We Have Concerns

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

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

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

A woman has a condition that makes her see dragons wherever she goes. Anthony and Jeff discuss perception and reality, and if we know what we see is real. 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 by Erin Kys:  http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/neuroskeptic/2014/12/05/prosopometamorphopsia-the-woman-who-saw-dragons/ Send you story suggestions to wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com or post them over at  http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns.com

Every Autumn, falling leaves create hazards for the railways. Trains compress the debris by running over it, and the resulting surface becomes slick and unsafe.  The solution? Lasers! One Dutch company has developed a way to blast the rails clean with high-tech lasers mounted to the front of the trains - which, of course, inspires Jeff and Anthony to pitch their new action/adventure trilogy, Laser Trains! 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://nautil.us/blog/the-long-hard-quest-to-create-digital-smells Today's story was sent in by Daniel Sullivan and Paul Schorn. Thanks guys! Send in your suggestions to  wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com

Adrian David Cheok, the founder and director of the Mixed Reality Lab in Singapore, is attempting to record odors digitally, and recreate them without the use of chemicals.  While a breakthrough in the area is still a long way off, the idea of digital smells has Jeff and Anthony wondering what this technology could possibly be used for, and, moreoever, what working in a place called the Mixed Reality Lab" might be like. 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://nautil.us/blog/the-long-hard-quest-to-create-digital-smells Today's story was sent in by Mike Becker. Thanks Mike! Send in your suggestions to  wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com

Scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York have successfully implanted human glial cells into the brains of mice to shocking result.  Not only were the cells not rejected, but the human cells completely dominated the mouse brain cells.  More incredibly, this led to mice which demonstrated a much higher capacity for memory and cognitive skill.  Yep, Anthony and Jeff are thinking what you're thinking: the age of super-intelligent mice is upon us, and it is only a matter of time before we are all doomed.  Listen as the guys bid farewell to the human race. 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://www.newscientist.com/article/dn26639-the-smart-mouse-with-the-halfhuman-brain.html?cmpid=RSS%7CNSNS%7C2012-GLOBAL%7Conline-news#.VJz1sV4AAC Today's story was sent in by both Tyler Davenport and Adam Timmerman. Thanks guys! Send in your suggestions to  wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com

A New Yorker article all about passwords has Jeff musing on what Anthony's passwords mean about him.  It is a secret people tell themselves every time they log on to something, so what are the most common topics that appear in passwords?  What are the smartest passwords?  How can they can used to hack your life? 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://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/19/magazine/the-secret-life-of-passwords.html?_r=2 Today's story was sent in by Shawn Stringfield. Thanks Shawn! Send in your suggestions to  wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com

A new study suggests that using hand dryers in public restrooms is actually less hygienic than using paper towels.  This leads Jeff and Anthony to discuss bathroom etiquette, personal hygene, germophobia, assumptions about cleanliness, and the coolest way to dry your hands. 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://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/3629/hand_dryers_can_spread_bacteria_in_public_toilets_research_finds Today's story was sent in by Jonathan Smith. Thanks Jonathan! Send in your suggestions to  wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com

Anthony and Jeff delve into perhaps the most disturbing topic they have ever tackled.  An article in National Geographic features the top 5 most terrifying "zombie" creatures - parasites that get inside of other creatures and force them to change their behavior, malform, or otherwise serve the parasite's procreation.  These are some of the most horrible organisms in the natural world.  This episode is not recommended for sensitive listeners. 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://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/10/141031-zombies-parasites-animals-science-halloween/ Today's story was sent in by Xaccie. Send in your suggestions to  wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com