The Chinese company is making the bug-zapper look sci-fi, predicting that Americans would pay nearly $1,000 for an airborne laser machine to hunt mosquitoes.
Photon Matrix sells an indoor laser version of its mosquito air defense system starting at $988. The outdoor blue laser starts at $1088. According to the company, the device utilizes lidar and radar as well as AI vision in order to confirm and detect mosquitoes prior aiming the precision laser.
Outdoor versions are designed for outdoor dining, patios, camping and campsites. The company videos demonstrate the machine shooting bright blue flashes of light at flying targets.
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Photon Matrix claims its outdoor unit can scan a field of 20 feet, at 90 degrees. It is able to detect insects that are as small as two millimeters and travel up to three-and-a-half feet per second. The system is equipped with a rotating base that provides 360-degree coverage. According to the manufacturer, the device can be powered for four or five hours by a battery bank.
Photon Matrix claims that the system measures distances to the backdrop and scans a specific area. The device measures the size of an insect when it enters the field and only fires if the features are similar to those of a Mosquito.
These products are recommended by pest control experts to keep bugs and mice away.
Startup says that its laser can disable mosquito wings, and differentiate mosquitoes among other flying insects including butterflies. According to the company, the laser will automatically turn off when it cannot detect a solid surface within its range.
Indoor models use infrared and lasers that are invisible to human eyes. The indoor model is marketed for hotels, bedrooms and other interior spaces.
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Photon Matrix touts its chemical-free system, 12-month warranty, and app control. It also claims that the system is safe for children and pets. These are claims made by the manufacturer about performance and safety.
The device has already been compared to weapons from sci-fi movies. One X-commentator called the device an “Iron Dome” for mosquitoes, while another described it as a “personal mosquito air defense system,” which “locks on to a mosquito within 3 milliseconds before firing a Laser.”
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This post claims that the device is able to eliminate 30 mosquitoes every second, and can work even in complete darkness. It compares the technology with Star Wars missile defence research from the Reagan era shrunk for backyard bug controls.
California has seen its West Nile activity reach a 5-year high. The bug-blaster will be available in the near future. State’s West Nile virus Dashboard, updated last on Aug. 21 lists 46 cases of human infection in 14 counties by 2026.
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California’s most recent weekly report says that four West Nile Virus-related deaths have been reported in California this year. California has recorded 437 dead birds with positive West Nile virus, 2,644 mosquito sample positives, 64 sentinel hens, and six horses.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, West Nile is the most common mosquito-borne illness in the United States. The majority of people who are infected do not show any symptoms. However, one fifth may experience fever, headaches or body aches.
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Less than 1% infected individuals develop serious neurological illnesses affecting their brain or spinal chord. The CDC warns that older adults and those with weakened immunity are at greatest risk.
The West Nile virus is monitored by public health officials who trap mosquitoes and test them throughout the summer. Positive mosquito samples do not mean that people will be infected in the area, but they can act as an early alert that West Nile virus is spreading locally.
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Officials from the Department of Health recommend removing standing water in birdbaths, flowerpots and buckets. They also suggest removing old tires, toys for children, child’s playthings and any other containers outside where mosquitoes can lay their eggs. Cutting back overgrown vegetation around the home can help to reduce mosquitoes.
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Pennsylvania’s Democratic Governor, Josh Shapiro and federal officials — including Health and Human Services Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.– are publically sparring about the announcement of the two deaths associated with measles in Pennsylvania amid the ongoing outbreak.
This week, Shapiro’s and Kennedy’s insults were launched on both social media and at separate press conferences.
Shapiro criticised Kennedy and Trump’s administration at a Tuesday press conference announcing two deaths.
Shapiro added that spreading false information has real consequences.
Kennedy responded to Shapiro at the press conference in Tampa on Wednesday by saying: “We are trying to find out more about these two… uh… casualties.” Kennedy made a sign of quotation marks while he was speaking.
Officials in Pennsylvania said that two unvaccinated Lancaster County residents died this week, the first deaths associated with measles in the U.S. in this year. Officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed Wednesday that an infant was one of two people who died.
Kennedy and Shapiro’s spat escalated after he suggested online, without any evidence to back it up, that deaths in the state could have been misattributed to measles.
Kennedy, writing on X.com: “The announcement seems to have been premature and it is possible that the deaths were fabricated entirely by one of Governor Kennedy’s eager staffers.”
State health officials classify a death “measles associated” when laboratory tests or epidemiological evidence indicate measles. Lancaster County’s coroner is investigating the cause of death. ABC News has reached out to county coroner, but have not heard anything back.
Kennedy added that “under state law, all deaths from measles must be reported.”
Debra Bogen, state health secretary, disputed this claim, writing: “I’ve thoroughly reviewed case investigation data and sadly, I can confirm there have been two measles deaths reported in Lancaster County to the CDC measles team on Tuesday morning.”
Bogen said she also meets regularly with CDC personnel to discuss the outbreak.
CDC is usually invited to help with public health problems by the state government. Some states refuse to accept or request assistance, as in the recent outbreak of measles in South Carolina.
States might not accept or request federal assistance for a number of reasons. They may believe that they are able to handle the problem on their own, or they may feel like federal guidelines may conflict with social and economic interests. During Kennedy’s tenure as HHS, some states joined together to form regional health alliances.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a statement via social media on Thursday in which they said that the state had declined their offers of help and did not provide any information to the agency about the outbreak.
Kennedy is the HHS director, and the CDC falls under HHS.
The CDC said that it appreciated Secretary Kennedy’s effort to clarify contradictory information provided by Pennsylvania officials regarding whether two deaths reported were due to measles. The CDC is trying to find out what happened. The discrepancies are important, especially because the Governor’s Office did not provide CDC information about the outbreak or accept our assistance.
The Pennsylvania Health Department responded on social media that it is “inaccurate to say” the state has not given information to the CDC about the outbreak of measles or refused to cooperate with federal agencies.
The state department of health said that it is in constant contact with CDC personnel and submits weekly reports to federal agencies.
Shapiro, Kennedy and other members of the Trump administration also had a phone conversation in private on Tuesday morning before Shapiro held a press conference to discuss deaths in Pennsylvania. Shapiro said that he criticised Kennedy’s and Trump’s administration vaccine rhetoric in the phone call just days after Trump had signed an executive directive aiming at overhauling the childhood vaccination schedule.
Shapiro stated that Kennedy contacted him later during his remarks to offer assistance to Pennsylvania in the measles epidemic.
Vaccine history
Kennedy recently said that the MMR vaccination is the most effective way to protect against measles. This was in response to pressure from public health officials and elected officials. He concluded at the Tampa press conference on Wednesday that “our recommendation is for people to get the measles vaccine.”
In 2021, however, the video posted by Children’s Health Defense shows him speaking with the Amish in Lancaster County, in which he questions vaccines, and minimizes the risk of measles.
I am a survivor of the measles. This was a very lucky day. It was a very, lucky thing to survive that horror because I had to watch television with my siblings and brothers for the entire week. It was… horrifying. What is the remedy? What’s the measles cure? Kennedy says in the video that “chicken soup and vitamin A will cure your measles.”
He has expressed this sentiment many times over the past few years when expressing his doubts about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.
CDC statistics show that 1 out of 5 people who are not vaccinated and contract measles in the U.S. will be hospitalized. One in 20 children may develop pneumonia and one in 1,000 will have encephalitis (a brain swelling).
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has reported that the state’s recorded more than 400 cases of measles so far in this year.
Shapiro stated that the outbreak is the biggest measles epidemic in California since 1992.

The bat in her mouth was not a nightmare for a Virginia doctor who woke to it.
Dr. Krista Adelman, Richmond gastroenterologist said that she had a dream in which a mouse tried to enter her mouth. She was sleeping next to her husband at 6 am local time on August 20. She grabbed something cool, soft and hairy to examine.
In her Instagram video, Edelman stated: “I thought that I was dreaming.” She realized that it was not a mouse as local Virginia media outlets WWBT, and WTVR reported.
She told WWBT, “It’s like this is really life.”
Edelman stated that the bat seemed to be trying burrowing between her lips into her mouth. She yanked it out, tossed it around the room and told her husband that a bat was trying to enter her mouth.
Edelman was prompted by the bizarre experience to warn people about bat contact and rabies.
In an Instagram video she posted, Edelman called the message “a PSA for bats,” and urged people to be aware of possible exposures.
USA TODAY reached out to Edelman and asked for more information about the experience she had, as well as her warning about possible bat exposures.
Bats tested negative for Rabies
Edelman told reporters that she took the bat encounter very seriously, as bats are known to carry rabies. Rabies is a virus disease which attacks the nervous systems and can be fatal when symptoms appear.
The bat was captured by her and her husband so that it could be tested. WWBT said that the animal tested later negative for rabies.
The couple started rabies prevention treatment.
Edelman said to WTVR she was humbled by the experience because despite her medical training, she didn’t know what she should do after she woke up with a baseball bat stuck in her mouth.
She told the station, “I’m pretty sure I understand the basic concepts.” She said, “I was embarrassed by how little I knew in the situation.”
She illustrates the difficulty of bat exposures. A person might not even know that they’ve been bitten.
What bats pose as a risk for rabies
The saliva and nervous tissue from an infected animal can spread rabies. This usually happens through a mammal bite. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, contact with bats infected by rabies is a leading cause of rabies-related deaths among humans in the US. Bats are responsible for at least seven out of ten rabies deaths in the US.
The bites of bats may be small and not visible. It is possible that someone who awakens to a bat flying around in their bedroom will not know if they have been bitten.
This concern is now even more pressing after the tragic death of an eleven-year-old Canadian boy. In 2024, the boy was woken up at his family’s cottage in Northern Ontario with a bat on top of his mouth and nose. His family initially did not seek treatment because there was no sign of a bite or scratch.
He developed facial numbness about 19 days after that. He developed a rapid deterioration of his condition, which doctors eventually diagnosed as rabies. After more than two months in hospital, he died.
This case was published in Canadian Medical Association Journal and emphasized that it is important to seek medical attention after direct contact with bats, even if there are no obvious injuries.
What do you need to do if a bat has contacted you?
Edelman says her encounter with the man changed the way she views an otherwise harmless incident.
She said, “If you were exposed to a bat or sleeping with one around you at night and you didn’t see it or know what happened,” in an Instagram video that has received over 1 million views and hundreds of thousands comments. You need to take action.
The CDC urges anyone who has had any contact with a bat, to get medical help. A health care provider can determine if rabies is needed because bat bites are difficult to detect.
Edelman’s bizarre encounter with wildlife in the middle night was a stark reminder of how dangerous it can be.
She has a simple message: Don’t think you are safe just because there’s no visible bite or scratch. Ask for medical help and allow health authorities to determine if treatment is necessary.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT

State health officials announced Thursday that a teenager from central North Carolina is in critical condition due to a rare illness caused by amoebas commonly found warm freshwater.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that the teenager has an infection due to Naegleria Fowleri. This is a microorganism which can cause brain damage. NCHHS didn’t say in which water the teen encountered the amoeba. However, Naegleria can be a serious threat to swimmers who go into warm rivers, lakes or ponds.
When contaminated water gets forced into the nostrils, as happens when someone jumps in warm freshwater or dives under it, infection can occur. According to health officials, the amoeba cannot be found in chlorinated or properly maintained swimming pools.
No identifying details were released to protect the privacy of the family.
The State Epidemiologist, Dr. Zack Moore expressed his sympathy to the family and friends of this teenager as they go through this trying time.
Moore stated that although the cases are rare, they serve to remind people of the fact that amoebas can be found throughout the United States.
PAM is a primary amebic encephalitis that can lead to severe headaches, vomiting, and nausea. The symptoms can rapidly progress into a stiffneck, seizures and even coma.
It is fatal in about 5 days from the time symptoms first appear. In the United States, fewer than 10 cases per year are reported.
It is more common for infections to occur during hot, long periods of weather when the water temperature rises and levels drop. Amoebas thrive in warm, warm-water environments and can even survive temperatures of 115 degrees.
NCDHHS has provided these safety precautions for people who wish to cool down in lakes and ponds.

Scientists have made progress in understanding how autism is developed and possible treatments.
Researchers have used artificial intelligence to map out how certain genetic mutations associated with autism can cause the brain to rewire and result in the disorder. This molecular mapping, which was published in Science on Thursday, may help to inform better targeted treatments for autism.
The study’s author, Dr. Nevan Kroggan, Professor at University of California San Francisco, Senior Investigator at Gladstone Institutes, said: “You have to know this information in order to develop drugs.”
Krogan stated that the hope was to one day be able to look back at the map and say, “Ah this led us to XYZ, so we now have the first ever treatment for autism.”
Since decades, finding effective treatment for autism is a puzzle.
There are over 250 genes that have been linked to autism spectrum disorder. Finding a treatment which targets these genetic causes is like trying to find a key that fits hundreds of locks.
The new study has revealed that many genetic mutations are physically connected and can rewire the protein interactions within the developing brain. This is what causes autism. The molecules called proteins are responsible for the physical construction and maintenance of the brain. Scientists now know how to use a protein interaction blueprint instead of hundreds of drugs that target genes.
When you know the genes, and what they do to the body’s cells, it is just a simple list. This is a list of parts,” Krogan said. He also holds the position as Director of the Quantitative Biology Institute at UCSF.
He said: “You need a wiring chart of the parts list. Then you can go on to understand the interactions between the proteins, as well as what happens when you make a change to a particular protein.” Understanding that will lead you to therapeutic paths that you could never have imagined by just focusing on the gene and mutation.
Krogan stated that he and his colleagues are already working on three different programs to create new potential therapies using the insights gained from this new study.
Autism map building
Researchers from the University of California San Francisco built the autism map by systematically mapping out the interactions of proteins within the brain that may be affected by genetic mutations linked to autism. Researchers found that more than 1,800 interactions between proteins were linked to autism. 87% of these interactions were new.
Researchers created a map of genetic mutations in order to “rewire” proteins. They then used AlphaFold, an artificial intelligence program to identify key mutations. These were studied on lab-grown organoids.
Krogan explained that “AI allows us to study proteins we never could have imagined even two years ago. It sheds a light on autism and the biology behind it.”
He said that the map was “the biggest ever done for autism.” It’s not only the biggest map for neuropsychiatric disorders, but also for all disease areas.
Fikri Birey is an assistant professor at Emory University School of Medicine in the Department of Human Genetics. She was not part of the study.
Birey writes that future research could identify drugs to stabilize protein complexes, or to block pathological interaction, instead of trying to correct each individual mutation that causes autism. He adds that these findings may help to inform his disease modeling research.
Autism: a watershed moment
The new study may offer a map for molecular pathways that may lead to autism. However, the findings may not apply to everyone with autism.
Krogan explained: “So, those ones, for instance, require 24-hour care.”
He added, however, that findings from the study on protein-protein interaction could still help informing other neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, obsessional-compulsive and tic disorder, as well other diseases like cancer.
Autism advocates and experts alike applauded this new study as it could open up the way for further research on potential treatments.
The study of today shows that different autism genes are convergent on common biological pathways. These shared pathways may ultimately lead to therapeutic targets for a much larger group of autistic individuals, even those without a genetic cause. This is not less than a watershed moment in autism research,” Alison Singer wrote via email, the president of nonprofit Autism Science Foundation. She was not involved with the study.
This is exactly the type of breakthrough that families with people who have profound autism, like my family, had been praying and waiting for. Singer writes that many people with autism are genetically predisposed to rare variants. “The promise of precision medicine was always the ability to go beyond the treatment of symptoms and behavior and address the biology behind it.”
The path to treatment from genetic discoveries has become clearer.
Andy Shih, chief scientist at the Autism Speak nonprofit organization, called the research “exciting” but cautioned it would be a long time before the findings of the study could lead to potential treatments.
Shih said in an email that “Translating such discoveries into treatments is a lengthy process.” This study offers valuable insight into possible targets. However, more research will be needed to translate these findings into clinical applications.
The Department of Health and Human Services of the second Trump Administration has made autism a priority. Under this department, the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee helps to develop and update a national strategic plan on research into autism. On Thursday, a new plan draft will be voted on by a committee.
Singer stated that she was not confident that the draft plan would lead to more research into the biological targets for autism, as found in the recent study. She said she is more concerned that the Trump Administration may divert attention from current science to a link that has not been proven between vaccines, autism and the new study.
Singer argued that the federal plan for research on autism “deemphasizes” genetics, brain biology, neurodevelopment and other areas of science in favour of an injury model which is out of step with current autism scientific thinking. Redirecting federal funding away from biological research that is based on the most solid evidence would slow down scientific progress at a time when new opportunities to develop therapeutics are emerging.
Shih, of Autism Speaks, said that the IACC’s new strategic plan should include more genetic research on the links between autism and genes.
He wrote that the IACC’s new strategic plan shows a great deal of interest in understanding development trajectories. “I would anticipate that the continued investment in data-driven, large-scale approaches will result in more studies looking at how genetic factors affect autism and development.