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JohnnyRingo

(19,418 posts)
Thu Dec 19, 2024, 09:48 AM Thursday

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

Last edited Thu Dec 19, 2024, 08:40 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/

41 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Scientists have taught rats to drive little cars. And they love it. (Original Post) JohnnyRingo Thursday OP
Bezos thinking 🤔 OH YEAH!!! underpants Thursday #1
How hard can it be? Traildogbob Thursday #2
At the turn of the century.... JohnnyRingo Thursday #7
At least Traildogbob Thursday #11
Great story! And they're so darned cute! CrispyQ Thursday #3
Animals are so much more intelligent than we give credit them. A parrot could do that while singing the hlthe2b Thursday #4
Up next: Meet your new food delivery driver. Diamond_Dog Thursday #5
Rats driving rat rods seems just so... House of Roberts Thursday #6
hahahahaha JohnnyRingo Thursday #8
Couldn't help but be reminded of this .... eppur_se_muova Thursday #9
A star is born. Baitball Blogger Thursday #10
The New York Traildogbob Thursday #12
That's amazing and really cute. Dave Bowman Thursday #13
It's a real rat race. twodogsbarking Thursday #14
Wait 'til they give them cellphones! MadMike47 Thursday #15
Humanity started long before humans. cachukis Thursday #16
ALSO: Goldfish driving tank, and skateboarding turtle Gaugamela Thursday #17
I'll let a rat drive my car before I ever let Tesla's self-driving mode drive. Crowman2009 Thursday #18
Definitely the post of the day. Funny but serious too with good lessons for the hoo-manz. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Thursday #19
I agree with you, Bernardo ReRe Thursday #22
That's quite a complement. JohnnyRingo Thursday #24
Love it! Thanks for posting this. Now, can the skateboarding japple Thursday #20
it's not a car 4catsmom Thursday #21
It's a car in that it has four wheels and drives. JohnnyRingo Thursday #29
K&R ReRe Thursday #23
Still chuckling about this SheltieLover Thursday #25
Five year old article MichMan Thursday #26
My source is from this month JohnnyRingo Thursday #28
That sounds like Figarosmom Thursday #32
Besides being a fun project.... JohnnyRingo Thursday #34
That's a better story than the one I saw yesterday. CrispyQ Friday #39
I hope they never have them flying Skittles Thursday #27
I love that they like to rev the motor. scipan Thursday #30
And they use their turn signals! CrispyQ Friday #40
Thats so cool Figarosmom Thursday #31
It won't be long...... JohnnyRingo Thursday #35
I dont even get why Figarosmom Friday #38
probably just the male ones Skittles Friday #36
Thats what i told my daughter when i texted her the post Figarosmom Friday #37
I've seen an art project with fish snot Thursday #33
I love it. I just love it! chouchou Friday #41

underpants

(187,332 posts)
1. Bezos thinking 🤔 OH YEAH!!!
Thu Dec 19, 2024, 09:53 AM
Thursday

Rats driving. Payroll in Fruit Loops.



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

JohnnyRingo

(19,418 posts)
7. At the turn of the century....
Thu Dec 19, 2024, 10:20 AM
Thursday

... 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.

CrispyQ

(38,584 posts)
3. Great story! And they're so darned cute!
Thu Dec 19, 2024, 10:00 AM
Thursday

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

hlthe2b

(106,751 posts)
4. Animals are so much more intelligent than we give credit them. A parrot could do that while singing the
Thu Dec 19, 2024, 10:01 AM
Thursday

"best of Beyonce."

Gaugamela

(2,683 posts)
17. ALSO: Goldfish driving tank, and skateboarding turtle
Thu Dec 19, 2024, 11:40 AM
Thursday


You have to click through to YouTube to watch:

Bernardo de La Paz

(51,248 posts)
19. Definitely the post of the day. Funny but serious too with good lessons for the hoo-manz. . . . nt
Thu Dec 19, 2024, 12:03 PM
Thursday

ReRe

(10,902 posts)
22. I agree with you, Bernardo
Thu Dec 19, 2024, 01:17 PM
Thursday

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

JohnnyRingo

(19,418 posts)
29. It's a car in that it has four wheels and drives.
Thu Dec 19, 2024, 08:33 PM
Thursday

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

(10,902 posts)
23. K&R
Thu Dec 19, 2024, 01:22 PM
Thursday

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

Figarosmom

(3,288 posts)
32. That sounds like
Thu Dec 19, 2024, 09:11 PM
Thursday

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

JohnnyRingo

(19,418 posts)
34. Besides being a fun project....
Thu Dec 19, 2024, 11:35 PM
Thursday

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

CrispyQ

(38,584 posts)
39. That's a better story than the one I saw yesterday.
Fri Dec 20, 2024, 12:53 PM
Friday

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

Figarosmom

(3,288 posts)
31. Thats so cool
Thu Dec 19, 2024, 09:08 PM
Thursday

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

(19,418 posts)
35. It won't be long......
Thu Dec 19, 2024, 11:36 PM
Thursday

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

snot

(10,798 posts)
33. I've seen an art project with fish
Thu Dec 19, 2024, 10:44 PM
Thursday

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

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