The Most Disturbing Scientific Discoveries

Head transplant - two heads are better than one ......

Image source The JournalIn 1954 Vladimir Demikhov showed the world a surgically altered 2-headed dog.  He created it in Moscow by grafting the head, legs, and front shoulders of a puppy on to an adult German shepherd. Demikhov 'made' about 20 of these dogs over the next 15 years but, obviously, none of them lived very long.

Bog Bodies - a story that was dug up ......

Image source HowStuffWorksIn 1950, way out in the Bjaeldskovdal bog, which is somewhere in the middle of Denmark, a dead body was found. Initially, it was thought to be a recent gruesome murder as there was a rope around the victim's neck.  However, it turned out this man died over 2,300 earlier!  His face looked like he was in a deep sleep!

Frozen lake on Mars - an icy discovery .....

Image source Space.com In 2016, NASA revealed that they had discovered a frozen lake on Mars that had almost the same amount of water as America’s Lake Superior. This got everyone confused because it suggested that the Red Planet can sustain life, an idea that NASA has consistently refuted in the past.  Is there life on Mars?

Wiping out memories - clears your head ......

Image source Camb.comNeuroscientists at Cambridge University established a method in 2016 that can wipe out specific fears from the human brain using a combination of brain scanning technology and artificial intelligence.  They can treat phobias and anxieties by brain scanning to monitor brain activity patterns that resemble a specific fear memory.  That is scary.

‘Kryptonite' discovered - with superhuman powers ......

Image source The AtlanticA new mineral whose composition resembled that of Superman-felling kryptonite was found in a mine in Serbia in 2013. This was confirmed after one of the mineral curators tried to figure out the structure and discovered that it contained the same elements as the fictional substance, kryptonite, used in the 'Superman' movies.   Does that mean superheroes are real?

 The three parent child - a genetic triangle ......

Image source Daily MailThere was a scientific breakthrough in 2013  that allowed the creation of a 3-parent embryo and a 3-parent child was actually born in the United States in 2016. The procedure involved using mitochondrial cells from a donor to try and prevent genetic conditions while keeping the genetic information of both parents to make the child theirs. Not sure how moral this is.

Robotic surgeons - operation microchip ......

Image source MIT Technology2016 saw the development of the Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot (STAR) which performed the first autonomous surgery. The robot was created by a group of scientists and surgeons at the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation in Washington DC. and is now used all over the world.  Would you trust a robot to operate on you?

Intergalactic DNA accesses the earth - sounds out of this world ......

Image source The TelegraphSwiss and German researchers made an amazing finding in 2013.  They discovered that despite the significant pressure changes and the high temperatures, DNA can survive re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.  The researchers dotted the outside of a rocket with DNA fragments to perform the test and were surprised when the genetic blueprints remain unaltered.

Lab grown donor organs - the livers are coming along nicely ......

Image source National GeographicJapanese researchers became the first team to 'grow' a human liver from stem cells. The scientists from Yokohama reported that they had grown a primitive liver in a petri dish using skin cells from a male.  The mixture of had formed a small 3-D structure that looked like tiny livers.

‘Armageddon’ bird flu virus created in lab - the news became contagious ......

Image source ScienceSometimes scientists discover breakthroughs by conducting risky experiments.  This happened in 2011 when a Dutch laboratory came up with a highly contagious strain of bird flu. Their goal was to understand more about the flu and how to mitigate it if it spread on to humans.

Self-replicating synthetic organisms - repeat please ......

Image source Futurism2014 saw Californian researchers create the first self-replicating synthetic organism that was laboratory-made DNA in addition to the DNA found in all life.  The scientists added the ‘foreign’ DNA into E.coli bacteria and discovered that after the bacteria had self-replicated, the new DNA had replicated along with the conventional DNA.  Confusing and scary!

Plastics could cause infertility - proof they are toxic ......

Image source Salon.comYears ago, we weren't knowledgeable about the negative effects of plastic but we are now aware of the damage it is doing to our planet.  What[s more disturbing is that exposure to the synthetic oestrogen found in plastic products might lead to fertility problems or the growth of tumours in a woman’s uterus.

Greenhouse gas level shoot up - time is running out ......

Image source Live ScienceThere has been growing concern about the huge increases of greenhouse gases that are being emitted into our atmosphere. Scientists are worried that these heat-trapping gases will affect our climate and our survival on planet Earth.  The World Meteorological Organization say 'we need to act now as time is running out'.

The microbes are gaining on us - bacteria bulletin ......

Image source Live ScienceAntibiotics and vaccines have saved millions of lives but some microbes are evolving faster than we can find ways to fight them.  New diseases keep jumping from animals to humans such as ebola from apes and bird flu from birds.  Hospitals are seeing more and more patients with diseases transferred from animals.

Mass extinction - we could be in one right now ......

Image source The TelegraphPaleontologists have identified five points in the Earth’s history when mass extinctions eliminated many or most species, asteroid impact, volcanic eruptions and atmospheric changes being the main ones.  Thomas Jefferson saw mastodon bones from Kentucky concluded that the giant animals must still be living somewhere in the interior of the continent.  In that case, would we ever be extinct?

If it tastes good, it's bad - does that make sense?......

Image source: redditEpidemiological studies have shown that the risk of heart disease, diabetes, strokes and certain kinds of cancer may increase if your diet consists of steak, salty French fries, eggs benedict, triple-fudge brownies with whipped cream .... and the list goes on.  The research was tested on 5000 people who's weekly food intake included the above items.

Your mind is not your own - did I say that? ......

Image source BBOnline.comFreud might have been wrong with the details but one of his main ideas that a lot of our behaviours and beliefs and emotions are driven by factors we are unaware of, turns out to be right. If you’re happy, optimistic and ambitious, check the weather. Sunny days make people happier and more helpful. In a taste test, you’;; prefer the first sample even if they are all identical.  The decision has been made before you said it!

We’re all apes - we're not monkeying around ......

Image source Live ScienceDarwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection can be inspiring but we should realize that we’re merely a recent variation on the primate body plan. We might have a greater capacity for abstract thought than chimps but we’re weaker than gorillas and less agile in the tree tops than orangutans!

Ritual human sacrifice has always taken place - we're not pulling your leg ......

Image source ScienceScientists have confirmed that human sacrifice was taking place all over the world. If you were an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, you’d have your servants slaughtered and buried adjacent to your tomb and concubines were sacrificed in China to be eternal companions. They discovered tribes in Africa are still involved in this.

Baby disposal - too sad for words ......

Image source Ancient OriginsOver 100 babies’ residues were discovered in an ancient bathhouse in Ashkelon, Israel.  They were thought to belong to hens but later were discovered to be bones from babies. infant’s bones.  In Roman times, babies were regarded as burdens and many of them were killed to control the birth rate.  How distressing to read.

Fish communicate by farting - any excuse to let rip ......

Image source ScubaOne of the most startling discovery was made by scientists in UK and Canada. They discovered that herrings break wind to communicate.  The tiny fish releases a sound of 22 kHz which makes a stream of bubbles, from their anus. These sounds are released with the purpose of sending signals to the other herrings!

Meat eating sponge - no soft side to this carnivore ......

Image source X-Ray MagA carnivorous sponge has been spotted in deep ocean waters off California’s Monterey Bay.  It has been labelled the 'harp sponge' and gradually eats you before you are aware of  it.   A team from the Monterey Bay Research Aquarium Institute in Moss Landing, California came across this disturbing discovery of this species in 2001.

Insects vomit on our food - that's a fly in the ointment ......

Image source InsiderResearchers claim that the fly is an advanced insect.  When you are tucking into a sandwich that a fly has landed on, it's more serious than you think.  They consume excrement and their bodies are dipped in bacteria so it's highly likely this disgusting bacteria has passed to your ham and cheese sarnie.  Flies don't just buzz; they vomit on our food.

Radiation tests on pregnant woman - inhumane ......

Image source Atomic Heritage FoundationAfter World War II, radioactive materials were tested on pregnant women. Medical researchers in America fed radioactive food to 100 pregnant women while working on their idea of radioactivity and chemical warfare.  The victims were told that they were given ‘energy drinks’ which would improve the health of their babies.  Sadly the babies all died and the women suffered severe health issues.

Milgram Experiments - shocking ......

Image source Insider The infamous 'shock' experiments conducted by Stanley Milgram in the 1960s is one of the best known psychology experiments ever done.  The aim was to see how obedient people would be when a doctor told them to do something that was obviously horrific and possibly fatal.  This was done by giving them electric shocks, each one more powerful than the last.

Insects purposely burrowed in human - for sex ......

Image source The AtlanticResearch in Madagascar on sand fleas was taken to its highest level when they was put inside a woman's foot for 2 months to see what would happen to their development.   The results showed parasites are most likely have sex when the females are already inside their hosts. Yuck.

Stimoceiver - brain control ......

Image source LibertyJosé Delgado, a professor at Yale, invented the Stimocever which was a radio implanted in the brain to control behaviour. Most dramatically, he demonstrated its effectiveness by stopping a charging bull with the implant.  What was not expected to come out of the research was that the implant caused erotic stimulation for a woman,

Removing body parts to cure insanity - that's mad ......

Image source The LancetHenry Cotton was the head physician of the New Jersey State Lunatic Asylum.   In 1907 he was convinced that the internal organs, upon developing infections, were the root causes of insanity and should be extracted.   Although he is regarded as a pioneering expert who paved the way for efforts to cure insanity, 49 people died in his experiment.

Tuskegee and Guatemala syphilis - denied medication ......

Image source History.comBetween the years 1932 and 1972, 399 impoverished African-American farmers in Tusk Alabama, who all had syphilis , were recruited into a free programme under the U.S. Public Health Service to treat their disease.  Instead of being given penicillin, they were left to see how bad it got.  Many died from the disease.

The aversion project - trying to change sexual orientation

Image source COVEThe experiment aversion project was conducted during the apartheid in South Africa. Homosexual soldiers from the army were subjected to horrific medical tortures. Between 1971 and 1989, many soldiers had been submitted in the chemical castration and electric shock treatment.

Remote-Controlled Animals

Image Source / STSTW MediaScientist Jose Delgado decided that he wanted to advance his research into mind control. Like many science experiments, animals were the ones being tested. Delgado inserted electrode devices in animals brains - and it worked. He was able to use a remote control to stop a bull from charging him when it got too close. And the worst part is, he tried this device on 25 humans.

Soft-Boiled Animals

Image Source / WikipediaA 'soft-boiled animal' is an animal which has been perfectly preserved. This discovery was made in the 1950s by Francis Tully, who found a soft-boiled animal and didn't really know what it was. They named the thing Tullimonstrum gregarium,

and it had a snout and pincers. The fossil to this day is still in perfect condition.

Killer Bees

Image Source / Funeralwise.comOne scientist decided he wanted to experiment with bees - specifically, killer bees. The Brazilian scientist managed to crossbreed European honeybees (which are usually nice and polite) with aggressive African bees. And then this new species of killer bees managed to fly away before the aggression could be taken back out again. And yes, they're still out there - African honeybees have been found in Texas, Arizona, Nevada and a few other states.

The CIA Secretly Testing The Side Effects Of Drugs On People

Image Source / History ChannelThe CIA wanted to better understand what the drug LSD could do. So why not secretly drug a civilian without them knowing? They used prostitutes to lure to hotel rooms and then drug them, or even spiked people's drinks. They did this because they believed Russia, North Korea and China were using the drug to brainwash people.

Inmates Used As Test Subjects

Image Source / Daily MailYou'll already know that animals are the poor test subjects for a lot of everyday items, like skincare products. But did you know that inmates in Holmesburg Prison in Philadelphia were used as test subjects for items like detergents and skin creams? They even had to go through painful procedures like biopsies.

A Woman's Cells Used For Study Without Her Knowledge - While She Was Fighting Cancer

Image Source / www.history.comA woman named Henrietta Lacks was going through a cancer battle when she became a test subject without even knowing it. Her cells were used without her knowledge, and used on a big scale, too - we're talking to create vaccines and understand more about cancer. Her cells were taken, cloned and regenerated for all this research. The tragic part is that Henrietta has truly helped to save many lives and contribute to scientific research, without her even knowing she did - and without the world fully knowing that she did.

QKHILLTOP Interrogation And Brainwashing

Image Source / Bloomberg.comDiscovered in 1954, a new method of interrogation - QKHILLTOP - saw scientist Harold Wolff use CIA documents regarding torture, brainwashing and hypnoses (to say the least) to develop drugs and procedures which could damage the brain to result in a new, successful way of torturing someone. He also requested "suitable subjects" - likely human subjects.

Children Can Easily Become Like Death Row Inmates

Image Source / Peaceful ScienceA scientists in the 50s/60s discovered that children can easily develop the same attitude as those on death row. His study consisted of showing a child - left alone in a room - a video of a man beating up a doll. The child would then be given the same doll. The children of the study would proceed to beat up the doll in the same way, but also using weapons (left in the room to hand) to abuse the doll even further. They even held up guns to the doll.

'Lord Of The Flies' Is Real

Image Source / IMDbIf you've never read Lord of the Flies before, it's a story about how a group of young boys stranded on an island slowly turn violent with the lack of adult supervision. There was a scientific study in the 50s that showed this could very much be fact. A group of boys, aged 11, were left in State Park, Oklahoma, where they were told to just do whatever they wanted. Groups slowly began to bond and form friendships, but when other groups were discovered, they resorted to bullying and savage behaviour.

When Subliminal Messaging Was Discovered

Image Source / Dictionary.comIt was 1957 when a market researcher found out that subliminal messaging actually works. He tested a group of journalists who he invited to a film, without telling them what was going to happen. Words would flash subliminally on the screen like 'Drink Coke' and the people would eat and drink more, as directed.

A Lot Of People Actually Believe They're God

Image Source / ChristianityScientists discovered in the 50s that many people actually think they're god, or a god-like being. As part of the experiment, they put three people in a room together who all believed they were god. Instead of trying to convince the others that only one of them was really god, they were all just confused and none of them were cured.

Arsenic Used As Medicine

Image Source / The GuardianIt took as late as the 1950s for people to realise that maybe arsenic - poison - wasn't the best idea. It was still being used to treat illnesses like syphilis, and normally mixed with something else to dilute it. Shocking how it wasn't until the 50s that doctors even realised there had to be something safer than using actual poison.

The Documentary That Revealed Aliens Made Contact With Over 100 People During The Course Of 20 Years

Image Source / Radio TimesThe documentary UFO Secrets: The Friendship Case – The Extraordinary Story of Mass Alien Contact

explained that during a 20 year period, aliens made contact with humans in order to collect things: specifically, Barium and Strontium, which are two earth metals. The documentary even included photos and videos of these encounters, and the documentary was only made because one of the people who allegedly encountered the aliens came forward.

People Can Be Silent Carriers For Mad Cow Disease

Image Source / FDAMad cow disease was prevalent in the 80s and 90s, formed from cows being fed other animals' remains. People could then catch the disease from eating beef from that cow. But people could actually be a carrier for the disease and not know until 10-50 years later, with symptoms of something called Creutzfeldt Jakob disease. Once symptoms start, you usually die within only months.

The Terrifying Nature Of Prions

Image Source / Sites@Duke - Duke UniversityPrions are malformed proteins. And in the human body, a lot can go wrong, so you might be thinking this is something and nothing - treatable, maybe. But no. Prions can teach other proteins to act in the wrong way in the body - and there's no natural defence against it.

The Bacteria That Was So Close To Wiping Out Plant Life

Image Source / Genetic Literacy ProjectThere was once a genetically-modified bacteria that could have been responsible for wiping out plant life and crops if it had been released into the environment - which it almost was. The only reason it wasn't is because one researcher decided to do one more test before it was released - and the test found that it killed all the wheat seedlings, so she destroyed the stuff.

Earth Is Not The Center Of The Universe

Image Source / Space.comIt's always going to be disturbing to think that earth is just a giant ball rotating and moving in the big black of space. The unsettling idea comes from the fact that you know the sun looks like it's moving across the sky, but you have to remind yourself it's the earth - and you - that's moving.

There's A Super Volcano Under Yellowstone National Park

Image Source / ForbesNot only is there a super volcano located under Yellowstone, but it could go off at any time. It could go off and then wipe out millions of people, just like that. To make it worse, it's believed it's even 'due' to erupt, and that it's erupted in the past, too.