{
  "id": 4374408,
  "title": "This blue laser finds a mosquito in 3 milliseconds and burns its wings mid-flight",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/this-blue-laser-finds-a-mosquito-in-3-milliseconds-and-burns-its",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-30T07:20:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/how-a-chinese-company-is-using-blue-light-to-fight-mosquitoes-claims-30-kills-per-second-scans-the-area-locks-on-in-3-milliseconds-and-/articleshow/133625381.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mosquitoes claim the lives of approximately 700,000 individuals annually, rendering them the deadliest animal on Earth. Traditional methods of protection include nets, coils, sprays, and a rolled-up newspaper. A startup based in Changzhou, eastern China, proposes an innovative solution: a laser turret that can be installed on your patio to eliminate mosquitoes mid-flight.\n\nPhoton Matrix, the company behind this technology, has initiated preorders for its blue laser mosquito air defense system at a price of $1,088, equivalent to roughly Rs 95,000. Once mass production commenced in August, the startup claimed that the device is capable of locking onto a mosquito within three milliseconds and can dispatch up to 30 per second, even in complete darkness, without the use of chemicals or generating noise. These figures, however, remain unverified by any independent source.\n\nThe laser mosquito killer operates by scanning a fan-shaped beam of light across the area in front of it, continuously gauging the distance to ascertain the background. Upon detecting a diminutive object crossing this plane, the system examines its size. If the dimensions align with those of a mosquito, ranging from 2mm to 20mm and moving slower than a metre per second, an internal galvo mirror is directed down the same optical path as the LiDAR used for scanning, effectively burning the insect's wings. The system boasts a coverage area of six metres in radius across a 90-degree arc, which is augmented by a rotating base for even broader coverage.\n\nA companion app records the number of mosquitoes eliminated, generates a mosquito heat map, permits scheduling of on and off periods, and even awards points in a global leaderboard. However, the safety aspects of this highly potent laser remain unverified. Photon Matrix posits that the laser activates only when it detects a solid surface within range and ceases operation when it fails to locate any. The company asserts that the system has received certifications regarding its safety for humans, pets, and birds, and claims that it can distinguish between butterflies and larger insects. They have also promised to release additional testing and safety data, but until an independent reviewer examines the unit, users are left to trust the company's assurances. The comment sections under videos of this product are flooded with inquiries about potential eye damage.\n\nThe concept of a laser for mosquito control is not novel; it has been around for over two decades but has only recently become a tangible product. Two models are available: an outdoor blue laser variant priced at $1,088 and an indoor infrared model priced at $988 or approximately Rs 87,000. Both models include a rotating base, a 12-month warranty, and a 20,000mAh power bank capable of providing around four hours of operation without being connected to a power source. Delivery is estimated to take around 120 days.\n\nPhoton Matrix successfully raised $2.7 million on Indiegogo, surpassing its initial target of $20,000. It garnered over 4,000 backers, each contributing around $630. Despite facing challenges with sensor calibration and safety approvals, the idea of a mosquito laser has been around since 2006, when an astrophysicist who worked on Reagan-era missile defense systems proposed the concept during a brainstorming session. A prototype with a 50-meter range was demonstrated in 2010, but it never managed to secure any buyers. Thus, the century-old arsenal of mosquito control methods has been augmented with this new entry, costing about a thousand dollars for the privilege of watching mosquitoes fall.",
  "summary": "Photon Matrix, a Changzhou startup, has opened preorders for its blue laser mosquito air defense system at $1,088, with an indoor infrared version at $988. The device uses LiDAR and AI vision to scan a six-metre arc, lock onto a mosquito in three milliseconds and burn its wings, claiming 30 kills per second in total darkness. Mass production began in August. None of the performance or safety…",
  "key_points": [
    "Blue laser mosquito air defense system detects mosquitoes in 3 milliseconds",
    "System can dispatch up to 30 mosquitoes per second, operates in darkness",
    "Companion app tracks kills, generates heat maps, offers global leaderboard"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}