Scientists have taught rats to drive little cars. And they love it.

[JohnnyRingo]

Last edited Thu Dec 19, 2024, 09:40 PM - Edit history (2)

In an experiment scientists built tiny cars, and using pavlovian science taught rats how to drive them to a Froot Loop treat. They would get in the battery powered cart and steer to the food to eat right from the driver seat, like they were at the local A&W.

But a weird thing happened. Even without a treat the rats still wanted to motor about. They would "jump up and down like a dog that believes it's going for a walk". They just enjoyed driving around the test area like it was Saturday cruise night in Detroit. They would even thrill to sit in the car pushing the lever that revved the engine before embarking to their ride. According to the study "Rather than pushing buttons for instant rewards, they remind us that planning, anticipating and enjoying the ride may be key to a healthy brain,” So getting there is half the fun for creatures big and small.

No word if they are being fitted for leather jackets or if they push the seat way back to pimp their rides. If the car stops will they pop the hood and look at the motor hoping to find something they can fix? I don't know, but once again I'm reminded that in the universe we're not much different than rats. I hope I'm maybe a better driver.

https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/rats-driving-in-richmond-dec-17-2024

https://nypost.com/2024/11/17/science/scientists-teaching-rats-how-to-drive-discover-that-the-rodents-have-a-need-for-speed/

[underpants]

1. Bezos thinking 🤔 OH YEAH!!!

Rats driving. Payroll in Fruit Loops.



The problem is that the southern rats keep their turn signal on.

[Traildogbob]

2. How hard can it be?

Have ya seen people drive of Late?????

[JohnnyRingo]

7. At the turn of the century....

... the only two cars registered in Ohio crashed into each other.

The lab report doesn't mention how many fender benders they've experienced. Perhaps a "Student Driver" sticker on the bumper would help.

[Traildogbob]

11. At least

The rats knew there were turn signals. When did UAW limit that cost to CEO’s

[CrispyQ]

3. Great story! And they're so darned cute!

Their stress hormones were lower after driving. Wait till they put lots of them on the road.

[hlthe2b]

4. Animals are so much more intelligent than we give credit them. A parrot could do that while singing the

"best of Beyonce."

[Diamond_Dog]

5. Up next: Meet your new food delivery driver.

[House of Roberts]

6. Rats driving rat rods seems just so...

appropriate!

[JohnnyRingo]

8. hahahahaha

I hadn't thought of that! I wish I would have included it in the post.

[eppur_se_muova]

9. Couldn't help but be reminded of this ....

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=582631425655298

[Baitball Blogger]

10. A star is born.

Who doesn't see them starring in their own Disney movie?

[Traildogbob]

12. The New York

Traffic will blow up. New taxi drivers will work for slices of street pizza.

[Dave Bowman]

13. That's amazing and really cute.

😃

[twodogsbarking]

14. It's a real rat race.

Thanks JR, best to you.

[MadMike47]

15. Wait 'til they give them cellphones!

[cachukis]

16. Humanity started long before humans.

[Gaugamela]

17. ALSO: Goldfish driving tank, and skateboarding turtle

You have to click through to YouTube to watch:

[Crowman2009]

18. I'll let a rat drive my car before I ever let Tesla's self-driving mode drive.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

19. Definitely the post of the day. Funny but serious too with good lessons for the hoo-manz. . . . nt

[ReRe]

22. I agree with you, Bernardo

This entire thread has been so enjoyable. I laughed and learned so much!

[JohnnyRingo]

24. That's quite a complement.

Thanx!

[japple]

20. Love it! Thanks for posting this. Now, can the skateboarding

cat keep up? https://youtube.com/shorts/lckaNsIAP1I?si=Kgr5dapj35v8FYU6

[4catsmom]

21. it's not a car

it's a bottle on wheels. I am sure they won't out of it

[JohnnyRingo]

29. It's a car in that it has four wheels and drives.

The eagerly jump in and pull up to the food to eat in the car. They can jump out anytime they want, but it's fun.

See this link. Now they're talking about letting them race each other.

https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/rats-driving-in-richmond-dec-17-2024

[ReRe]

23. K&R

This definitely should be OP of the day/greatest or whatever they call it.
Thanks so much for your post. It made my day!

[SheltieLover]

25. Still chuckling about this

TY for sharing this and brightening our day.

[MichMan]

26. Five year old article

[JohnnyRingo]

28. My source is from this month

They're talking about letting them race.

https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/rats-driving-in-richmond-dec-17-2024

[Figarosmom]

32. That sounds like

A fun study. I wonder what it is they say they are trying to prove to justify the srudy.

[JohnnyRingo]

34. Besides being a fun project....

"Lambert’s study aims to explore the relationship between animals and their environments, how their cognition develops, and how they process new skills."

[CrispyQ]

39. That's a better story than the one I saw yesterday.

You can see the door they cut in the bottle for the rats to get in & out. Thanks!

[Skittles]

27. I hope they never have them flying

that would mean even MORE drone reports

[scipan]

30. I love that they like to rev the motor.

[CrispyQ]

40. And they use their turn signals!

[Figarosmom]

31. Thats so cool

And the sit in their cars reving the engine. I wonder if they are feeling the same pleasure from that , that humans do.A feeling of power?

[JohnnyRingo]

35. It won't be long......

..before some of them start rolling coal and make everyone miserable.

[Figarosmom]

38. I dont even get why

Humans do that. I used to be embarrassing to have a car emmitting smoke

[Skittles]

36. probably just the male ones

[Figarosmom]

37. Thats what i told my daughter when i texted her the post

Of the article

[snot]

33. I've seen an art project with fish

doing the same thing. They were in fish bowls sitting on the the little vehicles.

[chouchou]

41. I love it. I just love it!