From cocaine pig hearts to dog head swaps – 5 shocking animal experiments

Throughout history, scientists have performed a number of strange and often unethical animal experiments – these are the most shocking.

For centuries, scientists have claimed that animal experiments are necessary to better understand areas such as medicine, genetics, and physiology.

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However, despite these scientific achievements, animal testing is considered a very unethical and controversial practice.

And it’s no surprise that one looks back at some of the craziest animal experiments performed throughout history.

Here we’ve rounded up five of the weirdest, most astonishing animal experiments ever.

Heart transplant from pig to human

Just earlier this month, the first genetically modified pig heart was transplanted into the patient’s body.

What makes it even more strange is that the trick would have failed without the use of cocaine, which has prolonged the viability of the pig’s organs.

Xenotransplant implants, the term used to refer to the use of non-human organs in patients, are starting to gain popularity as doctors believe it could be the best solution to organ shortages. organs.

Two-headed dog

Perhaps one of the “out there” experiments conducted in general, is the creation of ‘many dogs’.

In the 1950s, a Soviet scientist named Vladimir Demikhov created a two-headed dog by amputating “most of the body of a small puppy and grafting the head and front legs to the neck of a dog.” mature”, according to a 1955 Time magazine article.

“The big dog’s heart… was pumping enough blood for both ends. When the dog regained consciousness from the operation, the puppy’s head woke up and yawned. The big-headed dog looked at it puzzled and at first. try to shake it off,” the article continued.

The experiment was only successful for six short days before both the head and the common body died.

The Liger

While some animal experiments lead to unorthodox monstrosities, others give us liger-like animals.

The lioness was first bred in 1897 and was the offspring of a male lion and a tigress that crossed the street in captivity.

These majestic animals weigh more than 900 pounds and can grow up to 12 feet long, making them the largest cats on Earth.

Interestingly, these hybrids also tend to be healthier and sometimes outlive their parents.

Robot monkey

In 2010, neurobiologists at the University of Pittsburgh implanted a monkey with two brain chips.

What happened next might make you think: the monkey was able to control an advanced robotic arm with its mind.

The monkey also learned how to use the amazing robotic arm to grab food pellets, push buttons and turn knobs.

Similar studies are currently being conducted by Elon Musk’s Neuralink.

Spiderman

However, in 1995, NASA scientists wanted to see exactly how this process might be affected by different common drugs.

The aim was to analyze the cyclic structure (or lack thereof) of the drug spinning spider webs to see if they could determine the relative toxicity of the drug.

Although the trial did not produce positive results, the scientists did notice some similarities between the drug’s effects on spiders and humans.

For example, the spider with a lot of marijuana did a good job until it got bored and walked away, while the spider was completing the weaving fairly quickly.

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In other news, Nasa has upgraded Asteroid dangerous software with some key changes that will help it better detect potentially dangerous space rocks.

Nasa revealed Beautiful footage of solar energy burst into action.

And, the US space agency is planning for a ‘golden asteroid’ Exploration missions will launch this summer.