I’m a neuroscientist who taught rats to drive − their joy suggests how anticipating fun can enrich human life - eviltoast
  • millie@beehaw.org
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    1 month ago

    Interesting article! A bit weird that they felt the need to plug the ugliest vehicle ever created, but the findings are certainly interesting! It’s hard not to read enthusiasm into that little rat scooting along in its rat car!

    It’s disheartening to think that at the end of the experiment they’ll just kill the poor thing, though. Like, I get not wanting to use the same rats from study to study so that you have a proper control, but there has to be a less heartless way of doing that.

    • Vodulas [they/them]@beehaw.org
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      1 month ago

      A bit weird that they felt the need to plug the ugliest vehicle ever created

      I think it is just that this the only boxy car in the public limelight. Calling it akin to a Scion xB probably would not have resonated with most folks.

    • Gaywallet (they/it)@beehaw.orgOPM
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      1 month ago

      It’s a big step up from literally drowning lab rats as an experiment, but we’ve got a long way to go before we get even reasonably ethical with lab animals 😔

      To be fair if anyone was gonna not kill them when they’re done, this lab seems like they might be the ones.

      • millie@beehaw.org
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        1 month ago

        Yeah, maybe. I hope so. I feel like they could just have rat races, throw it on youtube, and make a bit of money for more funding if they really wanted to. I’d watch.

  • SuiXi3D@fedia.io
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    1 month ago

    It’s so interesting to me how so many managers I’ve had the displeasure of working under don’t seem to understand that the mental toll of working has to be offset at work. Not everyone is cool with putting widgets together for eight hours straight, there has to be something to look forward to as well.