Study confirms that lobsters can feel pain when being boiled alive (Image: Pexels) For years, scientists and ethicists have debated whether lobsters feel pain. A new study is now adding weight to that question, suggesting that these crustaceans may experience more than just simple reflex reactions—bringing renewed attention to how they are cooked. Published in Scientific Reports , the study looked at the Norway lobster and how it reacts to harmful stimuli. When given mild electrical shocks, the lobsters showed a quick “tail flip,” a well-known escape response. But the key finding came next: when the animals were treated with pain-relief drugs such as aspirin and lidocaine , this reaction became much weaker and less frequent. Researchers say this matters because if the behaviour were only a mechanical reflex, painkillers would not have changed it. Instead, the results point to nociception, a process linked to the perception of pain.…