traditional cures for upper respiratory tract infections work the same way)
several nasal spray work the same way but more directly (saline water to help wash out
Re: (Score:2)
If someone is allergic enough to have a reaction from breathing the air in spaces cockroaches have occupied, then he will definitely have a reaction from eating them.
I have a better solution for the real problem this propaganda hopes to fix: Maybe we should stop breeding so much. I'd rather have fewer people with a better quality of life than 10billion+ subsisting on insects.
Re: (Score:2)
Is there some real science behind it? (Score:5, Insightful)
Anyway, I suppose it's better than killing Tigers and other endangered species for their bone(r)s because some old guys can't get a proper erection any more.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
Poverty also correlates to higher crime rates. I know plenty of majority white neighborhoods I won't step foot in because of the high crime rates. I certainly don't blame the sketchiness of those neighborhoods to the maybe 3 black people living in them.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
China science so good.
West science is steal and second place.
China AI lead world with tracking seditious citizen.
China feed citizen roach as directed by AI.
Optimal feeding. Optimal breeding.
China so good.
Re:Is there some real science behind it? (Score:5, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
You show me that it works (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: Is there some real science behind it? (Score:2)
The thing about snake oil is that it actually works if you believe it works.
No, it doesn't, any more than a perpetual motion machine works if you believe it works. You can convince yourself that it works. You can be very happy that you bought and congratulate yourself because "it works for you". But at the end of the day no amount of self delusion is going to change the fact that it objectively doesn't work.
Re: (Score:2)
I have often wondered why people on a Paleo diet don't eat more bugs. Insects of all kinds were a large part of the diet of true Paleos and even today, many cultures have bugs as part of their diet. They are high in protein and readily available.
I'd like to see today's Paleos start eating this healthy diet rather than all of the industrially farmed meat.
Re: (Score:2)
They sometimes work.
This is how you get statin drugs from red rice yeast.
We keep thinking we're smarter than our ancestors, but we aren't. We may have more information and knowledge, but they weren't stupid.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
I think you pulled that number out of your ass.
But leaving that aside, rhino horn is chemically indistinguishable from nail clippings. And yet certain people believe it cures everything from cancer through impotence to being cleft asunder with a halberd.
Re: (Score:1)
I think you pulled that number out of your ass.
Then do some research, you outspoken moron.
Re: Is there some real science behind it? (Score:2)
I researched it and now I'm certain that you pulled it out of your ass. The actual number is 0.00375%.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: Is there some real science behind it? (Score:2)
It's 100% accurate. Do some research you outspoken moron.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Let me use one extreme example like tobacco. Native Americans have been burning and inhaling the smoke for a very long time; they didn't even use any filters as far as I know. So there shouldn't be much wrong with smoking it, right? Well, not quite right in this case. While tobacco might be all natural and has been consumed for a long long time, we still discovered that it isn't as healthy as we initially thought and furthermore
Re: (Score:3)
I've always wondered whether these "old wives tales" weren't some kind of massively parallelized genetic algorithm. Every person tries something random. These are then compared against their neighbors. Results that are successful or partially successful are reported to neighbors. Results that have no success are discarded.
Some methods back then were using cobwebs and mildew to pack deep wounds.
A current day example would be whether applying honey to an open wound like a burn improves healing or not.
Re: Is there some real science behind it? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
Anyway, I suppose it's better than killing Tigers and other endangered species for their bone(r)s because some old guys can't get a proper erection any more.
Using CRISPR technology, we should be able to grow billions of cockroaches with Rhino horns on their noses. That would solve the demand problem for dubious aphrodisiacs.
However, students in university dormitories might not be able to deal with them, when they lay claim to the room.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
Why do you libs have to make everything about President Trump?
https://www.washingtonpost.com... [washingtonpost.com]
On 420 Day, really? (Score:5, Funny)
It's not that kind of roach!?!?
Beetle Juice (Score:5, Funny)
beetle juice
beetle juice
Re: (Score:2)
You bunch of losers! Your looking at a real professional here!
Nice. Fuck'en. Model.
Honk!
Honk!
Re: (Score:2)
You'd be in a lot of trouble if he wasn't case-sensitive.
What are the medicinal properties of cockroaches (Score:1)
and where can I download the empirical data of the double blind studies?
No proof = proof (Score:4, Funny)
and where can I download the empirical data of the double blind studies?
That's the beauty of traditional Chinese "medicine". It only works if you don't try to check to see if it actually works.
Homeopathy = quackery = fraud (Score:2)
Honestly, if you make a medical claim, you better have some fucking proof. I still have no idea how homeopaths haven't been arrested for making misleading claims about the curative power of nothing.
I've wondered that exact thing myself. Homeopathy is nothing more than fraud. It is quackery in its most transparent form.
At least traditional Chinese medicine has at least some track record for a few things which actually work.
Not much but I'll grant a few herbs and the like. I'm still not convinced acupuncture is better than placebo and there is no explanation of a mechanism of action.
Yes homeopathy is fraud (Score:2)
However, you appear to be labeling anything designated as "homeopathic" as fraud which would be a mistake.
It's not a mistake. Homeopathy absolutely is fraud and provably has zero medicinal impact greater than placebo. We don't allow people to sell placebos and claim they are medicine so I don't understand why we allow homeopathy quacks to do the same.
The "science" of homeopathy is complete and utter bullshit, but ultimately it relies on herbal remedies and those can be efficacious as others have noted.
The only thing homeopathy relies upon is the gullibility of the person purchasing/using it. There is no measurable or therapeutic amount of any remedy of any kind (herbal or otherwise) in homeopathic "remedies". There is no mechanism of action that is based in
Fancy bottled water (Score:2)
The problem is that the dosage prescribed by Homeopathy is too low to have any effect.
No the "dosage" in homeopathic "cures" is literally indistinguishable from zero. Worse they make some ludicrous claims about water having "memory" which you have to be a weapons grade moron to actually believe.
The core methodology of Homeopathy is to find something that will cause effects similar to what you want to cure or prevent
That is the cover story. The core methodology is to lie to people and convince them that they are buying something that is somehow more than overpriced bottled water.
Re: (Score:2)
That's the beauty of traditional Chinese "medicine". It only works if you don't try to check to see if it actually works.
What do you call alternative medicine that works? Medicine. If it can pass double blind studies it'll be accepted as medicine and no longer be alternative, nor labeled as ancient Chinese.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Funny how "Western" medicine is also increasingly shown to not be reproducible.
Only to morons (like you!) who run away screaming with their fingers in their ears when they hear the word "evidence" and who want to believe that there is something more to eastern "medicine" than a good story. Or did you think all those diseases were cured by modern medicine with ginseng tea and acupuncture?
Re: (Score:2)
Apparently, according to you, people are simply not allowed to criticize Western medicine. Not even when it is Western science journals themsevles highlighting the dearth of reproducible clinical evidence for many Western medicines, like vitamin and mineral supplements, to cancer treatments, to diet that gets overturned every few years.
If you think Western medicine is flawless, I have a bridge in Florida to sell you. Dickhead.
Wow thanks AI! (Score:2, Insightful)
Thank GOD for AI, how on earth could roaches breed without sophisticated algorithms?
Now if only we could fix the brains of the Chinese who seem to think crushing up bits of other animals bodies (the more endangered, the better) has some kind of pharmacological effect.
And the DNC adds another 6B members (Score:1, Funny)
"AI Helps Grow 6 Billion Roaches at China's Largest Breeding Site"
Is it a mere coincidence that at the exact same time the US Democratic Party claims 6 Billion new members???
I... think... not...
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Yea - plants need a very specific environment to grow. Tailoring the water level, light level, light cycle, nutrients, etc. can have a pretty dramatic effect on overall growth (more carrots, quicker!).
Roaches? Pretty sure that "a pile of roach food" is good enough.
The article indicates that it takes "humidity, temperature, food supply and consumption" into account and makes changes. Okay, sure... I guess that's a research study (do roaches grow faster in low/high humidity environments?), but I can't ima
story (Score:2)
Beats rhino! (Score:1)
Snowpiercer? (Score:2)
Didn't they feed all the lower-class, back of the train folks ground-up bug protein bars?
I'm confused (Score:1)
Can't they just use roaches for all sicknesses? (Score:2)
Al? Who is this guy? (Score:2)