Summary:
John Lilly, a scientist born in 1915, became fascinated with the idea of controlling human minds after reading "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley. He studied neurophysiology and made significant contributions to sensory isolation research. His obsession with dolphins led him to attempt teaching them English, but it was unsuccessful. Margaret, a non-scientist, joined his team to live with a dolphin named Peter. Peter's puberty and behavioral changes complicated the experiments. NASA funded the research, but when it didn't yield results, John suggested giving LSD to the dolphins, which was met with ethical concerns.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. John Lilly, born on January 6, 1915, in Minnesota, had a passion for science since childhood and built a laboratory at 13.
2. He studied biology at the California Institute of Technology and became interested in consciousness and the human brain.
3. Lilly developed sensory isolation boxes, which are now used for relaxation.
4. He became fascinated with dolphins and believed they could be taught to speak English.
5. Margaret Love Hate joined Lilly's team and lived with a dolphin named Peter to teach him English.
6. Peter reached puberty, became distracted, and the experiments did not yield results.
7. NASA funded Lilly's research, but there was pressure to show progress.
8. Lilly suggested giving LSD to the dolphins to improve communication.
9. Lilly spent extensive time in sensory isolation tanks.
10. The experiments with dolphins, especially Peter, were unique but did not lead to significant breakthroughs.
These facts provide an overview of John Lilly's life and his unconventional research with dolphins.