In the early 1960s, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) acquired property in a rural area outside Poolesville, Maryland. The facility that was built on this property housed several research projects, including those headed by Calhoun. It was here that his most famous experiment, the mouse universe, was created.[1] In July 1968 four pairs of mice were introduced into the habitat. The habitat was a 9-foot (2.7 m) square metal pen with 4.5-foot-high (1.4 m) sides. Each side had four groups of four vertical, wire mesh "tunnels." The "tunnels" gave access to nesting boxes, food hoppers, and water dispensers. There was no shortage of food or water or nesting material. There were no predators. The only adversity was the limit on space.
Benjamin Murphy
Initially, the population grew rapidly, doubling every 55 days. The population reached 620 by day 315, after which the population growth dropped markedly, doubling only every 145 days. The last surviving birth was on day 600, bringing the total population to a mere 2200 mice, even though the experiment setup allowed for as many as 3840 mice in terms of nesting space. This period between day 315 and day 600 saw a breakdown in social structure and in normal social behavior.
Cameron Morales
Among the aberrations in behavior were the following: expulsion of young before weaning was complete, wounding of young, increase in homosexual behavior, inability of dominant males to maintain the defense of their territory and females, aggressive behavior of females, passivity of non-dominant males with increased attacks on each other which were not defended against.
Kayden Morris
After day 600, the social breakdown continued and the population declined toward extinction. During this period females ceased to reproduce. Their male counterparts withdrew completely, never engaging in courtship or fighting. They ate, drank, slept, and groomed themselves – all solitary pursuits. Sleek, healthy coats and an absence of scars characterized these males. They were dubbed "the beautiful ones." Breeding never resumed and behavior patterns were permanently changed.
Evan Richardson
The conclusions drawn from this experiment were that when all available space is taken and all social roles filled, competition and the stresses experienced by the individuals will result in a total breakdown in complex social behaviors, ultimately resulting in the demise of the population.
Dominic Jackson
Is it possible to create a stable society for centuries and centuries? Can you really stop a society from degrading and becoming degenerate over time? How can we prevent a failed society in the West and ensure it survives for thousands of years? I'd like to think you can reverse the course of history by looking at its past but maybe there's just a certain order to things.
Brody Scott
the one thing unavailable to the mice;
escape
Grayson Ward
I've come to realise one thing though, there is one inaccuracy. Mice had enforced "welfare" state, we do not need to have. We can go back.
Julian Stewart
I love this study but I'm curious, has it been repeated with similar results? I've never seen a follow up.
Camden Cooper
I still think it was the rats fault tbqf
Parker Green
closed gene pool with uncontrolled breeding = genetic defects overwhelmed the colony.
labs maintain thousands of breeds of mice perfectly fine as long as the breeding is controlled by the scientists.
Bentley Clark
Keep killing a part of the mice, or castrate the lower quality genetic males and females, alway leave the total number around 100 or 200
Camden Rivera
Whats the point of maintaining the highest quality mice if they already live in an utopia? This raises questions on the purpose of life itself.
Andrew Jones
The Beautiful Ones is a hell of a good experiment. See also all Brainwash docs, user. They are gold.
Xavier Mitchell
Zardoz tells us how
Tyler Thomas
This is crucial
Brody Gutierrez
good argument against genocide
Samuel Nelson
this
What makes someone most qualified when there is no problems of water food or space, the healthiest? and if them live the same time?
Julian Nguyen
the prison experiment is a good one too, i especially like who the "guards" feigned" PTSD afterward over what they did.
Noah Rogers
>Societies in the long run collapse amidst total chaos. Therefore a controlled periodic downfall of society is prefferable to total extinction
Welp. The reapers were right. Mass effect 3 was actually genius.
Michael Hernandez
Mice are not as intelligent as humans, you can't expect them to take care of themselves the same way as we do.
Carson Carter
what point are you trying to make, OP?
Carter Cruz
The mouse utopia was a far simpler environment than anything man will ever have to endure. It pretty much evens out.