A mystery at an American university where staff believed they had lost 100 human brains has been solved at last, with a rather strange conclusion being drawn after investigation. 

It was believed that the collection of grey matter had been swiped piece by piece over the years by students either playing pranks or looking to get themselves a rather gruesome little souvenir. However, a look into what has happened with the collection has uncovered the truth – they've been gone for over a decade. 

The search was sparked after a book about the brains, including just where they might be, was launched recently by the University of Texas. The samples, held in 60 jars, had originally numbered more than 200, but had been halved in number mysteriously. 

However, the answer to the mystery turned out to be quite mundane. Far from the rather macabre and elaborate Halloween prank that had been suspected, it was confirmed that environmental workers at the research centre had thrown them away more than 12 years ago because they were in a poor state. 

Just this week, professor and co-curator Lawrence Cormack told the Austin American-Statesman it was possible that "word got around among undergraduates and people started swiping them for living rooms or Halloween pranks". 

However, it has since been confirmed that they were disposed of merely for health and safety reasons rather than any exciting prank. It said that protocols had been followed, and that the 100 remaining specimens remain in the possession of faculty. 

The university book looking at the collection has also failed to confirm that one of the brains it contains is that of Charles Whitman, who fatally shot 16 people from the university’s clock tower in 1966, Metro reports.

In other macabre news, a priest has recently warned people of the dangers of trying to talk to the dead this Christmas. Due to the success of Halloween movie Ouija, it is thought that ouija boards will be one of the favourite presents this festive season. However, an anonymous Catholic priest in Dublin, Ireland, has warned people of the dangers, saying that they may well be opening doors to more than they expect. ADNFCR-2867-ID-801764321-ADNFCR

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