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Results of NASA experiments with Spiders and Drugs
missblackwidow.com ^
| Steve Connor
Posted on 02/20/2004 9:07:21 PM PST by Destro
Results of experiments with Spiders and Drugs
Scientists at the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have turned their attention from the mysteries of the cosmos to a more esoteric area of research: what happens when you get a spider stoned.
Their experiments have shown that common house spiders spin their webs in different ways according to the psychotropic drug they have been given. Spiders on marijuana made a reasonable stab at spinning webs but appeared to lose concentration about half-way through. Those on Benzedrine - "speed" - spin their webs "with great gusto, but apparently without much planning leaving large holes", according to New Scientist magazine.
Caffeine, one of the most common drugs consumed by Britons in soft drinks, tea and coffee, makes spiders incapable of spinning anything better than a few threads strung together at random. On chloral hydrat, an ingredient of sleeping pills, spiders "drop off before they even get started".
Nasa scientists believe the research demonstrates that web-spinning spiders can be used to test drugs because the more toxic the chemical, the more deformed was the web.
The scientists believe their previous work on the goemetry of crystals will help them to devise computer programs that can analyse web-building objectively in order to predict the toxicity of new medicines. "It appears that one of the most telling measures of toxicity is a decrease, in comparison with a normal web, of the numbers of completed sides [of a web]; the greater the toxicity, the more sides the spider fails to complete", the scientists say.
Paul Hillard, spider specialist at the Natural History Museum in London, said researchers first discovered the effects of psychotropic drugs on spiders during experiments at the end of 1960s. The researchers fed caffeine to spiders in hope of making them spin webs in the late evening rather than the early dawn. The result was eccentric webs rather than earlier spinning, he said.
Article and research by Steve Connor
Results of NASA experiments with Spiders and Drugs
The normal web of a spider.
Web created while exposed to Mescaline/Peyote.
Web created exposed to LSD.
Web created while exposed to Marijuana.
Web created exposed to Caffeine.
Web created exposed to Benzedrine/Speed.
Web created exposed to Chloral Hydrat. An ingredient found in sleeping pills.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: drugs; health; nasa; wod; wodlist
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1
posted on
02/20/2004 9:07:22 PM PST
by
Destro
To: Destro
Yes but did they get the urge to ear Doritos afterwards? THAT's the important question.
2
posted on
02/20/2004 9:13:40 PM PST
by
cyborg
To: Destro
Makes me wonder what the scientists were ''using'' when they thunk up this experiment.
3
posted on
02/20/2004 9:18:30 PM PST
by
elli1
To: Destro
"Results of NASA experiments with Spiders and Drugs."I don't experiment with spiders. I just step on them.
To: Destro
Most abnormal one looks like the caffein
5
posted on
02/20/2004 9:29:08 PM PST
by
Cold Heart
(If you follow the government food pyramid you will look like it)
To: Destro
I've seen this study, or something very much like it, before. When was it published? Ages ago, I believe.
6
posted on
02/20/2004 9:29:43 PM PST
by
KangarooJacqui
(The pen is mightier than the sword... does that make the keyboard mightier than the AK-47?)
To: Destro
Just in case they ever encounter Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.
To: Destro
Since when are third-party pages on spiders accepted as definitive information on NASA programs?
NASA does experiments on the effects of spaceflight on spiders and other creatures. I have yet to find a NASA site that indicates NASA does any sort of drug-related experiments on spiders or any other creature.
But don't take my word for it, try your own Google search.
http://www.google.com/search?q=nasa%2Bspiders%2Bdrugs
8
posted on
02/20/2004 9:33:08 PM PST
by
Prime Choice
(I'm pro-choice. I just think the "choice" should be made *before* having sex.)
To: Prime Choice; Admin Moderator
Since when are third-party pages on spiders accepted as definitive information on NASA programs?
Exactly. And since when does this qualify as "Breaking news" or "Front Page News"? Expect this to be moved to the Smokey Backroom or at the very least, General Interest/Chat before too long.
9
posted on
02/20/2004 9:35:36 PM PST
by
KangarooJacqui
(The pen is mightier than the sword... does that make the keyboard mightier than the AK-47?)
To: Destro
YIKES. That makes me want to stop drinking soft drinks....
10
posted on
02/20/2004 9:36:34 PM PST
by
GeronL
(http://www.ArmorforCongress.com......................Send a Freeper to Congress!)
To: cyborg
this is your spider..... this is your spider on drugs
11
posted on
02/20/2004 9:37:03 PM PST
by
GeronL
(http://www.ArmorforCongress.com......................Send a Freeper to Congress!)
To: GeronL
*LOL* hey I was about to post to you about jolt cola :)
12
posted on
02/20/2004 9:38:10 PM PST
by
cyborg
To: Destro
This is old. What's the point of posting an old article other than flamebait?
13
posted on
02/20/2004 9:38:14 PM PST
by
Sir Gawain
(Republicans give spineless cowards a bad name)
To: Destro
I see a new Public Service announcement for arachnids: "This is your web...this is your web on drugs."
To: Sir Gawain
smokeybackroom needs a new WOD thread?
15
posted on
02/20/2004 9:38:53 PM PST
by
cyborg
To: KangarooJacqui; Prime Choice
I did not know where to place this article. There is no science section that I know of. This article is just a comment on the NASA study and I thought a fun read for Freepers. Why are you freaking out about it?
16
posted on
02/20/2004 9:40:07 PM PST
by
Destro
(Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorism by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
To: Destro
Is this a real nasa study?
17
posted on
02/20/2004 9:40:28 PM PST
by
Monty22
To: Sir Gawain
Who the freak would find this article flame worthy? This article is sort of in line with science pull out sections in major newspapers.
18
posted on
02/20/2004 9:41:31 PM PST
by
Destro
(Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorism by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
To: Monty22
Yea it was.
19
posted on
02/20/2004 9:42:13 PM PST
by
Destro
(Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorism by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
To: Destro
Pointing out facts is "freaking out" in your view?
You need to get out more often, kid.
20
posted on
02/20/2004 9:42:47 PM PST
by
Prime Choice
(I'm pro-choice. I just think the "choice" should be made *before* having sex.)
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