50 years ago

It is the purpose of this article to show that a group of compounds related to lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) produces surfacing behaviour of carp with the movement directed towards the surface ... It has been shown previously from work in this laboratory that very small quantities of derivatives of lysergic acid, like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) and lysergic acid ethylamide (LAE-32), have a surfacing effect on small Siamese fighting fish ... After the fish had been exposed to LSD-25 for 10 min., they showed signs of LSD-25 activity. After 30 min. all three fish in the tank containing LSD-25 were at the surface of the liquid in a nose up–tail down position ... For the next hour the fish in the tank containing LSD-25 remained at the surface, from time to time moving and even swimming backwards ... The fish were returned to the running-water pool after 1.5 hr. In the pool they continued to stay at the surface, moving about but not going to the bottom at all. 2 hr. later they were still at the surface ... Experiments in larger tanks, and field trials, are planned.

From Nature 27 January 1962

100 Years Ago

I have repeatedly observed the brilliancy of cats' eyes in the dark in particularly favourable circumstances. I have a brilliant incandescent light in my hall, and several cats on the premises. The entrance drive is in a line with the door and the hall lamp. When I call a cat in the chances are that if there she simply sits and looks at me, presenting the spectacle of two small incandescent lights glowing out of the darkness. Light, observer, and cat are all three in line, as observed by Colonel Herschel.

From Nature 25 January 1912