We Have Concerns

The Australian Gympie-Gympie plant is the one of the most painfully poisonous in the world. People who have just rubbed up against it have gone mad with pain and tried to shoot off their own appendages with guns. So, like... Would you touch it? Maybe... Maybe we should touch it. Join us for a live video hangout on Thursday, January 29th at 5 PM PT! We can all just hang and talk and stuff. It'll be nice. Details:  http://hangout.wehaveconcerns.com Hey! If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here's the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns And here's the Stitcher link:  http://bit.ly/stitcherwhc Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Today's story was submitted by Josh Thibodeau:  http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2009/06/gympie-gympie-once-stung,-never-forgotten/ If you've seen a story you think belongs on the show, send it to  wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com or leave it on the subreddit:  http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcernsJeff on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcannata.bsky.socialAnthony on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/acarboni.bsky.social

A 23 year-old man has been experiencing constant deja vu for seven years. What would it be like to have the feeling that everything you experienced has happened before? Powerful? Boring? Maddening? Powerful? Boring? Maddening? (see what I did there?) We have a live video hangout coming up on the 29th! If you'd like to come chat with us, you can get the details at  http://hangout.wehaveconcerns.com Hey! If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here's the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns And here's the Stitcher link:  http://bit.ly/stitcherwhc Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Today's story was sent in by Zackie! Thanks, Zackie!  http://www.livescience.com/49212-deja-vu-all-over-again-man-trapped-time-loop.html If you'd like to submit a story, send to  wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com or add it to the subreddit at  http://wehaveconcerns.reddit.com Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcernsJeff on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcannata.bsky.socialAnthony on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/acarboni.bsky.social

A new study finds that men who interact with women during the fertile period of their menstrual cycle tend to be more creative with their grammar. Anthony is impressed that human "peacocking" extends into speech patterns, while Jeff is just amazed that men can pick up on when women are most fertile. This show is entirely listener supported. To find out how to help AND get early episodes and bonus content, head to  http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns Hey! If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. iTunes:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns - Stitcher:  http://bit.ly/stitcherwhc Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Today's Story:  http://theconversation.com/men-get-creative-with-grammar-when-they-want-to-impress-fertile-women-5279 Today's story was sent in by YSSMAN via the subreddit Send in your story suggestions to  wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com Subreddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/WeHaveConcerns/ Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcernsJeff on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcannata.bsky.socialAnthony on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/acarboni.bsky.social

Anthony found an article outlining the evidence that Earth is headed for its 6th great extinction event.  Animals going extinct, global food tables imbalanced, resource scarcity, all lead up to a massive, worldwide catastrophe.  He proceeds to use these facts to completely bum Jeff out.  Listen as the show decends into total depression. This show is entirely listener supported! Get early episodes, extra content and join monthly video hangouts with us by heading to  http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns Hey! If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here's the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Today's story: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/dec/14/earth-faces-sixth-great-extinction-with-41-of-amphibians-set-to-go-the-way-of-the-dodo Today's story was submitted via the subreddit. Submit a story:  wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com Subreddit:  http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcernsJeff on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcannata.bsky.socialAnthony on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/acarboni.bsky.social

A group of researchers studying the effects of alcohol on speech decided to get some birds drunk.  They divided a group of zebra finches - birds that learn and produce sounds similar to humans - into two groups.  One sipped pure juice and the other a mixture of ethanol and juice.  The results may shock you.  Or not.  Jeff and Anthony wonder how a group of researchers can spend grant money intoxicating birds, and why the fact that they slur their tweets is news to anyone. This show is entirely listener supported! Get early episodes, extra content and join monthly video hangouts with us by heading to  http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns Hey! If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here's the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Today's story: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2014/12/31/drunken-birds-slur-songs/#.VLzEhUfF98G Today's story was submitted by rkirsmcneely Submit a story:  wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com Subreddit:  http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcernsJeff on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcannata.bsky.socialAnthony on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/acarboni.bsky.social

A review led by a brain scientist at MIT found growing evidence that brain scans can predict future behaviors.  If, one day, we are able to simply scan our brains to determine what kinds of activities we are more inclined to excel at, or problems we may encounter, will that lead to a healthier, more adaptive populace, or one shackled to in-born tendencies?  Anthony and Jeff wrestle with that question, and try to predict what their own brain scans might indicate. This show is entirely listener supported! Get early episodes, extra content and join monthly video hangouts with us by heading to  http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns Hey! If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here's the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Today's story:  http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/01/07/375589387/brain-scans-may-help-predict-future-problems-and-solutions Today's story was submitted by seekmystery in the Subreddit! Submit a story:  wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com Subreddit:  http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcernsJeff on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcannata.bsky.socialAnthony on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/acarboni.bsky.social

NASA is conducting a study about the long-term effects of weightlessness by asking applicants to stay completely horizontal for 70 days.  In exchange for staying in bed and never standing up up, even to use the restroom or shower, NASA will pay test subjects $18,000, which works out to $1,200 per week or $257 per day.  Anthony and Jeff wonder if they could stand it, and why NASA is holding out on horizontal showering technology for everyone. This show is entirely listener supported! Get early episodes, extra content and join monthly video hangouts with us by heading to  http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns Hey! If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here's the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Today's story: http://uk.businessinsider.com/nasa-will-pays-you-to-lie-in-bed-2013-9 Today's story was submitted by Morgan Nixon.  Thanks, Morgan! Submit a story:  wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com Subreddit:  http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcernsJeff on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcannata.bsky.socialAnthony on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/acarboni.bsky.social

A court in Argentina just upheld an animal rights group's request to have an orangutan appear in a court, saying it's illegal to hold 'non-human persons' in cages. Whoops, apes are people now. So is this a good thing? How smart are animals? What sort of rights should they have? Also: what kind of animal skin makes the best sneakers? This show is entirely listener supported! Get early episodes, extra content and join monthly video hangouts with us by heading to  http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns Hey! If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here's the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Today's story:  http://www.vice.com/read/did-argentina-just-open-the-door-to-personhood-for-apes-1229 Submit a story:  wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com Subreddit:  http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcernsJeff on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcannata.bsky.socialAnthony on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/acarboni.bsky.social

In order to find a way to stop bedbugs, Regine Gries allowed herself to be bitten by them 180,000 times over a period of five years. Also, did you know that there's billionaire dinosaur porn? That's unrelated, but it doesn't mean we're not going to talk about it for 10 minutes or whatever. Hey! If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here's the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Today's story:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/12/141224103113.htm To submit a story:  wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com or  http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcernsJeff on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcannata.bsky.socialAnthony on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/acarboni.bsky.social

What makes you you? Is the self somewhere in the body or the brain? If you downloaded your brain into a new body, would it be you? ANSWER ME (whatever 'me' is) Hey! If you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here's the iTunes link:  http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/acarboni Today's story was sent in on Twitter and I can't find the guy who sent it. Sorry:  http://waitbutwhy.com/2014/12/what-makes-you-you.html  To submit a story:  wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com or  http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcer Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcernsJeff on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcannata.bsky.socialAnthony on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/acarboni.bsky.social