Between 1958 and 1962, American scientist John Calhoun conducted one of history’s most unsettling experiments—“Universe 25,” a mouse utopia that became a nightmare
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Between 1958 and 1962, American scientist John Calhoun conducted one of history’s most unsettling experiments—“Universe 25,” a mouse utopia that became a nightmare.
He built a perfect haven for rats: unlimited food, constant water, and safe shelter. At first, the colony thrived. But by day 317, population growth stalled, and darker currents began to stir.
As numbers swelled past 600, chaos spread. Dominant males turned violent, females attacked each other, and reproduction slowed to a halt. Juvenile survival dropped to zero, while passive, immaculate “beautiful mice” withdrew into isolation, avoiding courtship and conflict alike.
Eventually, the colony spiraled into cannibalism, social collapse, and extinction. Calhoun repeated the experiment 25 times, always with the same grim end. His work remains a chilling mirror for human society—a warning that even abundance cannot save us if connection, purpose, and balance are lost.
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Between 1958 and 1962, American scientist John Calhoun conducted one of history’s most unsettling experiments—“Universe 25,” a mouse utopia that became a nightmare.
He built a perfect haven for rats: unlimited food, constant water, and safe shelter. At first, the colony thrived. But by day 317, population growth stalled, and darker currents began to stir.
As numbers swelled past 600, chaos spread. Dominant males turned violent, females attacked each other, and reproduction slowed to a halt. Juvenile survival dropped to zero, while passive, immaculate “beautiful mice” withdrew into isolation, avoiding courtship and conflict alike.
Eventually, the colony spiraled into cannibalism, social collapse, and extinction. Calhoun repeated the experiment 25 times, always with the same grim end. His work remains a chilling mirror for human society—a warning that even abundance cannot save us if connection, purpose, and balance are lost.
@DamonCrowley No question this is extremely interesting and Calhoun sounds like a brilliant person.
However
"a chilling mirror for human society"
There's a good jump from mouse social behavior to human social behavior. A lot of work would be needed to make those connections.
"a warning that even abundance cannot save us if connection, purpose, and balance are lost."
I didn't notice connection, purpose, or balance being assessed in the description so far. As written, it seems that abundance led to the collapse, though without a control group etc. it's hard to know if that was the key factor.
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