Sharks With Lasers Are for Amateurs

The discerning mad scientist will opt for solar-powered swarms of electric hornets.

No, really -- according to scientists in Israel, a species of hornet called the "Oriental hornet" has an exoskeleton that can convert sunlight into energy sort of like plants do.

Although the researchers have yet to duplicate the hornets' efficiency in creating energy, they've observed that the little fellers are a lot busier in the bright sunlight of midday than they are at sunrise or sunset. Further study proved that this was not because the hornets are just not good morning bugs, but because they are able to harvest solar energy. In fact, their stripes work like photovoltaic cells, absorbing and reflecting light to help increase the energy produced by the solar exoskeleton.

The potential for world dominating schemes is obvious -- your average megalomaniac will easily be able to use his evil genius and twist nature to ramp up the power in the hornets so that they deliver electrocution-level shocks when they sting. Or perhaps alter them so they release heat and threaten to use them to bake the Earth to a cinder. Some might suggest that he would be able to engineer the hornets so that they produced nuclear power instead of solar energy, but let's be realistic. Either way, what world-dominating madman could resist the temptation to stand at the contol center of his shiny high-tech lair and shout with twisted glee: "You have failed to meet my demands for the last time, Mr. General Secretary, and now the people of the world will pay for your arrogance! Number Two! Unleash the swarms!"

Of course, because James Bond had managed to slip a special Oriental hornet-attracting pheromone devised by Q into the baddie's shorts, our villain would then die a spectacular death, accompanied by many explosions.

Or would he?!?!?!