A $3,400 Leather Rat Bag: For The Rat Catcher Who Has Everything

Because these truly are the end times we’re living in, New York City-based fashion designer Thom Browne has created the Rat Pebbled Bag, a leather bag in the form of a rat. Available from Farfetch for the equally farfetched price of $3,390, the bag begs the question – is this considered haute couture or raute couture?

If the model is any indication, you’ll also need a kilt, dress shirt and tie, lace-up boot-shoes, and an overcoat to complete the rat bag ensemble. I can already close my eyes and imagine myself wearing it all – my friends and family whispering to one another that I’ve finally gone off the deep end.

When reached for comment about the bag, Master Splinter told me he felt it was in poor taste. Granted, he’s been wearing the same tattered kimono for his entire mutant life and lives in the sewers with a bunch of turtle vigilantes, but I trust his judgment.

Rats Have Learned to Drive Tiny Cars

Apparently, because we don’t already have enough problem with scooters weaving in and out of traffic, scientists are working on a way for rats to drive around in miniature cars now. Yes, they can now literally join the rat race.

Image: Kelly Lambert / University of Richmond

As part of their studies of the cognitive abilities of rats, researchers from the Lambert Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory at the University of Richmond have built miniature cars that rats can use to drive around. Now, these rats aren’t just driving to work or the shopping mall. They need more incentive than that. Their objective: Froot Loops.

The ratmobiles were built using see-through food containers mounted onto motorized platforms. Each one is rigged up with copper bars that the rats press on to steer the cars left and right, or to drive forward towards the colorful breakfast cereal treat. As scientists placed Froot Loops around the floor, the rats gradually learned to navigate towards their targets.

It’s pretty cool that rats can drive cars now, but I won’t be truly impressed until they learn how to drive a stick shift.

[via NewScientist via CNet]

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