The term "rat race" may soon mean real rats racing in cars. Scientists have taught rats to drive tiny cars in a laboratory. A neuroscientist has worked with rats since 2019. She told a news agency that the creatures learned to rev the engines of their small vehicles and seemed to "get a kick out of it". She said the rats had an "intense motivation" for driving. She added they often jumped into the car, revved the engine, and then "hit the road".

The research explored the relationship between rats and their environment. It looked at how the rats' thought developed, and how they processed new skills. In the tests, one group of lab rats got toys and companions. The other test rodents got no toys and fewer friends. The rats got rewards for good driving. The rats with the toys learned to drive better. The research supported the idea that complex environments enhanced learning in the rats.