During the 1960s, a project called Universe 25 experiment was conducted to study the social behavior of rodents. Known as the most terrifying experiment in science, the research provided insights into the future of humanity.
What is Universe 25 Experiment?
The Universe 25 is a series of experiments conducted in the 1960s and 1970s by American ethologist John B. Calhoun. Its goal is to understand the effects of overpopulation on the social behavior of mice and use it in exploring the consequences of overpopulation and resource depletion in human society.
In this study, Calhoun designed a utopian environment that can house up to 5,000 mice. It is made of a 9-square-foot enclosure divided into four interconnected pens. In each pen, food hoppers, water dispensers, and nesting boxes were provided on each level. Four pairs of healthy, young mice were introduced in the enclosure, and their population was expected to grow exponentially given the abundant resources and the absence of predators.
The development of the study was divided into four phases. In the Strive phase, the mice population adapted to their new environment and started reproducing. As the population doubled every 55 days, social hierarchies among the rodents began to form. In the Exploit phase, the population doubled every 32 days, and the mice could also fully exploit the available resources. However, during this time, the first signs of social stress began to develop.
The Equilibrium phase began when the mice population reached its peak. This period is characterized by a slowing down growth rate and population stabilization. Behavioral changes such as social distress also started to appear at this phase. In the Decline phase, the rodent population decreased, with the social structure breaking down entirely. Despite the availability of resources, the population crashed, and the mice failed to regain social cohesion.
As the Universe 25 experiment progressed, Calhoun observed several alarming behavioral changes among the mice. First, overcrowding led the mice to become more aggressive and have hostile interactions with each other. Increased competition for space and social standing led to more violent behavior. Some mice labeled "The Beautiful Ones" preferred to withdraw from society and focus their attention on eating without showing interest in reproduction. Uncontrolled infanticide and rampant killing, these factors all led to the decline in the mice population.
Implications for Human Society
Although there are differences between mice and human behavior, the result of the Universe 25 experiment provided grim predictions for the future of humanity. Population growth can trigger competition for resources which, when not properly managed, can lead to violence, social unrest, and breakdown in social structures. Overcrowding can also cause social isolation and mental health problems such as stress, depression, and loneliness.
Experts agree that the result of this experiment serves as a reminder about the importance of resource management, sustainable development, and the need to address social problems brought about by overpopulation. It shows that despite the abundance of food and water, personal space is also essential to prevent societal collapse.
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