A new way to stick it to flies

Walk on carpet and you may build up enough static electricity to generate a little shock. Researchers are now capitalizing on the phenomenon to trap insects.

FOLLOW MY LEAD. A sprinkling of charged photocopier toner reveals a trail of charged fly footprints. C.W. Jackson

The bizarre strategy is to let the critters charge up as they walk, then use this electricity to attract oppositely polarized poisonous particles–like a magnet gathering iron filings.