A closer look
Rats display actual empathy and will actively choose to rescue their trapped companions over receiving a highly desirable chocolate treat. In controlled scientific experiments, rats learned how to open complex latches to free a distressed cage-mate, and when presented with the option to either save their friend or hoard all the candy for themselves, they almost always opted to free the other rat and share the snacks. They even demonstrated emotional contagion, showing visible signs of distress when they witnessed another rat suffering. It is a scathing indictment of modern society that literal sewer rodents possess a stronger sense of community support and wealth distribution than most corporate billionaires and politicians
