1968 Experiment Predicted 2026: The "Behavioral Sink" Has Begun (Video)

In 1968, scientist John B. Calhoun conducted one of the most haunting experiments in behavioral science history. He built a “perfect world” for mice called Universe 25 — unlimited food, unlimited water, no predators, no disease, perfect climate. He expected paradise to thrive forever.

Instead, every single mouse died within four years. Not from starvation. Not from disease. From something far more disturbing that Calhoun called “the behavioral sink.”

This video explores the documented science behind the Universe 25 experiment and examines potential parallels to patterns we observe in modern society — from declining birth rates and workforce disengagement to rising social isolation and loneliness.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS VIDEO:

• The complete story of Dr. John Calhoun’s Universe 25 experiment at the National Institute of Mental Health
• What “The Beautiful Ones” were and why their behavior alarmed researchers
• The four phases Calhoun identified in population collapse
• Scientific data on global fertility rate trends and demographic shifts
• Research findings on workplace engagement and social withdrawal phenomena
• World Health Organization and Surgeon General findings on loneliness as a public health concern
• How abundance without purpose may affect social species differently than scarcity

WHY THIS MATTERS:

Understanding behavioral patterns — both in controlled experiments and in broader society — helps us recognize challenges before they become crises. By studying what happened in Universe 25, researchers have gained insights into how social structures, meaning, and connection influence population health and sustainability.

This video synthesizes peer-reviewed research, government data, and documented historical experiments to present an educational examination of these complex topics.

SOURCES AND FURTHER READING:

The information presented in this video draws from:
• Dr. John B. Calhoun’s published research including “Death Squared: The Explosive Growth and Demise of a Mouse Population” (1973)
• Scientific American’s original coverage of Calhoun’s work
• World Health Organization Commission on Social Connection reports
• U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on loneliness and social isolation
• Gallup workplace engagement surveys
• CDC National Center for Health Statistics fertility data
• Academic journals including Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine