Remote-controlled pigeons

Scientists in China have found a way to control the flight of pigeons by implanting electrodes in their brains.

The researchers have developed a computer system which allows them to tell the birds to fly left, right, up or down.

Chief scientist Su Xuecheng told the Xinhua news agency: "It's the first such successful experiment on a pigeon in the world."

Similar experiments on mice had been carried out by the team at the Robot Engineering Technology Research Centre, at the Shandong University of Science and Technology, two years ago.

The technique has a variety of practical uses, such as helping amputees to use mechanical limbs and controlling animals fitted with cameras to search large areas or disaster zones.

Experiments at Arizona State University earlier this year, funded by the US Neural Prosthesis Program, used a monkey to control a robotic arm.