It started out about population but the big take home is: Behavior becomes dysfunctional when all needs are met with minimum effort.
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This film is a trimmed version of a longer set of stitched-together reels that contain remarks by and interviews with National Institute of Mental Health scientist John B. Calhoun, as well as extensive footage of the thousands of mice Calhoun studied over many years. In Mouse City, Calhoun provided his research subjects food, water, bedding, protection from predators--all that they needed except adequate space. The results were destructive and dramatic. Based on these experiments, Calhoun drew conclusions about human behavior in overcrowded conditions, such as high-density public housing.
The "Universe 25" experiment is one of the most terrifying experiments in the history of science, which, through the behavior of a colony of mice, is an attempt by scientists to explain human societies.
The idea of "Universe 25" Came from the American scientist John Calhoun, who created an "ideal world" in which hundreds of mice would live and reproduce.
More specifically, Calhoun built the so-called "Paradise of Mice", a specially designed space where rodents had Abundance of food and water, as well as a large living space.
In the beginning, he placed four pairs of mice that in a short time began to reproduce, resulting in their population growing rapidly.
However, after 315 days their reproduction began to decrease significantly. When the number of rodents reached 600, a hierarchy was formed between them and then the so-called "wretches" appeared.
The larger rodents began to attack the group, with the result that many males begin to "collapse" psychologically.
As a result, the females did not protect themselves and in turn became aggressive towards their young.
As time went on, the females showed more and more aggressive behavior, isolation elements and lack of reproductive mood.
There was a low birth rate and, at the same time, an increase in mortality in younger rodents.
Then, a new class of male rodents appeared, the so-called "beautiful mice".
They refused to mate with the females or to "fight" for their space.
All they cared about was food and sleep. At one point, "beautiful males" and "isolated females" made up the majority of the population.
According to Calhoun, the death phase consisted of two stages: the "first death" and "second death."
The former was characterized by the loss of purpose in life beyond mere existence — no desire to mate, raise young or establish a role within society.
As time went on, juvenile mortality reached 100% and reproduction reached zero.
Among the endangered mice, homosexuality was observed and, at the same time, cannibalism increased, despite the fact that there was plenty of food.
Two years after the start of the experiment, the last baby of the colony was born. By 1973, he had killed the last mouse in the Universe 25.
John Calhoun repeated the same experiment 25 more times, and each time the result was the same.
Calhoun's scientific work has been used as a model for interpreting social collapse, and his research serves as a focal point for the study of urban sociology.
We are currently witnessing direct parallels in today’s society.. weak, feminized men with little to no skills and no protection instincts, and overly agitated and aggressive females with no maternal instincts.
