We Have Concerns

New research by an archaeologist at the University of York suggests that betrayals of trust were the missing link in understanding the rapid spread of our own species around the world. Jeff and Anthony discuss whether the dark side of human nature might be as useful as the light. Get all your sweet We Have Concerns merch by swinging by http://wehaveconcerns.com/shop Hey! If you’re enjoying the sho...

An astrophysicist by the name of Matt Ginsberg believes he will revolutionize the way we will watch sports. He is patenting technology that will predict and display the results of a basketball shot the instant it leaves the shooter's hand by calculating the trajectory of the ball in real time. Jeff and Anthony discuss the merits of data against the notion of knowing too much. Get all your sweet We...

Biologists at Tufts University have succeeded in inducing one species of flatworm to grow heads and brains characteristic of another species of flatworm without altering genomic sequence. The discovery could help improve understanding of birth defects and regeneration by revealing a new pathway for controlling complex pattern formation. Jeff and Anthony imagine a world with new, programmable heads...

Scientists from James Cook University’s Singapore campus have published a study which seems to suggest that modern technology is affecting perception of time. Individuals who use smart phones and tablets report a swifter passage of time than those in analog information streams. Jeff and Anthony have their doubts about the conclusions of this study, but spend much of their time-discussion trying to...

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have passed the US Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act, a measure that lets US companies own any non-organic resources they harvest from asteroids and other space objects. Now that space mining is officially legal, Anthony and Jeff discuss the ramifications, and plan their new lives as Space Pirates. Get all your sweet We Have Concerns merch...

Scientists have created a kind of cyborg flower: living roses with tiny electronic circuits threaded through their vascular systems. Jeff and Anthony discuss the idea of robot plants, and whether that might be a good thing or a bad thing. Get all your sweet We Have Concerns merch by swinging by http://wehaveconcerns.com/shop Hey! If you’re enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it...

Previously, on We Have Concerns, Jeff and Anthony pitched the idea of a Jetpack Rescue Squad - a group of first-responders equipped with personal propulsion devices. In fact, you can buy a shirt emblazoned with the Jetpack Rescue Squad emblem, directly from the We Have Concerns store! Now the guys discover that this idea has gone IRL. The Dubai Civil Defense is investing in 20 jetpacks to be able...

This double-length episode was recorded back in August of 2015, and was originally released as a Patron-only bonus episode. In it, special guest Brock Wilbur relates his experience volunteering at Planned Parenthood. In light of the recent attack in Colorado, Anthony and Jeff felt that more people should hear Brock's story. Brock is a stand-up comedian whose album can be found here: http://brockwi...

Researchers at the University of Oulu in Finland have developed an algorithm that can detect micro-expressions imperceptible to the human eye, which can reveal emotions that usually remain hidden. Jeff and Anthony wonder if this might be the end of duplicity, and what that might mean for society. Get all your sweet We Have Concerns merch by swinging by http://wehaveconcerns.com/shop Hey! If you’re...

Jeff and Anthony love swimming, but now they are faced with a report from the CDC, who has teamed up with the Water Quality and Health Council and the National Swimming Pool Foundation for their annual Healthy Swimming Program. They’re seeking to educate Americans about the many possible dangers of pools, but the results are horrifying on every level. Swim (and listen) at your own risk. Get all yo...

Anthony is full on freaked out after reading a story about dactylolysis spontanea, or human auto-amputation. This is a real thing that happens when the body decided to remove an appendage - most often the little toe - completely on its own. The worst part is that no one knows why it happens or how to treat it. Jeff tries to console him, but the whole ordeal threatens to ruin Christmas. Get all you...

According to a job posting on their website, NASA is looking to hire a referee for their flag football league. This begs the question: NASA has a flag football league? Jeff and Anthony consider what working as a ref for the world's largest aerospace organization might be like. Get all your sweet We Have Concerns merch by swinging by http://wehaveconcerns.com/shop Hey! If you’re enjoying the show,...

Scientists from the University of Oxford and Aalto University, Finland, have created “body maps” that show where we feel most uncomfortable getting touched by different people. Jeff and Anthony discuss where they feel most comfortable being touched, and why different parts of the body are off limits. Get all your sweet We Have Concerns merch by swinging by http://wehaveconcerns.com/shop Hey! If yo...

Cotard's Syndrome is a rare neurological illness that makes you believe, beyond any rational analysis, that you are dead. Jeff and Anthony discuss a recent case of this disease as well as its history in an effort to get to the bottom of what it means, and how it might manifest. Also, Anthony thinks he might already have it. Get all your sweet We Have Concerns merch by swinging by http://wehaveconc...

In a recent TED Talk, neuroscientist Sandrine Thuret explains how our brains can grow new brain cells through neurogenesis. The more active neurogenesis is for you, the more likely you’ll have a better mood, increased memory formation, and be able to fight off the decline associated with aging. And the top three things you can do to improve neurogenesis? Learn new things, have sex, and, you guesse...

Most people think otters are cute and cuddly creatures of the sea, but a new story on Vox reveals them to be violent, aggressive animals that engage in behaviors that may put their cuteness in doubt. Jeff and Anthony leap right into the center of the raging otter debate. They ain't scared! Get all your sweet We Have Concerns merch by swinging by http://wehaveconcerns.com/shop Hey! If you’re enjoyi...

A team of engineers from the Universities of Sussex and Bristol built a sonic tractor beam that uses sound waves to remotely manipulate objects. They can create three different shapes of acoustic force fields and use sound waves to wield tiny objects in the air. Anthony an Jeff are excited about the idea of force fields made out of sound, and discuss all the ways they would be able to use this to...

A man failed a paternity test only to discover that his unborn twin is the biological father of his son. The explanation? He's actually a living chimera, the fusion of two separate people, living as one. Jeff and Anthony unpack this story and try to figure out how and why this kind of thing could happen, and what it means for everyone involved. Get all your sweet We Have Concerns merch by swinging...

A company called Clear Foods, which purports to "use genomic technology to analyze the world's foods at a molecular level, ingredient by ingredient," released a report recently that found human DNA in 2% of hot dogs and 2/3rds of vegetarian dogs. Jeff wants to know if this alarms Anthony, or if it was just a foregone conclusion that a little bit of people gets into every delicious thing....

A new study published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience claims that disabling certain areas of the brain with transcranial magnetic stimulation can reduce a person's belief in God and negativity toward immigrants. This is obviously pretty controversial, and Anthony and Jeff have some controversial opinions about it. Hold on to your hats and try not to get offended. Get all...

One of the world's deadliest spiders - the funnel-web spider is native to Australia. No surprise to Anthony and Jeff, who have been chronicling the various ways Australia is dangerous for a while now. What is surprising, is the Australia has tasked ordinary citizens with capturing these terrifying creatures and bringing them - alive - to spider repositories. Have fun, Australia! Get all your sweet...

UPDATE: This story is actually FAKE. We were duped. :( A team of Japanese engineers has designed an adorable robotic bear to aid in assisted suicide. Capable of 23 different methods to end a life, including hands that are powerful enough to crush human bone, the SeppuKuma is an all-in-one suicide solution. Special guest Adam Sessler joins Anthony and Jeff to talk about the concept of gentle-lookin...

Several amateur astronomers, gazing at data from the Kepler telescope, discovered an odd flickering from one particular star, usually caused by objects in space passing in front of it. But that usually means the star is very young, and this one is not. In fact, the phenomenon is so strange in this case, that some scientists are considering some wild theories to explain it. Could we be witnessing a...

Bioengineers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have developed a mathematical algorithm that can "see" your intention while performing an ordinary action like reaching for a cup or driving straight up a road -- even if the action is interrupted. The idea is to use this algorithm to design machines that could correct the course of a swerving car or help a stroke patient with spastic...

A new study find that people who like bitter foods are more likely to display psychopathic tendencies. Since Anthony loves his coffee black, this leads to some awkward moments as Jeff tries to survive another episode. Get all your sweet We Have Concerns merch by swinging by http://wehaveconcerns.com/shop Hey! If you’re enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service y...