New research has been looking for new methods for diabetics to regulate their levels of insulin other than by regular injections.
Scientists in Switzerland have found that playing Queen’s We Will Rock You is able to help cells produce and release the essential hormone.
The method in question involves implanting a capsule into the body that contains a type of designer cell that produce insulin.
Regulating when insulin is released from the capsules was achieved by sound waves opening a membrane channel (a controlled gate) from which the hormone can escape the cell.
Interestingly the research team discovered that We Will Rock You’s sound waves were particularly good at opening the channels for insulin to release when tested on mice, but only when a speaker was directly placed onto the rodents.
Sir Brian May, who wrote the iconic Queen song, has posted the Forbes article hailing the discovery but slammed the use of animal testing as the means of research.
The guitarist and animal rights activist wrote on Instagram: “So ! Who would have guessed ?! We Will Rock You can be good for your health !!! I’m happy about that. But not at all happy that these scientists tortured mice to find that out.
“It’s now well known that many drugs and procedures that work in mice or rats do NOT work in humans. ‘Proving’ drugs in non-human animals was the cause of the terrible tragedy with Thalidomide some years ago. And, ethically, causing pain to one species to cure the ills of another is clearly unjustifiable. So the laws requiring tests on animals MUST be changed.”
Sir Brian, who is about to embark on Queen and Adam Lambert’s US tour added: “I’m horrified that these scientists could gaily make these unfortunate animals suffer to prove a point that should have been made using human volunteers. Then I would have been smiling. But this ?
“It’s so easy to gloss over the disgusting way we treat animals. It has to stop. It’s high time that scientists became responsible for what they do.
“Time they took responsibility for the way they behave. I will NOT be celebrating this news tonight. Bri.”
