We Have Concerns

Sonja Lang has created the world's smallest functional language. Her creation, Toki Pona, contains only 123 total words, and holds simplicity as its highest ideal. Jeff is enamored by language and charmed by the idea of designing one from scratch to fulfill a specific aesthetic, while Anthony is frustrated by the lack of nuance and potential for confusion. Together, they attempt to communicate wha...

For the last ten years, a man in the UK has been waking up every day thinking it is March 14th 2005, the day he was scheduled to receive a root canal. Anthony and Jeff think this sounds like something out of a romantic comedy, but stop to consider what it might actually be like for the man and his family. Could it ever be a good thing? We Have Concerns is entirely listener supported! To keep us ad...

A hotel has opened in Japan that is staffed almost entirely by robots. While this does seem like a cheap gimmick to Anthony and Jeff, they are still intrigued by the idea, and imagine what staying in such a place must be like. We Have Concerns is entirely listener supported! To keep us ad-free and get early episodes/bonus content, check out our Patreon: http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns Get all yo...

A company in the Netherlands is teaming up with the city of Rotterdam to introduce pre-fab roads made from recycled plastics, which will eliminate the harmful emissions that result from asphalt, and allow for simple installation and removal. Jeff and Anthony, of course, can't help but think of Lego bricks, and wonder what other problems giant toys could solve. We Have Concerns is entirely listener...

Scientists have linked together the brains of monkeys to collectively control the movements of an artificial arm, proving that connected brains can cooperate to solve problems. Further, a separate study linked brains of rats together to combine isolated data, effectively creating one larger, more capable super-brain. Jeff and Anthony certainly don't see any issues with the beginning of rat super-b...

A new paper, published in the Journal of Sensory Studies, attempts to categorize different kinds of picky eaters, in an effort to help parents better deal with their kids at mealtime. Jeff and Anthony take a look at the various categories and confess which flavor of persnickety snacker they were... and still may be. We Have Concerns is entirely listener supported! To keep us ad-free and get early...

Monarch butterflies make an incredible, multi-generational migration from Canada to Mexico, but, strangely, they do not take the the most direct route. Somewhere over Lake Superior, these butterflies always change direction drastically, as if avoiding something. New research suggests that there was once a mountain range in the exact position of the course correction, and every generation of monarc...

A new study that claims smart phone users are becoming addicted to their devices has garnered alarming headlines like "iPhones Cause Separation Anxiety". But digging a little deeper, Anthony and Jeff discover that the experiments used to gather the data seem questionable at best. Why are these headlines so irresistible, and why are there researchers so eager to supply such misleading res...

In their continuing quest to explore the most terrifying creatures on the planet, Jeff and Anthony take a look at the Tarantula Hawk - a wasp with a sting categorized as among the most painful in the known world. This is an creature that hunts tarantulas! The guys discuss their perverse desire to understand what it must be like to be stung by this horrible insect. We Have Concerns is entirely list...

Why is it so hard to take our own advice? A new article breaks down the phenomenon, and suggests some reasons as to why it may be the case. Anthony and Jeff relate to being able to give great advice, but unable to actually follow it, and remember times when they should have practiced what they preached. We Have Concerns is entirely listener supported! To keep us ad-free and get early episodes/bonu...

New, wireless earbuds on Kickstarter promise to personalize live audio by masking out unwanted noises and equalizing sounds in the world around you in real time. Anthony and Jeff are skeptical about how well this particular product will actually work, but look forward to a future in which your senses are curated and managed by technology. We Have Concerns is entirely listener supported! To keep us...

A company called MX3D has developed a new 3D printer that can print using molten steel. To prove the capability of their invention, they plan to print a fully functional cantilevered bridge in Amsterdam. Jeff and Anthony imagine a fully 3D printed future where anything is printable and raw materials are the only currency. Nothing can go wrong with that, right? We Have Concerns is entirely listener...

New bionic implant has been developed that can replace the human eye lens. If approved, the surgery would take only 8 mins and give the recipients 3x 20/20 vision, forever. Anthony and Jeff are excited about the prospects of superhuman vision in such a short time, and dare each other to sign up for the clinical trials. We Have Concerns is entirely listener supported! To keep us ad-free and get ear...

New research indicates that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder may be linked to a physical swelling in the brain. This leads scientists to believe that by preventing this swelling, they may be able to not only treat PTSD, but actually immunize against fear itself. Jeff and Anthony imagine a world without fear, and wonder what they'd do if they could prevent their own anxieties. We Have Concerns is ent...

Back in 1999, Sony released a robot dog called Aibo. Now, 15 years later, these toys have started to break down, and Sony has ceased repairing them or manufacturing new models. This has caused the few people who still use and care for these little robotic companions to come to terms with the loss of a wholly inorganic member of their families. Jeff and Anthony discuss whether man-made friends can...

In an effort to create a more accurate image recognition system, researchers have been training Google's neural network to pick out objects obscured by denser and denser layers of optical noise. But by feeding the AI the other direction - giving it nothing but noise and asking it to pick out images - they've discovered a surreal and dreamlike quality in the network that is both beautiful and haunt...

As a way to raise funds, some US prisons are offering visitors a way to eat what inmates eat. This experience promises to be the "worst meal of your life" and yet still been successful in attracting curious diners in at least two locations. Anthony shares his experience with jail food, and Jeff wonders what kind of person thinks this is a good idea. We Have Concerns is entirely listener...

For the first time, scientists have managed to grow an arm in a lab. This rat forelimb seems to be functional and able to circulate blood, giving hope that one day we will be able to grow usable replacement limbs for amputees. Anthony and Jeff are excited about the possibilities, but wonder about the fate of the rats on whom these new arms were tested. Also, Anthony reveals his darkest physical se...

A London borough has decided to get to start DNA testing abandoned dog droppings and delivering retroactive tickets to the irresponsible owners. Anthony, Jeff, and special guest Greg Miller from Kinda Funny Vids discuss the ethics of cleaning up after your pet, and the ramifications of a DNA-empowered poop task force. Thanks to Greg Miller for joining us! Visit his website here: http://www.kindafu...

A new review of scientific literature finds that there is no evidence that eating the afterbirth is good for the mother. It could even be harmful. Which leads Anthony and Jeff to weigh the pros and cons of ingesting placenta, and wondering how this practice has become so common. We Have Concerns is entirely listener supported! To keep us ad-free and get early episodes/bonus content, check out our...

The de-extinction movement is in full swing, which leads some scientists to consider reconstructing the DNA of Neanderthals. Could that be possible? And what would a prehistoric humanoid be like in the modern world. Anthony and Jeff consider the possible ramifications. We Have Concerns is entirely listener supported! To keep us ad-free and get early episodes/bonus content, check out our Patreon: h...

Dean Karnazes has a rare physiological condition that allows him to process lactic acid more efficiently than other humans and effectively run forever. His list of running accomplishments is truly super human. Jeff and Anthony differ on their opinion of whether running is worthwhile, but both of them imagine what they might do if they could replicate Dean's unique attributes. We Have Concerns is e...

Scientists have discovered that getting spiders to ingest carbon nanotubes will cause them to weave spider silk that is even stronger than their naturally strong tensile strands. This leads Anthony and Jeff to imagine all kinds of potential uses for this amazing new by-product. There is only one problem: how do you harvest spider silk? We Have Concerns is entirely listener supported! To keep us ad...

Scientists now believe that they have isolated the specific parts of DNA that cause aging in humans. Which leads Anthony and Jeff to think, if they've isolated them, perhaps they can eliminate them... And if they can eliminate them, can't we all live forever? And, like, if we can live forever... what would that mean?! We Have Concerns is entirely listener supported! To keep us ad-free and get earl...

A London-based company has developed highly articulated robotic hands, and has decided to use the technology to create an in-home product: stand-alone arms that will cook gourmet meals. Jeff and Anthony marvel at the innovation, but wonder if chef hands is really the most impressive use of the technology. Like, what about a tiny Ralph Macchio? We Have Concerns is entirely listener supported! To ke...