A rat in its new ride. (Credit: University of Richmond)

Researchers report that they’ve taught rats to drive cars, knocking human technical superiority down another notch.

It’s not quite as amazing as it sounds, of course. The “cars” are simple wheeled platforms controlled by means of electrically conductive bars. And the rats aren’t quite navigating the Nurburging Nordschleife yet. But the feat hints at the adaptive skills of these common lab animals, and it could lead to new kinds of te