Unorthodox Scientific Experiments.

[yviedarling]

-warning: if you are easily disturbed do not read-
So, for some reason, lately I've been obsessed with really weird and unorthodox science, also referred to as "Fringe Science".
I thought I'd make a post about it to get opinions on what you think about it.

Let's start with a couple of definitions:
Fringe Science: The term is not well defined, and ranges from valid, but non mainstream, science to wild ad hoc theories and "New Age mumbo jumbo", with the dominance of the latter resulting in the tendency to dismiss all fringe science as the domain of pseudoscientists, hobbyists, or "quacks". Other terms used for the portions of fringe science that lack scientific integrity are pathological science, voodoo science, and cargo cult science.

Fringe Theory: An idea or a collection of ideas that departs significantly from the prevailing or mainstream view. It can include work done to the appropriate level of scholarship in a field of study but only supported by a minority of practitioners, to more dubious work.

Here are some experiments that I consider to be a part of fringe science:

1. At the University of Pittsburgh's McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, a experiment has been done where cells are taken from the lining of a pig's bladder and dried into a powder. With this powder, they have successfully regrown a finger. It has been theorized that they will be able to grow other body parts as well source (not in plain english) (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18783320)

2. In La Jolla, CA, researchers at Salk Institute have learned that a fetal mouse with Parkinson's disease can survive with embryonic stem cells injected into their brains. In fact, the stem cells grow within the mouse and actually become integrated within the mouse's nervous system. source (http://www.salk.edu/news/pressrelease_details.php?press_id=159)

(my favorite) 3. Optogenetics is a new science breakthrough that is thought to be a way to help cure epilepsy and depression. It uses light to control the brain. When tested on monkeys, the monkey's brain was injected with a light sensitive virus. The virus would then go to certain neurons and transfer its light sensitive genes. When a fluorescent light is shined on the neurons, the strongest function was intensified, giving the researchers precise control over that area of the brain.
source (https://www.prote.in/en/feed/2012/08/optogenetic-monkeys)


What are your thoughts on Fringe Science? Do you know of any experiments of this nature?

I, personally, think all of this is disturbing and creepy and very, very fascinating. I know some of you will probably reject it completely, but I find this stuff kinda cool.

[Tarannosaurus]

It is kind of interesting but I'm against animal testing so I wouldn't agree with experiments involving animals.

[britishboy]

Would I do it personally? No, but it should be studied.

It is kind of interesting but I'm against animal testing so I wouldn't agree with experiments involving animals.

What would yoy rather? An animal die painfully... or your family?

[conniption]

It is kind of interesting but I'm against animal testing so I wouldn't agree with experiments involving animals.

I'm gonna have to agree with britishboy. It's not pretty, but something always has to be sacrificed in the name of progress. Make-up testing on animals I can say is cruel; however, scientific testing on animals is hugely beneficial.

[sqishy]

Fringe science is different enough for 'normal' science, to have a lot of people find it wrong and/or evil.
Just seeing it in another way...

[yviedarling]

It is kind of interesting but I'm against animal testing so I wouldn't agree with experiments involving animals.

i think that it's okay in the name of science, but then i also think the same thing about humans. I think sometimes sacrifices have to be made.

[Cygnus]

How about doing those kinds of experiments on human volunteers, eh? Then the people will actually want those experiments done to them despite consequences.

I'd only agree with those experiments if the animals are dead.

[Tenoka]

I personally agree with it and find it fascinating. As for test subjects, animals or humans I'm fine with. If I remember they use injured animals and animals with birth defects as subject. As for humans, I don't think to many volunteer and if they do they usually have little time left. I've always been fascinated by science, and would go as far to have a test on me. For reasons of course, I have a few problems. Scoliosis, arthritis, and schizophrenia. So I'm not in to good of health.

Also, I'm sure the subjects have to be alive most of the time to see if the virus/test can grow to whatever it is.

[Green Arrow]

I know I'm gonna be shot down, I do beleive in animal testing BUT only in the right circumstances in medicine it's vital that it's tested on something else non-human before it being tested on human test subjects. Medicine saves lives and we can't develop it if we don't have anything to test it on...

Now if we're talking about testing things like shampoos and stuff on animals then no no no no no, that's just wrong as it has no real benefit to the world apart from maybe giving your hair that extra glow.

I'd only agree with those experiments if the animals are dead.

Yes lets inject stem cells into a dead rat to see if it will survive. Oh wait...

[yviedarling]

What do you guys think of the experiments themselves, though? Do you think some are taking science too far? Or is there another point that you think would be too far?

[Tenoka]

If their experiments have a high success rate, even when in development then I'm all for it. To test things to see how fatal they are I'm no so much for, but it's something that needs to be learned.

Back awhile ago they did experiments on babies, they had ones in cribs that got little to no physical affection. Others were treated with regular care and social interaction actions. I think that might have pushed the limits a bit far, but it's something we needed to know. (There took places in the 50s-80s, I'll look for source link)
( http://brainmind.com/AttachmentMaternalLoveInfancyChildhood.html, it gives a highlight of what I mean, also 7 am and I haven't slept ;_; )

[Fractured Silhouette]

I don't mind unorthodox, but sometimes these experiments focus on stuff that is clearly not going anywhere significant. I mean just recently it was discovered when dogs piss they always face North (someone correct me if I'm wrong here). Useless knowledge that I didn't need or want to know, but now I do. I don't mind it though, research whatever makes you happy I suppose.

I'm gonna have to agree with britishboy. It's not pretty, but something always has to be sacrificed in the name of progress. Make-up testing on animals I can say is cruel; however, scientific testing on animals is hugely beneficial.

Let's be honest here though, the results of the experiments would produce much more interesting results if we tested it on people rather than animals and scientists then going through a load of bullshit before being able to legally perform tests on people, that medical science would progress at a quicker pace. I mean, there are more than enough people in the world.

[Typhlosion]

Unorthodox science can go from crazy weird, such as the finger (even though the abstract is incomprehensible with all that jargon), to unethical (such as raciology and Nazi experiments), to outright ineffective (as a case where banana essence was applied to some sort of lesion. Needless to say, the rats died.)
It really depends on what "unorthodox" is defined as. If it doesn't follow scientific norms, it's isn't really that valuable within the community and won't be trusted. If unorthodox means it has an odd nature, well I bet teaching people about heart transplants or vaccines would be odd 500 years ago (imagine stem cells!). If it's based in some sort of truth, go ahead. (I doubt the doctors just came up with intestine mucus from a random anatomic-term generator!) I somewhat dislike ethics getting in the way of science, studies on wild children have been interesting and gave some greater details on brain development.

If they're at a forseeably successful path, go for it. (As long it's ethical, or not (muahaha!))

As for the animals-for-science subtopic,

Let's be honest here though, the results of the experiments would produce much more interesting results if we tested it on people rather than animals and scientists then going through a load of bullshit before being able to legally perform tests on people, that medical science would progress at a quicker pace. I mean, there are more than enough people in the world.
Yeah. Consider the study I mentioned above, applying banana essence on lesions to see if they heal. Let's allow the nutjob do that on humans! Great idea.
Remember Nazi experiments? Oh, lets try to cure Malaria. I mean, there are more than enough jews in the world.
Science must be much more ethical than simply getting "volunteers" (medicine in Africa and China would explode!) and doing what they desire to them.

Considering today's ethics, medicine would be even slower than it is today. Yeah, let's submit some patient to a never-tested-before procedure only tested on corpses and studied in theory.
"Hey, I just synthesized this new analog to morphine! It's similar to that other analog and should be even less..." "Oh, I'll prepare the paperwork"

I don't really understand why many are so against using animals (usually rats, few pigs and the eventual chimp) to perform science on. Are people overvaluing the life of mass-produced rats and devaluing humans? Are they just anti-medicine? I don't...
Even in the cosmetic industry our furry companions are helpful. Some variant or new lotion has been produced, but we don't know if it has any side-effects or even carcinogenic.
Contrary to popular belief, studying rats isn't "too far" from human medicine at all.

[AlexOnToast]

It is kind of interesting but I'm against animal testing so I wouldn't agree with experiments involving animals.
Here Here

[RavleIncarnate]

Wow, that's so interesting! Ever tried mixing vinegar, orange juice, and an egg in a glass?

[yviedarling]

Wow, that's so interesting! Ever tried mixing vinegar, orange juice, and an egg in a glass?

no, but it sounds like one gross salad dressing.

[Loca]

-warning: if you are easily disturbed do not read-
So, for some reason, lately I've been obsessed with really weird and unorthodox science, also referred to as "Fringe Science".
I thought I'd make a post about it to get opinions on what you think about it.

Let's start with a couple of definitions:
Fringe Science: The term is not well defined, and ranges from valid, but non mainstream, science to wild ad hoc theories and "New Age mumbo jumbo", with the dominance of the latter resulting in the tendency to dismiss all fringe science as the domain of pseudoscientists, hobbyists, or "quacks". Other terms used for the portions of fringe science that lack scientific integrity are pathological science, voodoo science, and cargo cult science.

Fringe Theory: An idea or a collection of ideas that departs significantly from the prevailing or mainstream view. It can include work done to the appropriate level of scholarship in a field of study but only supported by a minority of practitioners, to more dubious work.

Here are some experiments that I consider to be a part of fringe science:

1. At the University of Pittsburgh's McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, a experiment has been done where cells are taken from the lining of a pig's bladder and dried into a powder. With this powder, they have successfully regrown a finger. It has been theorized that they will be able to grow other body parts as well source (not in plain english) (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18783320)

2. In La Jolla, CA, researchers at Salk Institute have learned that a fetal mouse with Parkinson's disease can survive with embryonic stem cells injected into their brains. In fact, the stem cells grow within the mouse and actually become integrated within the mouse's nervous system. source (http://www.salk.edu/news/pressrelease_details.php?press_id=159)

(my favorite) 3. Optogenetics is a new science breakthrough that is thought to be a way to help cure epilepsy and depression. It uses light to control the brain. When tested on monkeys, the monkey's brain was injected with a light sensitive virus. The virus would then go to certain neurons and transfer its light sensitive genes. When a fluorescent light is shined on the neurons, the strongest function was intensified, giving the researchers precise control over that area of the brain.
source (https://www.prote.in/en/feed/2012/08/optogenetic-monkeys)


What are your thoughts on Fringe Science? Do you know of any experiments of this nature?

I, personally, think all of this is disturbing and creepy and very, very fascinating. I know some of you will probably reject it completely, but I find this stuff kinda cool.
Amazing! How did you find this out! Wow! I think of it as actually amazing! I am kinda a bit weird, mybz a sociopath! I think animal testing should be used but not for stupid cosmetics!

[yviedarling]

Amazing! How did you find this out! Wow! I think of it as actually amazing! I am kinda a bit weird, mybz a sociopath! I think animal testing should be used but not for stupid cosmetics!

I was writing a paper when I was in High School. We were supposed to write about something controversial. Everyone else wrote about gay marriage, abortion, or racism. I, however, wrote about cloning and how people thought science was going too far. Ever since that paper I've been more than slightly obsessed with fringe theories and shocking things of that nature.

And I think animal testing is good in the right circumstances, and while it pains me to think of animals being in pain because of makeup, I can't say I don't own any that is tested on animals.

And as for you being a sociopath, nah. I think the term is WAY overused. Being extremely strange (as am I) doesn't make you a sociopath.

[SecretlyKnown]

I don't support testing on alive animals.

[RavleIncarnate]

Whale blubber is used in lipstick.

[Kameraden]

I find all these people hilarious who believe in animal rights over human rights. Choosing wild animals over your own species. You should be humiliated.

[Ocelot]

Now animal testing can be horrible, for things such as beauty products or experimental drugs where the animal is practically being tortured, and I am very against that. However, if an animal must be killed humanely (at least as humanely as killing can be) and research is being done for the benefit of all humans (and potentially animals), then I believe that these sorts of experiments are somewhat necessary. I also agree with what others have said, which is that lots of people will volunteer for some of these studies, especially if there are a couple hundred dollars in question.

[Rallo]

If you want to look up something even more creepy, look into quantum teleportation (Using methods of quantum entanglement)
Realllyy freaky, yet amazing.