The mystery of the University of Texas missing brains was reportedly solved Wednesday. The problem with the University of Texas missing brains first came out after half of the 200 brains kept at a university research center had gone missing.
The specimens were reportedly preserved in jars of formaldehyde. Because they had gone missing, several theories came out as to where the brains had gone floating around.
On Wednesday, a professor said the University of Texas missing brains had already been located at another school. According to an update, the brains were destroyed more than a decade ago.
The professor told reporters that the brains had been sent to the University of Texas in San Antonio. However, hours later, that institution denied receiving them. This could have meant that the brains could be at another, separate facility. Because of the inaccuracy, a spokesman said they were investigating the situation, reports the Los Angeles Times.
Nevertheless, before the investigation was even completed, the mystery of the University of Texas missing brains was quickly solved.
According to a Wednesday statement from the university, a preliminary investigation found that environmental workers had disposed of the University of Texas missing brains after faculty members told them that the specimens weren't suitable for research or teaching purposes.
The university said that workers disposed between 40 and 60 jars. Some of the jars reportedly had multiple brains inside.
The statement released by the University of Texas Wednesday about the University of Texas missing brains are as follows:
"A preliminary university investigation has revealed that UT environmental health and safety officials disposed of multiple brain specimens in approximately 2002 in accordance with protocols concerning biological waste."
"This occurred prior to the renovation of the Animal Resources Center, where the specimens had been stored in a secure location,"
"We believe the workers disposed of between 40 and 60 jars, some of which contained multiple human brains, and worked with a biological waste contractor to do so safely."
"University officials will appoint a broader investigative committee to examine these issues. As researchers and teachers, we understand the potential scientific value of all of our holdings and take our roles as stewards of them very seriously."
The batch of brains that the University of Texas missing brains had been a part of were actually received by the institution in the 1980s.
According to school officials, the University of Texas missing brains were actually destroyed about 12 years ago from their research lab because they were already in poor condition, according to the Associated Press.
The University of Texas missing brains were destroyed in 2002, according to KVUE reporter Amber Downing. UT also confirmed the theory Wednesday afternoon after a "preliminary university investigation."
The brains mostly came from patients at a state mental hospital. They were supposed to be used for research, including a study on Alzheimer's disease. Part of the 200 brains remains stored at the Animal Resources Center at the University of Texas in Austin.
The story of the missing University of Texas missing brains was mostly been driven by initial reports that one of the brains could have been from Charles Whitman. Whitman climbed a tower on the Austin campus and killed 16 people using a sniper in 1966. A former Marine, Whitman was killed by police after the attack.
"There is no evidence we ever received Whitman's brain," spokesman Gary Susswein, told the Los Angeles Times.
The University of Texas missing brains was transferred by Austin State Hospital about 28 years ago to the university under a "temporary possession" agreement, according to KVUE.
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