In the 1970s, psychologist John B. Calhoun conducted a groundbreaking experiment on mice, creating an ideal environment with unlimited resources and no external threats. The goal was to create a paradise-like setting where animals could thrive without stress or competition. However, within a few years, every mouse had died off due to social breakdown.
The “Universe 25” experiment began in a lab with strict controls, including stable temperature, clean bedding, and ample nesting spaces. Four breeding pairs of mice were introduced, and their population grew rapidly as there was no natural check on reproduction. The mice had access to unlimited food and water, but social structures started to break down when the population reached around 620.
As the population grew, social clusters formed, and those who couldn’t secure a place became isolated. Male mice who didn’t fit in retreated to central zones, stopped mating, and became aggressive. A group of “beautiful ones” emerged, living detached from society, grooming themselves obsessively, and avoiding social interaction altogether.
The family behavior also deteriorated, with many females abandoning their litters and killing them. Mortality rates skyrocketed, and male aggression turned senseless, resulting in cannibalism. Eventually, the remaining generations stopped mating entirely, and the population collapsed.
Calhoun coined the term “behavioral sink” to describe this phenomenon, where material needs are met, but social structures collapse. He warned that his experiment might be a warning for human societies growing more urbanized and disconnected. However, recent analysis challenges Calhoun’s conclusions, suggesting that unequal access to resources may have been the root cause of the problem.
The researchers argue that the enclosure mimicked social inequality, with dominant mice monopolizing food dispensers and nesting zones, leaving subordinate mice marginalized and psychologically declined. This updated interpretation flips the narrative, suggesting that Universe 25 is a warning about resource distribution and the effects of unbalanced social systems.
Today, despite producing enough food for over 10 billion people, hunger and malnutrition persist due to uneven distribution and systemic barriers. The experiment serves as a reminder that abundance alone may not be enough to prevent social breakdown, but rather how resources are distributed can have significant consequences on human societies.
Source: https://indiandefencereview.com/this-terrifying-experiment-from-the-1970s-predicts-the-end-of-humanity-and-it-hits-uncomfortably-close