GETTY Pig brains revived in lab in move which could see humans brought BACK FROM THE DEAD

The Frankenstein-esque experiment saw scientists revive the brains of around 200 pigs which were brought in from slaughter houses. The brains were resuscitated through a series of tubes fed into the head which pumped heat and artificial blood into the brain. Scientists from Yale University said that billions of cells in the brain began acting normally again. However, the scientists were sure that the animals did not regain consciousness.

GETTY Death may not be the end

But, the experts theorised that if the technology in the field does evolve and become better, then in the future it could be used to bring humans back from the dead. Yale University neuroscientist Dr Nenad Sestan, who led the research, said: “That animal brain is not aware of anything, I am very confident of that. “Hypothetically, somebody takes this technology, makes it better, and restores someone’s [brain] activity. “That is restoring a human being. If that person has memory, I would be freaking out completely.”

GETTY Humans may now be able to be revived

Doing so would open up a huge ethical discussion, and for that reason Dr Sestan did not elaborate on the results, choosing to keep the majority of the findings secret until they are published in a scientific journal. Dr Sestan explained the results to an audience at a meeting at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Maryland where he described the results as “mind-boggling” and “unexpected”. He added that the technique could work on a number of species, including humans: "This is probably not unique to pigs.” Steve Hyman, director of psychiatric research at the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and someone who was briefed on the study beforehand, told MIT Technology Review: “These brains may be damaged, but if the cells are alive, it’s a living organ.

Science Musuem: Centenary Icons Wed, November 4, 2009 Play slideshow 1 of 10 The X-ray caused a sensation when it was discovered by German scientist Prof. Roentgen in 1895. He was awarded the first Nobel Prize for physics in 1901. Pictured below are X-rays of the hands of King George and Queen Mary, 1896 / Pics: SSPL