We Have Concerns

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?!

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?

A new virtual reality startup called Project Elysium aims to give Oculus Rift users the ability to have conversations with their deceased loved ones by recreating them digitally, using pictures, video, and data from their lives. Jeff and Anthony think this is the technological version of clairvoyant shysterism, but actually stumble upon some interesting use cases.

Whelp, it's happening. Scientists in China have begun genetically modifying human embryos. While these initial attempts to replace potentially fatal genes with new, safe, designer genes proved unsuccessful, the fact that Chinese researchers are even experimenting on human embryos has caused a stir in the scientific community. Jeff and Anthony debate whether humans should be playing god in this way, and consider the inevitable Lizard Babies that will result.

When his heart was replaced with a constant, flowing artificial pump in March of 2011, Craig Lewis became the first human ever to live without a pulse. Anthony is eager to disregard his biological heart for science's improvements - he'd do it in a heartbeat - but Jeff is worried that living life without a pulse might lead to strange existence out of rhythm.

Moore's Law states that every 2 years the number of transistors on a chip will double. But some scientists predict that in just 10 years, we will hit the upper limit of Moore's Law. Anthony and Jeff wonder what the will happen if we get to the end of the Law and suggest a few ways we might outsmart this presumptive limit.

A group of biohackers is working on a way to create cheese without ever using an animal. The idea is to take custom-fabricated snippets of DNA and insert them into yeast to fabricate truly vegan cheese. In fact, they don't even need to use DNA from a cow. They could end up making human cheese. Jeff and Anthony debate the merits of dairy without the cow, and decide what kind of cheese they'd like their DNA to make.

No one had ever observed geckos exhibiting behavior that could be described as "play". That is, until the reptiles were jettisoned into space in an unmanned Russian rocket. One of their collars dislodged in zero gravity, and the geckos onboard began to bat it around in improvised games. If such stoic, all-business creatures can discover fun in space, Anthony and Jeff wonder what other effects traveling into the stars might have on us.

A new study pinpoints the geographic locations where the longest-living humans are most concentrated. Analysis of these "Blue Zones" reveals the kinds of activities and diet that contribute to longevity. Jeff and Anthony discuss the pros and cons of living healthy, as well as a side-plan to eliminate dark magic from the earth.

The Lujan Zoo outside of Buenos Aires has been dubbed the "World's Most Dangerous Zoo" because it allows visitors to cuddle, fondle, and feed lions, tigers, and bears. But when Anthony and Jeff hear about these practices, all they see are the inhumane and disgusting manner in which the animals are treated to ensure they remain in a state of lethargic docility. Are humans really this insecure about their place on the food chain? Oh, and what jungle cat is best to ride to school?

A new study at USC shows evidence that men who are going bald may actually be able to stimulate their dormant follicles by violently plucking out the remaining hairs that do grow. This counter-intuitive solution was reached by ripping out fur in healthy mice, which leads Jeff and Anthony to wonder how far we as humans will go to regrow our hair, and what kind of doctor even thinks to try this.

Anthony and Jeff learn about the affliction known as Exploding Head Syndrome, which, it turns out, is a really misleading name. It leads them to discuss sleep, inner voices, and the peace attained from a quiet mind. Oh, and alien probes. Somehow they also get to alien probes.

An octopus at the Sea Life Aquarium in New Zealand has been trained to take photos. When visitors stand in front of his tank, Rambo the octopus reaches inside the casing of the underwater camera and presses the button, capturing the image of his "guests". Anthony reveals his long-held hatred of all cephalopods and fear that they will someday live in trees, while Jeff wonders how one trains an octopus, anyway.

A 30-year-old Russian man Valery Spiridonov has volunteered to become the world's first head transplant. His terrible, degenerative spinal disease has forced him to resort to drastic actions, but some scientists are worried that the resulting neural confusion of a human head transplant may actually be worse than death. Jeff and Anthony wonder what kind of doctor would try such a thing, and consider the ramifications.

A new biotech startup aims to have synthetic, bioprinted eyeballs on the market by 2027. These could not only solve vision problems, but actually upgrade the eye to apply filters or even record video. Jeff, Anthony, and special guest Trisha Hershberger debate whether cool new functions are worth giving up your natural born eyes.