Robo-pigeon

No, this isn't a punk rock pigeon with a crimson mohawk. Rather, the bird now can receive computer commands through electrodes in its brain from the device attached--rather cumbersomely, it seems--atop its head.

Scientists from the Robot Research Center at the Shandong University of Science and Technology in Qingdao, China, performed the work, which enables them to direct the pigeon's flight (take off, hover, fly forward, turn right or left) by remote control. The researchers said that the pigeon was under anesthesia when the device was attached and that it doesn't feel pain at the head. Somehow that seems unlikely to mollify animal rights activists.

February 28, 2007 9:39 AM PST

Photo by: He Yi/ChinaFotoPress