Researcher Margaret Howe Lovatt moved into a flooded house to live 24/7 with a dolphin named Peter. They ate, slept, and played together while Margaret tried teaching him English. At first, things were going well. Margaret used black and white face paint to help Peter see her lips and he used his blowhole to mimic the sounds. But the project spiraled when Peter fell in love with Margaret and began neglecting his lessons. Meanwhile, lead scientist Dr. John Lilly was injecting other dolphins with LSD to expand their minds.

Horrified by the controversial methods, NASA pulled the funding for the project. Peter fell into a deep depression without his teacher, sank to the bottom of his tank, and stopped breathing.

1. What was the purpose of the experiment?
2. Why did the funding stop?
3. What happened to Peter?

1. What can we learn from this experiment?
2. What is the most surprising part of this story?
3. Do you think experiments on animals are necessary?
4. What would you ask a dolphin? What about an alien?