Jeff and Anthony have often discussed the brain's annoying propensity to latch on to erroneous conclusions by relating two disparate pieces of data, and a new article in FiveThirtyEight Science breaks down the "illusion of causality" and other problematic human tendencies even clearer. Why is the brain so determined to mislead itself? And what can we do to be less dumb? Get all your sweet We Have Concerns merch by swinging by http://wehaveconcerns.com/shop Hey! If you’re enjoying the show, pleas...
Oct 09, 2015•21 min•Ep. 192
When Phillip and Paula Dupont learned their dog Melvin was going to die, they decided to spend $100,000 at a South Korean lab to have him cloned. The process and results are both questionable, and lead Jeff and Anthony to label these people as the absolute worst. But, like, would YOU clone your dog if you could? 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 you u...
Oct 07, 2015•21 min•Ep. 191
A Russian scientist admits injecting himself with 3.5 million year old 'eternal life' bacteria, and reports working harder, with reviewed energy. Anthony and Jeff have serious reservations about this scientist's methodology, but are excited that there are still people in the world crazy enough to experiment on themselves. 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 ser...
Oct 05, 2015•21 min•Ep. 190
Anthony has become fascinated by British psychologist Elizabeth Stokoe's studies into how simple, subtle phrasing changes can have a huge impact on behavior. Just by substituting a single word here or there, people show a much different response. Jeff is fascinated by language, too, but worries Anthony will not use his newfound semantic powers for good. 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 t...
Oct 02, 2015•19 min•Ep. 189
A new study using eye-tracking software finds that chimps enjoy watching movies featuring humans dressed in ape costumes. Even more surprising, the primates are able to anticipate story turns based on previous viewings. Jeff and Anthony wonder if the eventual planet of the apes is going to look much like this one, with lazy monkeys binge-watching trashy television. Get all your sweet We Have Concerns merch by swinging by http://wehaveconcerns.com/shop Hey! If you’re enjoying the show, please tak...
Sep 30, 2015•19 min•Ep. 188
A Shaolin monk in China recently ran 125 meters across 200 thin planks of wood floating on the water, an incredibly difficult and unprecedented feat some have dubbed "running on water". He trained for 10 years to accomplish this task, which, let's be honest, doesn't even look particularly impressive on video. This gives Jeff and Anthony a chance to consider the application of one's life in pursuit of perfection - even obscure, meaningless perfection. Is it worth it? Get all your sweet We Have Co...
Sep 28, 2015•21 min•Ep. 187
While many people derided the ice bucket challenge that spread over social media in 2014 as "slacker activism", the truth is that the huge surge in funds from the campaign has been credited for a major new breakthrough in fighting ALS. Anthony and Jeff discuss the topic of social media campaigns, generosity, and the sad need for online communities to destroy nice things. Get all your sweet We Have Concerns merch by swinging by http://wehaveconcerns.com/shop Hey! If you’re enjoying the show, plea...
Sep 25, 2015•21 min•Ep. 186
Amateur cave explorers in South Africa's famous Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site recently made a remarkable discovery: exquisitely preserved remains of a previously unknown evolutionary human ancestor. This new species, dubbed Homo Naledi, has some very strange physical features, and the location of their remains raises even more intriguing questions. Jeff is thrilled and perplexed by the nature of the find, while Anthony is pretty sure they's aliens. Get all your sweet We Have Concerns m...
Sep 23, 2015•21 min•Ep. 185
Biomedical scientist Mark Roth believes that suspended animation is within reach. He is conducting experiments using Elemental Reducing Agents to slow down cells' oxygen burning, and predicts that in 40 years this procedure will be used to shut the body down when it otherwise might die, lik in the case of cardiac arrest. The only problem is that these ERAs come in the form of poisonous materials that could also kill and have earned him a visit from Homeland Security. Anthony and Jeff are excited...
Sep 21, 2015•23 min•Ep. 184
There is evidence to suggest that human beings may not have seen the color blue until modern times. No word for blue shows up in ancient texts, and no one seemed to describe things as "blue" until relatively recently in history. Jeff thinks this is fascinating, while Anthony discounts it as a quirk in linguistic record keeping. Can some colors be younger than others? We Have Concerns is entirely listener supported! To keep us ad-free and get early episodes/bonus content, check out our Patreon: h...
Sep 18, 2015•22 min•Ep. 183
A drone recently flew over the wall at the Mansfield Correctional Institution carrying drugs, cellphones, and other illicit paraphernalia, and landed in the prison yard, starting a riot. Jeff and Anthony wonder whose diabolical plan that was, and what the future holds for a world increasingly populated by flying drones. 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 your sw...
Sep 16, 2015•17 min•Ep. 182
In this special, double-length episode, Anthony and Jeff take topic suggestions directly from the crowd during their live panel at PAX 2015. Subjects include the animal stone age, snake fish, the singularity, Wrestlemania, and much more! This is a very different kind of episode you won't want to miss! This episode was recorded LIVE at PAX Prime 2015 in Seattle. Thanks to everyone who came out to the live performance! We Have Concerns is entirely listener supported! To keep us ad-free and get ear...
Sep 14, 2015•40 min•Ep. 181
Anthony has an irrational fear of octopi, the eight-armed denizens of the deep. And now, scientists have sequenced the octopus genome and discovered that their DNA is so different from any other creature on Earth that they could be qualified as "aliens". As you might imagine, this makes Anthony completely lose it. Listen, then, as Jeff attempts to hold the show together in front of a live audience. This episode was recorded LIVE at PAX Prime 2015 in Seattle. Thanks to everyone who came out to th...
Sep 11, 2015•18 min•Ep. 180
When given the option between raw and cooked food, chimpanzees seem to prefer the latter, even if it means delaying their gratification. This leads researchers to believe that if given the chance, Chimps would cook their food, as humans do. Jeff thinks this indicates an impressive level of cognitive understanding in the animals, but Anthony is unimpressed by anything that just wants better tasting stuff. This episode was recorded LIVE at PAX Prime 2015 in Seattle. Thanks to everyone who came out...
Sep 09, 2015•21 min•Ep. 179
To prove he lived in small village, an Irishman sent his friend a letter addressing it only "Your man Henderson, that boy with the glasses doing his PHD up in Belfast", which, against all odds, was actually delivered successfully. This leads Anthony and Jeff to talk about systems of organization, and the extraordinary ability of postal services to work throughout history. We Have Concerns is entirely listener supported! To keep us ad-free and get early episodes/bonus content, check out our Patre...
Sep 07, 2015•21 min•Ep. 178
The Bill Gates Foundation has funded research on an implantable remote-controlled contraceptive microchip that can last up to 16 years. Anthony and Jeff try to wrap their minds around the ramifications of a long-lasting birth control device that can be controlled by an app, and do their best to avoid putting their feet in their mouths about woman's issues. We Have Concerns is entirely listener supported! To keep us ad-free and get early episodes/bonus content, check out our Patreon: http://patre...
Sep 04, 2015•21 min•Ep. 177
A crow recently passed a remarkably complicated, eight stage intelligence test, which required it to perform a number of actions in a specific order to unlock a morsel of food. Jeff and Anthony are impressed by the problem-solving capabilities of the crow, and wonder what that means for the general cognitive ability of the animal kingdom. Also, are we gonna have to fight birds now? We Have Concerns is entirely listener supported! To keep us ad-free and get early episodes/bonus content, check out...
Sep 02, 2015•22 min•Ep. 176
An Australian designer by the name of Maximilian Kiener has created an interactive representation of the way we perceive our lifespan. The younger you are, the longer time feels, and the older you get, the quicker a year seems to fly by. In fact, this effect is so skewed that half of the time you perceive in your life is over by the time you are 7 years old. Jeff and Anthony discuss their experience with this phenomena, and decide which 7 year span they'd love to experience the longest. We Have ...
Aug 31, 2015•21 min•Ep. 175
A Japanese drinks company is sending 5 samples of whiskey up to the International Space Station to study the effects of zero gravity on the fermentation process. Anthony, Jeff, and special guest Brian Brushwood from Night Attack discuss the ramifications of Space Whiskey. Will there be unforeseen consequences? Interstellar drunkenness? Alcohol that returns to Earth with magic properties? This episode was recorded LIVE at Nerdtacular 2015 by the wonderful people at Alpha Geek Radio! Patrons get a...
Aug 26, 2015•20 min•Ep. 174
An article in the New York Times outlines a series of studies which seem to point to the fact that empathy is actually a choice. Is there a benefit to feel something for our fellow man, or could it possibly be an evolutionary drawback, limiting oor ability to make dispassionate decisions for the greatest good? Anthony and Jeff compare their own levels of empathy and try to decide what to feel. Will you be at PAX? HEY, SO WILL WE! Come watch us record a couple live episodes Saturday at 9:30 PM in...
Aug 24, 2015•24 min•Ep. 173
In this very special episode on We Have Concerns, we talk about the plight of an actual Brock: Brock Leads, a young man from the UK who was playing on a cliff when a disaster of cartoonish proportions struck. Are kids just naturally attracted to danger? Have you ever played "Box and Hill?" Will you be at PAX? HEY, SO WILL WE! Come watch us record a couple live episodes Saturday at 9:30 PM in the Chicken Theater. Full details on the PAX site! Follow us on Twitter! Anthony: @acarboni Jeff: @jeffca...
Aug 21, 2015•23 min•Ep. 172
Stephen Hawking has teamed up with a Russian tycoon to start a new search for extraterrestrial life. The cost? $100 million... and maybe the safety of our entire civilization? Whatever, we'll just build some moon tanks. Hey? Will you be at PAX? SO WILL WE! Come watch us record live episodes on Saturday 8/29 at 9:30 PM in the Chicken Theater ! Show your true nature to the world: pick up a "Team Dad Jokes" or "No Dad Jokes" shirt at our store! Today's story: Stephen Hawking announces $100 million ...
Aug 19, 2015•23 min•Ep. 171
An article on the very scientifically-titled "Healthy, Wild and Free" blog explains why wearing shoes in the house is potentially KILLING YOU. Anthony and Jeff discuss hygiene, etiquette and how bacteria gets a bad rap. This episode was recorded LIVE at Nerdtacular 2015 by the wonderful people at Alpha Geek Radio ! Patrons get a bonus recording of our Nerdtacular Q&A session! Check out our Patreon to listen to it as soon as it's live. WANNA SEE US LIVE? You totally can! We'll be at PAX Prime...
Aug 17, 2015•19 min•Ep. 170
Some newly declassified documents show that the US government knowingly sprayed all of San Francisco with a biological agent after World War II. How often does something like this happen? How many conspiracy theories are real? Are we more susceptible to paranoia than we believe we are? Thanks to Brock Wilbur for hanging out with us! Listen to the Brock Party Podcast! We have a bonus episode with Brock available right now for patrons! To listen to it, or to find out how to get bonus episodes and ...
Aug 14, 2015•20 min•Ep. 169
A research lab has apparently created a healthy seaweed superfood that tastes like bacon! ... Yeah, that sounds like total marketing speak to us, too. Anthony and Jeff discuss the whole concept of twisting marketing health and wellness to people and the science news community's tendency to jump on a catchy headline. 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...
Aug 12, 2015•22 min•Ep. 168
We talk a lot about whether we can trust robots, but can robots trust us? HitchBOT was a robot on a goodwill tour of the world, depending on the kindness of strangers to get from one end of a country to the other. After successful tours of Canada and various parts of Europe, it came to the US. We killed it. We killed it good. What does this say about the US? What about the future of AI? GET SOME WE HAVE CONCERNS SHIRTS: http://wehaveconcerns.com/shop Submit a story! Email wehaveconcernsshow@gmai...
Aug 10, 2015•19 min•Ep. 167
Presidential Candidate Zoltan Istvan is raising money to tour the country in a bus that looks like a coffin to promote the Transhumanism philosophy of immortality. Has there ever been a political stance more perfect for Anthony and Jeff? Use technology to defeat human frailty, force the public to confront their own mortality, and maybe even work some time in for Volcano Boarding. This is how you earn the We Have Concerns endorsement. We Have Concerns is entirely listener supported! To keep us ad...
Aug 07, 2015•22 min•Ep. 166
In this episode, recorded in front of a live audience at the NerdMelt Showroom in Los Angeles, Anthony and Jeff wrestle with their feelings after seeing the results of an experimental Chinese medial procedure. A factory worker in the Hunan province would have lost his hand after it was sliced off in an industrial accident - if not for the fact that surgeons re-attached it to his leg and allowed it to live there for a month while his wound healed enough for it to be grafted back onto his arm. It ...
Aug 05, 2015•22 min•Ep. 165
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 what makes for great communication. We Have Concerns is entirely listener supported! To keep us ad-free...
Aug 03, 2015•23 min•Ep. 164
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-free and get early episodes/bonus content, check out our Patreon: http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns...
Jul 31, 2015•24 min•Ep. 163
