Results of NASA experiments with Spiders and Drugs

missblackwidow.com ^ | Steve Connor

[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.

[cyborg]

Yes but did they get the urge to ear Doritos afterwards? THAT's the important question.

[elli1]

Makes me wonder what the scientists were ''using'' when they thunk up this experiment.

[blackbart.223]

"Results of NASA experiments with Spiders and Drugs."

I don't experiment with spiders. I just step on them.

[Cold Heart]

Most abnormal one looks like the caffein

[KangarooJacqui]

I've seen this study, or something very much like it, before. When was it published? Ages ago, I believe.

[flying Elvis]

Just in case they ever encounter Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

[Prime Choice]

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

[KangarooJacqui]

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.

[GeronL]

YIKES. That makes me want to stop drinking soft drinks....

[GeronL]

this is your spider..... this is your spider on drugs

[cyborg]

*LOL* hey I was about to post to you about jolt cola :)

[Sir Gawain]

This is old. What's the point of posting an old article other than flamebait?

[The Radical Capitalist]

I see a new Public Service announcement for arachnids: "This is your web...this is your web on drugs."

[cyborg]

smokeybackroom needs a new WOD thread?

[Destro]

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?

[Monty22]

Is this a real nasa study?

[Destro]

Who the freak would find this article flame worthy? This article is sort of in line with science pull out sections in major newspapers.

[Destro]

Yea it was.

[Prime Choice]

Pointing out facts is "freaking out" in your view?

You need to get out more often, kid.