They wear cute little backpacks stuffed with electronics and batteries, and will, quite literally, run, jump or turn at the flick of a switch. The news that American scientists, funded by the Pentagon, have discovered how to turn living rats into radio-controlled machines that move to order will amuse some and horrify many (see Say hello to the RoboRat). Expect a rash of speculation about whether dogs, cats and budgerigars could be next, and whether we are now on some terrible slippery slope that will end up with radio-controlled brain implants being used to control young offenders.
But the…
