We Have Concerns

A new study finds that the human body does not age at a constant rate throughout adulthood. Instead, it accelerates dramatically around ages 44 and 60. Jeff and Anthony discuss the findings while trying not to admit how old they feel.For bonus content, check out our Patreon! patreon.com/wehaveconcernsHey! If you’re enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen.Link to this week's story: https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/aug/14/scientists-find-humans-age-dramatically-in-two-bursts-at-44-then-60-aging-not-slow-and-steadyHere’s the iTunes link: http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns And here’s the Stitcher link: http://bit.ly/stitcherwhconcernsJeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannataAnthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboniIf 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

More and more research points to the fact that the microbiome in our gut contributes sigificantly to both our phsyical and mental health. But what defines this microbiome? New analysis of nearly 2,000 people living in remote villages in Honduras has shown that friend groups have nearly as much impact as spouses or co-habitators. Jeff and Anthony discuss sharing gut health with their friends, and what this research might mean for cocktail parties in the future.This week's story: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/your-friends-shape-your-microbiome-and-so-do-their-friends/Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcernsIf you’ve seen a story you think belongs on the show, share it on the Discord, send it to wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com or leave it on the subreddit: http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns

Contrary to previous assumption, a new study shows that bat-like echolocation is a skill that can be learned by both blind and sighted practitioners in as little as 10 weeks. Anthony and Jeff discuss the ramifications of this discovery, and what it means about practice and neural plasticity. Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcernsJeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannataAnthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboniIf you’ve seen a story you think belongs on the show, share it on the Discord, send it to wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com or leave it on the subreddit: http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns

A new study used varying levels of hot sauce to test whether the expectation of spice and discomfort impacted the actual experience. Jeff and Anthony discuss how our brains deal with expectation - and also the way this study was conducted. With, um, squirt tubes.https://www.newscientist.com/article/2450955-hot-sauce-taste-test-reveals-how-expectations-shape-pleasure-and-pain/Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcernsJeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannataAnthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboniIf you’ve seen a story you think belongs on the show, share it on the Discord, send it to wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com or leave it on the subreddit: http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns

In the 19th century, Scottish scammer Gregor MacGregor made a fortune selling land in Poyais. The only problem? Poyais never existed. Jeff and Anthony step through the history of this nortious fraudster, and try to resist parallels to modern American liars.Link to this week's article: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/gregor-macgregor-map-of-poyaisSupport the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcernsJeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannataAnthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboniIf you’ve seen a story you think belongs on the show, share it on the Discord, send it to wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com or leave it on the subreddit: http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns

The sport of Slap Fighting has taken the Internet by storm over the last year. But would you believe: it is stupid and dangerous? I KNOW. Jeff and Anthony discuss a new study that says the very good and smart sport is causing intense and permanent damage to its participants.Video Analysis of Concussion Among Slap Fighting Athletes: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2823891Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcernsJeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannataAnthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboniIf you’ve seen a story you think belongs on the show, share it on the Discord, send it to wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com or leave it on the subreddit: http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns

When you see food that is colored blue, what flavor do you expect it to be? As the rarest color in plants and animals, blue might be the strangest color to eat. Jeff and Anthony dig into the unusual history of blue food to  uncover the allure of azure.Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcernsJeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannataAnthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboniIf you’ve seen a story you think belongs on the show, share it on the Discord, send it to wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com or leave it on the subreddit: http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns

Among rural communities in the 18th and 19th centuries, it was taken as fact that a thunderstorm would turn milk sour. Jeff and Anthony look at the journey of scientific discovery around such a strange myth, and what it tell us about how long it takes to dispel misinformation, even in the modern age.For bonus content, check out our Patreon! patreon.com/wehaveconcernsHey! If you’re enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen.Link to this week's story: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/can-thunderstorms-spoil-milkTunes link: http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns And here’s the Stitcher link: http://bit.ly/stitcherwhconcernsJeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannataAnthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboniIf 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

It's time to celebrate the strangest, silliest, and most weirdly useful science of the last year! The Ig Nobel Prizes are back, and we're going to cover this year's winners.Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcernsJeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannataAnthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboniIf you’ve seen a story you think belongs on the show, share it on the Discord, send it to wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com or leave it on the subreddit: http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns

For bonus content, check out our Patreon! patreon.com/wehaveconcernsHey! If you’re enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen.Link to this week's story: https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/24/world/thomas-midgley-jr-leaded-gas-freon-scn/index.htmlHere’s the iTunes link: http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns And here’s the Stitcher link: http://bit.ly/stitcherwhconcernsJeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannataAnthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboniIf 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

Researchers in the Arctic are experimenting with drastic plans to geoengineer away the damaging effects of climate change. Jeff and Anthony look at one method, inspired by Dutch Ice Masters. Then, they discuss efforts from the Alameda city council to shut down geoengineering off the coast of California. Which is the best way forward?For bonus content, check out our Patreon! patreon.com/wehaveconcernsHey! If you’re enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen.Link to this week's story: https://futurism.com/the-byte/scientists-refreeze-arcticHere’s the iTunes link: http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns And here’s the Stitcher link: http://bit.ly/stitcherwhconcernsJeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannataAnthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboniIf 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

When birds collide with airplanes, their remains are sent to a special lab in Washington, DC. There, an elite team of avian detectives works to identify the exact type of bird to help prevent future catastrophes. Jeff and Anthony discuss the science behind the role of forensic ornithologist.For bonus content, check out our Patreon! patreon.com/wehaveconcernsHey! If you’re enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen.Link to this week's story: https://www.washingtonian.com/2024/07/03/meet-the-smithsonian-bird-detectives-saving-lives/Here’s the iTunes link: http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns And here’s the Stitcher link: http://bit.ly/stitcherwhconcernsJeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannataAnthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboniIf 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

A new study shows that some insomniacs who claim to have been up through the night have actually been sleeping. What is going on in their brains? Anthony and Jeff take a look at the data and discuss how even our perception of our own sleep my be warped.For bonus content, check out our Patreon! patreon.com/wehaveconcernsHey! If you’re enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen.Link to this week's story: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/some-people-with-insomnia-think-theyre-awake-when-theyre-asleep/Here’s the iTunes link: http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns And here’s the Stitcher link: http://bit.ly/stitcherwhconcernsJeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannataAnthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboniIf 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

For bonus content, check out our Patreon! patreon.com/wehaveconcernsHey! If you’re enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen.Link to this week's story:  Here’s the iTunes link: http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns And here’s the Stitcher link: http://bit.ly/stitcherwhconcernsJeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannataAnthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboniIf 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

By analyzing the brain waves of improvising jazz musicians, researchers now understand how the brain achieves a creative flow state. The findings have practical implications for anyone wanting to get ‘in the zone’ to generate creative ideas. Jeff and Anthony go with the flow and discuss how and when they are able to achieve this state of heightened performance.For bonus content, check out our Patreon! patreon.com/wehaveconcernsHey! If you’re enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen.Link to this week's story: https://newatlas.com/medical/brain-activity-creative-flow-state/Here’s the iTunes link: http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns And here’s the Stitcher link: http://bit.ly/stitcherwhconcernsJeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannataAnthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboniIf 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

Two stories this week, both involving kids who get more than they bargained for. In the first, a toddler is certain she hears a monster in the walls of her family's 100 year old North Carolina farmhouse. In a way, she was right. And in the second, a 9 year old boy pines for a pet he shouldn't, and his parents find out the hard way why they shouldn't have given in.For bonus content, check out our Patreon! patreon.com/wehaveconcernsHey! If you’re enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen.Link to this week's stories: https://amp.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/30/north-carolina-bees-house-wallhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/family-accidentally-ends-up-with-50-baby-octopuses-after-their-pet-thought-to-be-male-laid-dozens-of-eggs-180984170/Here’s the iTunes link: http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns And here’s the Stitcher link: http://bit.ly/stitcherwhconcernsJeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannataAnthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboniI

No two human fingerprints are alike. Even different fingers from the same person are unique. But new research from Columbia University using an applied neural network suggests there may be a new way to link intra-person fingerprints with a high degree of accuracy. Jeff and Anthony take a look at fingerprinting analysis and discuss the use of machine learning to innovate in ways humans cannot.For bonus content, check out our Patreon! patreon.com/wehaveconcernsHey! If you’re enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen.Link to this week's story:  https://www.sciencealert.com/groundbreaking-study-reveals-your-fingerprints-arent-as-unique-as-we-thoughtHere’s the iTunes link: http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns And here’s the Stitcher link: http://bit.ly/stitcherwhconcernsJeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannataAnthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboniIf you've seen a story you think belongs on the show, send it to wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com or leave it on

For bonus content, check out our Patreon! patreon.com/wehaveconcernsHey! If you’re enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen.Link to this week's story: https://www.npr.org/2024/04/10/1243939166/lunchables-consumer-reports-school-lunchHere’s the iTunes link: http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns And here’s the Stitcher link: http://bit.ly/stitcherwhconcernsJeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannataAnthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboniIf 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

Consumer Reports released a new report on Lunchables in which it found lead and cadmium, and also observed the presence of phthalates, which can impact reproductive health and the human hormonal system. Anthony and Jeff discuss the findings, and how to face the challenge of eating food that isn't actively trying to kill you.For bonus content, check out our Patreon! patreon.com/wehaveconcernsHey! If you’re enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen.Link to this week's story: https://www.npr.org/2024/04/10/1243939166/lunchables-consumer-reports-school-lunchHere’s the iTunes link: http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns And here’s the Stitcher link: http://bit.ly/stitcherwhconcernsJeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannataAnthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboniIf 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

For bonus content, check out our Patreon! patreon.com/wehaveconcernsHey! If you’re enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen.Link to this week's story:Here’s the iTunes link: http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns And here’s the Stitcher link: http://bit.ly/stitcherwhconcernsJeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannataAnthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboniIf 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