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A thought experiment involving a superior extraterrestrial alien species conducting research on humans according to 3R was presented to 13 Swiss-based animal research professionals (i.e., researchers using animals, veterinarians, animal welfare officers, 3R coordinators, animal science trainers, and members of animal experimentation commissions) during qualitative semi-structured interviews. Participants were asked to reflect on whether the aliens\u2019 research is justified, as well as on the extent to which 3R is the right framework for it. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Participants revealed a spectrum of attitudes, ranging from ambivalent acceptance to outright rejection of \u201c3R for humans\u201d. Key themes included concerns about legitimacy, consent, and power asymmetry, as well as anthropocentric and speciesist attitudes. These findings support previously identified concerns about the limitations of 3R and show that professionals also recognize these challenges when reflecting on the issue using a role-reversal thought experiment. This underscores the ongoing need to advance ethical frameworks in animal research, expanding beyond 3R to incorporate broader moral considerations. Ultimately, our findings suggest that empirical animal ethics, and in particular thought experiments of this kind, offers a promising route to fostering ethical reflection and reform.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1007\/s10806-026-09973-9","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,17]],"date-time":"2026-02-17T01:03:51Z","timestamp":1771290231000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["We are the Earthworms! Aliens Using 3R on Humans: A Qualitative Experimental Ethics Study with Animal Research Professionals"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"39","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8944-1504","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Christian","family":"Rodriguez Perez","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8783-1437","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kirsten","family":"Persson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8180-6927","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"David M.","family":"Shaw","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"9973_CR24","unstructured":"Animal Protection Ordinance (AniPO) SR 455.1 of 23 April 2008 (Status as of 27 November 2025)."},{"key":"9973_CR23","unstructured":"Animal Welfare Act (AniWA) SR 455 of 16 December 2005 (Status as of 1 September 2023)."},{"issue":"2","key":"9973_CR1","first-page":"181","volume":"54","author":"K Bayne","year":"2015","unstructured":"Bayne, K., Ramachandra, G. 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