Bird-Brain Breakthrough

No, I don't mean the obscure weirdo New Mutant character... Scientists in eastern China say they have succeeded in controlling the flight of pigeons with micro electrodes planted in their brains, state media reported on Tuesday. Scientists at the Robot Engineering Technology Research Centre at Shandong University of Science and Technology said ther electrodes could command them to fly right or left or up or down, Xinhua news agency said. "The implants stimulate different areas of the pigeon's brain according to signals sent by the scientists via computer, and force the bird to comply with their commands," Xinhua said. "It's the first such successful experiment on a pigeon in the world," Xinhua quoted the centre's chief scientist, Su Xuecheng, as saying. Seriously, what is this great scientific breakthrough for? Not to mention its blatantly obvious brutality? Soldiers for the impending Bird Flu Apocalypse? Or probably air strikes as such?