You’ve probably heard the myth that goldfish have only a three-second memory—but in a recent Israeli experiment, a group of them learned to operate a small vehicle, proving how intelligent they actually are. Researchers built a “fish-operated vehicle” (FOV), a tank on wheels that can record a fish’s movement and steer in that direction. Then six goldfish were taught to “drive” to a target. When they reached it successfully, they received a food reward. After a few days, the fish could navigate past obstacles and elude efforts to trick them. Scientists say this experiment highlights how important navigational skills are for animals and is further evidence of how quickly fish adapt to their surroundings. Says study author Shachar Givon: “It shows that goldfish have the cognitive ability to learn a complex task in an environment completely unlike the one they evolved in.”