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324 - The Mouse Utopia Experiments

Timesuck with Dan Cummins

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Calhoun's Rat City

John Calhoun would spend eight years perfecting his rat enclosures. The research area was divided into three parts in the center section. Each chamber was equipped similarly with a food hopper, water, nesting areas accessible by spiral staircases. After loading his initial rats, things quickly would go awry. Less dominant male rats will typically awaken earlier and begin to wander and forge for food. But due to the design of the pen, this meant that they would usually wind up in the center chambers to eat. And even more confusingly, these dominant males would not resist their attempts. To the point that the rats then refused to eat when other rats were no longer present.

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