There are plenty of reasons why rats are terrible. They’re always scurrying around, which is the most disgusting way for an animal to move. Their tails are too long and pink (indecent), and they’ve all but taken over New York. So much so that, while announcing plans to deal with the city’s worsening rodent infestation, New York Sanitation commissioner Jessica Tisch had to remind everyone, “The rats don’t run this city. We do.” However, a new study from the University of Tokyo has revealed something about these these godforsaken creatures that is, at the very least, respectable: Rats have rhythm.
“Rats displayed innate — that is, without any training or prior exposure to music — beat synchronization,” said study co-author Hirokazu Takahashi. When researchers played music, the rats jerked their head in sync with the beat, an ability previously believed to be unique to humans. The rats may not run this city, but they can dance just like you and me, baby!
>>> snip <<<
