The Dollop with Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds 248 - Animal Behavior Enterprises
Mar 6, 2017
Dive into the quirky world of animal behavior as comedians dissect the fascinating story of the Navy training marine mammals for military tasks. Learn about Tuffy the dolphin's remarkable mail delivery and rescue drills. Discover B.F. Skinner's wild pigeon-guided bomb concept and the founding of the Animal Behavior Enterprise. Marvel at bizarre attractions like Priscilla the pig performing tricks, cyborg insects, and the ill-fated Project Acoustic Kitty, where a cat was transformed into a spy. It's a hilarious yet thought-provoking exploration of animal antics!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Living Underwater Demands Strange Atmospheres
- Underwater living required altered atmospheres and long decompression to match human physiology.
- Sea Lab used 80% helium mixtures and 31-hour decompression, making it an alien environment for humans.
Tuffy The Mail-Delivering Dolphin
- Bob Bailey trained a dolphin named Tuffy to carry tools and deliver lines to divers in drills.
- Tuffy even delivered mail and got visibly upset when humans failed their part of drills.
Pigeons As Bomb Guidance
- B.F. Skinner proposed using pigeons in guided bombs that pecked at target images to steer warheads.
- The program was dismissed as eccentric after $25,000 and called impractical by the National Defense Research Committee.