From a cocaine pig heart to a dog head swap – five shocking animal experiments

THROUGHOUT history, scientists have performed some strange and often unethical animal experiments — here are the most shocking.

For centuries, scientists have proclaimed that animal experimentation has been necessary to better humans’ understanding of fields like medicine, genetics, and physiology.

Some animal experiments throughout history will blow your mind

Still, despite these scientific gains, animal testing is considered a very unethical and controversial practice.

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

Here we have rounded up five of some of the strangest, jaw-dropping animal experiments ever.

Pig-to-human heart transplant

Just earlier this month, the first-ever genetically modified pig heart was transplanted into a human patient.

What makes it even stranger is that the procedure would have likely failed without the use of cocaine, which extended the viability of the porcine organ.

Xenotransplantation, which is the term for using non-human organs in human patients, is starting to become more widespread as doctors believe it may be the best solution to organ-donor shortages.

Two-headed dog

Perhaps one of the most “out-there” experiments conducted in general, is the creation of the ‘multi-dog.’

In the 1950s, a Soviet scientist named Vladimir Demikhov created a two-headed dog by removing “most of the body of a small puppy and grafting the head and forelegs to the neck of an adult dog,” according to a 1955 article in Time Magazine.

“The big dog’s heart … pumped blood enough for both heads. When the multiple dog regained consciousness after the operation, the puppy’s head woke up and yawned. The big head gave it a puzzled look and tried at first to shake it off,” the article continued.

The experiment was only a success for six short days before both heads and the shared body died.

The Liger

While some animal experiments result in unorthodox monstrosities, others give us animals like the liger.

The liger was first bred in 1897 and is the offspring of a male lion and a female tiger who crossed paths while 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 enough, these hybrids also tend to be healthier and sometimes longer-living than their parents.

Robot monkey

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

What happened next might blow your mind: the monkey was able to control an advanced robotic arm with its mind.

The monkey also amazingly learned how to use the robotic arm to reach for food pellets, press buttons, and twist knobs.

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

Drugged-out spiders

Spider webs are interesting enough on their own, however, in 1995, NASA scientists wanted to see exactly how this process could be affected by various common drugs.

The goal was to analyze the periodic structure (or lack thereof) of the drug-spun spiderwebs to see if they could determine the relative toxicity levels of the drugs.

While the experiment didn’t really yield fruitful results, scientists did notice some similarities between the drugs’ effects on spiders and humans.

For example, the spider that was high on marijuana did a decent job until it got bored and walked away, while the spider on speed finished weaving quite quickly.

Andy CarvinLigers are a mixed breed between a male lion and a female tiger.[/caption]

NASASpiders were given different drugs that affected their web-weaving[/caption]

In other news, Nasa has upgraded its asteroid hazard software with some key changes that should help it better detect potentially dangerous space rocks.

Nasa has revealed stunning footage of a solar flare in action.

And, the US space agency is planning for a ‘golden asteroid’ probing mission to launch this summer.