Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
4
Birth of the Body Dog
This animal exhibited a remarkable ability to detect all forms of buried explosives, and a surprising
willingness to work with man. Were it not for the great size of this particular breed (400 pounds or
more) and its unfortunate social habits, it might have been the ideal choice for detection service.
—Report #2217, U.S. Army, 1977
Founded in 1947 on the outskirts of San Antonio, the nonprofit Southwest Research In-
stitute is dedicated to developing breakthrough scientific and engineering technologies and
practical research that translate into immediate benefits for its funders, from oil and gas com-
panies to NASA and the Department of Defense. The institute still designs spectrographs
for missions to Mars, antidotes for chemical weapons, and compressors for offshore oil rigs.
SwRI also plays around with the kind of wacky animal research that makes you think, with
affection and wonder, “only in America.”
