We Have Concerns

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.

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 to respond to emergencies quicker and more efficiently. Jeff is thrilled, but Anthony has his doubts.

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://brockwilbur.net/album/nightmare-fuel

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 guessed it, run for exercise! Jeff is perhaps too excited to discover this news. Listen as he lords it over Anthony.

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!

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 crush their enemies.

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.

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.