Rodents Behind the Wheel.

Rats may be smarter than we give them credit for. In a recent experiment at the University of Richmond in Virginia, a group of them mastered the art of operating a tiny car in exchange for Froot Loops. Scientists built a "rat-operated vehicle" (ROV) out of a plastic container on wheels; inside, the rats could press a wire that triggered the motor. After some training, the critters could move the ROV and change direction with ease. The experiment showed that rats are capable of handling more complex tasks than we realize. But researchers also learned something even more interesting: Driving...