Project Pigeon: Birds Steer Bombs

Imagine a secret weapon from World War II unlike any other: missiles guided by live pigeons! This wasn't science fiction, but a real project led by psychologist B.F. Skinner. Under Project Pigeon, birds were trained to recognize and peck at enemy targets displayed on a screen inside the missile. Their precise pecks would actually control the bomb's steering. To improve accuracy, they even developed a system where three pigeons worked together, with the majority ruling! While the military ultimately passed on this feathered guidance system, calling it a "crackpot idea," the research provided fascinating insights into animal behavior and control technology and continued in various forms. In 2024, this bizarre yet brilliant concept earned the Ig Nobel Peace Prize, under the study titled “Pigeons in a Pelican.” Watch on YouTube with subtitles: https://youtube.com/@whatthestudysays?si=uBrAmOvBiEvvzDOe Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/tw/podcast/what-the-study-says/id1814559387 FLink: https://open.firstory.me/user/cmao5odis0eyf01w36mahd8ub/platforms Tell us what you think:https://open.firstory.me/user/cmao5odis0eyf01w36mahd8ub/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting