PODCAST · comedy
We Have Concerns
by Jeff Cannata/Anthony Carboni
Jeff Cannata and Anthony Carboni talk about the personal philosophical concerns they find lurking inside everyday things. It's fun?
Episodes
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The Laughter of Apes
Sound doesn’t leave a fossil record, making it difficult to trace the origins of song, speech and language – but researchers have found a way. And it's laughter! Jeff and Anthony discuss the new ways in which scientists are comaring the rhythmns of laughter between species to learn how language...
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The Chlorine Huckster
A London clinic owner has claimed he is treating people with stage 4 cancer by sealing them into a plastic bag while they're naked from the neck down and gassing them with chlorine dioxide. As you might guess, Anthony and Jeff have some pretty strong feelings about this one. Link to story:...
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Has All of Earth's Water been Peed?
As the world's water cycles through the water table, chances are it has been inside a dinosaur or a mammoth at some point. Does that mean all the water on Earth has, been peed ? Jeff and Anthony dig into the burning question: is it possible today to drink water that has never been peed? Link to...
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Bee Smart
A new study suggests that the average honeybee might be able to use tools in novel ways to solve problems. Anthony and Jeff discuss bee intelligence and how it relates to Jerry Seinfeld's Bee Movie. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/04/bees-use-tools-to-solve-problems-study-finds...
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So vs Oh, with Brian Brushwood
Special Guest Brian Brushwood, from the Modern Rogue, stops by the Anxiety Chamber to discuss a recent study about language. As a magician and Scam School professor, Brian is uniquely qualified to lead Anthony and Jeff through the subtle differences between starting a sentence with 'so' and 'oh',...
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Are Attention Spans Really Shrinking?
In the age of social media and digital distraction, the pervailing sentiment is that attention spans are shrinking. But is that the truth? Jeff and Anthony dig into the evidence... at least as long as they are able to focus on it. LInk to the story:...
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I Ain't 'Fraid of No Ghost
Do you believe a house can be haunted? Scientists interested in finding alternative explanations for reported ghost sightings have found that infrasound, particularly at a frequency of 18.9 Hz might be responsible for those eerie feelings. Anthony and Jeff terll their own spooky stories as they...
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Cool?
You may be shocked to learn that water will freeze faster when it starts hot than when it starts cool. In fact, all of science was shockled to learn this in 1963 when 13 year-old Erasto Mpemba insisted it was true in school. Jeff and Anthony delve into the incredible story of how this phenomenon...
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Moon Poop
NASA is going back to the moon. Which means one of the biggest unsolved problems still looms large: what to do with all of the human waste we leave behind? Anthony and Jeff discuss the poop problem, and what scientists are doing to figure it out. Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos,...
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Do You Fall for Corporate Bullsh*t?
A researcher at Cornell has designed a Coporate Bullsh*t Receptivity Scale, noting that employees most impressed by corporate nonsense may be least equipped to make effective decisions. Jeff and Anthony dig into the findings, and discuss their own encounters with that particular style of...
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Time is Perception
A new study comparing the visual capacity of various animals indicates that the perception of time is linked to the pace of their lives. Anthony and Jeff discuss the ramifications of such a study, and what it might mean for understanding evolution. LInk to the story:...
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Why We Retreat When We're Sick *FIXED*
Sorry about the truncated episode! This version is fixed! Do you wanna crawl under the house and hide like a dog when you're sick? You're not alone. I mean, you're alone, you're under the house like a dog. But you're not alone in the FEELING. A recent study published in Cell discusses why we have...
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A Horse is a Horse, of Course of Course
Two stories this week, both involving horses. In the first, a recent study of unearthed bones in Britan reveals that horses were much smaller in medieval times than they are today. Then, the world of polo is dominated by horses that have been cloned. Is that ethical? Jeff and Anthony discuss both...
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The AI Social Network
A Reddit-style social network called Moltbook lets AI agents post, comment, upvote, and create subcommunities without human intervention. Anthony and Jeff take a look at this bizarre experiment to suss out why anyone would want this to happen and what it could mean for the future. LInk to the...
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Microplastics aren't a big deal
We've all spent the last couple years being worried about microplastics- but maybe we shouldn't be. More experts have reviewed the original study that freaked us all out, and they say it's full of errors. Today's story:...
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You're selfish and you never think about sea urchins
It's about time you considered the lowly sea urchin. It's about time you considered their thoughts and feelings, especially since we have just found out they've got thoughts and feelings. Story: https://www.sciencealert.com/shock-discovery-reveals-sea-urchins-are-basically-all-brain Support the...
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Discovering the Noperthedron
Can one six-sided cube seamlessly pass through another of equal size? The answer may surprise you. And the quest to discover convex polyhedrons that don't behave that way is even wilder. After more than three centuries, a geometry problem that originated with a royal bet has been solved, and Jeff...
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How Recent is Recently?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word 'recent' is defined as “having happened or started only a short time ago.” And yet, in the world of scientific publishing, it may be one of the most imprecise terms ever used. Jeff and Anthony take a look at a 'recent' study that aims to…
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AI Psychosis is a Cool Thing We Have to Think About Now
Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcannata.bsky.social Anthony on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/acarboni.bsky.social While the research is still early, it looks...
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Quicksand is Making a Comeback
An experienced hiker had to be saved by National Parks Search and Rescue last month after getting stuck in quicksand. This made us go "Wait, quicksand? Like, quicksand is a thing?" So here are all the details on the rescue, how quicksand works, how common it really is, and what to do if you get...
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Tooth-in-Eye
Osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis, or “tooth-in-eye” surgery, is a real thing, returning vision to patients with severe corneal blindness. Jeff and Anthony explain the astounding process of using a tooth to repair an eye, and the wild road to discovering that it actually works. LInk to the story:...
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The Batman Effect
New research conducted by psychologists in Milan shows that if Batman show up, we immediately become more altruistic and considerate. Jeff and Anthony dig into this heroic study, and discuss how it might be applied to making the world a better place. LInk to the story:...
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New Insights into ADHD
Anthony and Jeff take a look at two new breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcannata.bsky.social Anthony on Blue…
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The Threat of Mirror Life
Researchers believe it will be possible in the near future to build organisms from molecules with reversed structures. But a recent multi-disciplinary report suggest that creating such "mirror life" could lead to the end of all known life on earth. Jeff and Anthony discuss the report, and what it...
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Bird Poop in a Hurricane
The Streaked Shearwater Seagull is a remarkable bird. It intentionally flies into the eye of hurricanes. But when scientists strapped video cameras to the gulls to study the behavior they learned something else. These birds are superpoopers. Anthony and Jeff plunge into the new findings to...
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Shocking Stats About Lightning
The World Meteorological Organization’s Committee on Weather and Climate Extremes recently certified a new record: the longest lightning strike ever measured. Jeff and Anthony discuss the astonishing phenomenon, and dive into a whole host of surprising lightning-based statistics. LInk to the…
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The Mystery of Roanoke
The "Lost" Colony of Roanoke is one of the most enduring American mysteries, despite there being persuasive evidence to explain the disappearance of so many early settlers. Anthony and Jeff revisit this tale of American colonization, and look at the lastest findings that may put the questions to...
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Eating Ants
Findings published in the journal Evolution reveal that mammals independently evolved specialized adaptations for exclusively feeding on ants and termites at least 12 times since the Cenozoic era began, roughly 66 million years ago. Why? And what does that reveal about how life has evolved on...
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Cool vs Good
What are the characteristics that make someone cool? How about good? Is there overlap? Can someone be both cool and good? Anthony and Jeff look at a new study that aims to quantify the attributes most associated with cool and good people, all around the world, to see where they stand - and if…
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The Science of Big Splashes
When it comes to making a splash, technique tops brute force. While you might think a cannonball will yield the biggest splash in the pool, science has confirmed that a new technique from New Zealand, called Manu jumping, reigns supreme. Jeff and Anthony describe the Manu jump, and the mechanics...
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Hummingbirds, Penguins, and Cockatoos, oh my.
Three stories this week, all concerning birds! Pranksters, scamps, potential saviors of earth? In the first, cockatoos in Australia have learned how to drink from public water fountains. Anthony and Jeff discuss how and why. Next ups, the penguins of Antactica might be helping offset climate...
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Tales From the Crypt
For 60 years, between 1637 and 1697, people who died at the largest hospital in Milan were dropped into a brick-lined crypt. Now, 300 years later, their unearthed remains reveal shocking insights into the lives of the 17th century working poor - and the discovery of a never before seen type of...
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Silence is Golden
New research aims to quality the health effects of silence. It turns out, just a few hours of quiet time per week can have striking benefits. Anthony and Jeff discuss their own relationship with silence, and how this study might motivate them to turn down the volume. LInk to the story:...
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Snakebites for Science
Tim Friede has allowed himself to be bitten by venomous snakes more then 200 times. As a result, his blood has helped scientists concoct a new antibody cocktail that could save thousands of lives. Jeff and Anthony discuss how to classify Tim's contributions to science. Link to the story:...
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Virtual Nostalgia
Researchers from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) have introduced InteRecon, a program that enables users to recapture real-world objects in a mobile app, and then animate them in mixed-reality environments. Jeff and Anthony discuss the notion of ownership,...
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Speaking Bonobo
A new study from researchers at the University of Zurich and Harvard University reveals that bonobos, our closest living relatives alongside chimpanzees, use the equivalent of word compounds and phrasings, suggesting that the roots of language predate humans. Anthony and Jeff discuss the...
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Batman's Cocktail Party Mystery
Every night, bats emerge out of roosts in massive numbers, creating what scientists have called a 'cocktail party nightmare' of clashing echolocations. Nobody knew how bats managed this severe sensorial challenge. Now, scientists have tracked bats within a group of thousands to find out. Jeff and...
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The Walking Dead
A new study places the US at the top of the list of most fatal countries to be a pedestrian. Anthony and Jeff take a look at all the reasons it is so dangerous to walk in America, and what can be done to make foot traffic safer and more practical. Link to the story:...
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Taste This Machine
Scientists have developed a device, called “e-Taste”, capable of recreating complex flavours of food and drink from five basic building blocks, and plan to use it to enhance virtual reality and augmented reality systems, boosting immersive experiences. Anthony and Jeff debate whether adding taste...
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Move with the Crowd
Researchers have discovered that dense crowds can spontaneously synchronize into collective oscillations, with hundreds of people moving in coordinated, swirling patterns. How did they do it? By studying the Spanish tradition of running with the bulls. Jeff and Anthony discuss getting lost in a...
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Try to Imagine It
People with aphantasia lack the ability to summon images in their "mind's eye." But a new study suggests that the blueprints for those imaginary images might still be nestled in their brains. As someone with aphantasia himself, Anthony tries to explain to Jeff how his inner life works. LInk to…
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Why Do We Itch?
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have uncovered new insights into the dual nature of scratching an itch, indicating that while it can worsen skin inflammation, it can also boost immune defenses against bacterial infections at the injury site. How did they do it? By torturing mice, of...
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AI vs Critical Thinking
The rise of AI has directly resulted in diminishing levels of critical thinking, epseically among young people, a new study shows. Anthony and Jeff discuss how relying on technology must be paired with new ways of thinking, and the dire consequences that may result from algorithmic learning....
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Generation Lead
A new study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry found that one generation in particular has higher exposure to unsafe levels of lead than all others. It just happens to be Jeff and Anthony's generation: Gen X. They take a loook at the impacts, and the long history of...
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Showers for Health: Hot or Cold?
Much has been made about taking a cold shower in the morning vs a hot one. A new study aims to measure the health benefit of these different temperature extremes for daily washing. Anthony and Jeff get into a lather about it, and the results may surprise you! Support the show and get bonus...
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Alpha Wolf Brain Parasite
A study of 26 years' worth of wolf behavioral data, and an analysis of the blood of 229 wolves, has shown that infection with a parasite that can only reproduce in cats makes wolves 46 times more likely to become a pack leader. How can this be? Jeff and Anthony dive into the data, and come away...
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Old at 44
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!...
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Gut Health Among Friends
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...
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Bat-Powers Can Be Yours
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....
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Spicy Expectations
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....
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does We Have Concerns have?
We Have Concerns currently has 820 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is We Have Concerns about?
Jeff Cannata and Anthony Carboni talk about the personal philosophical concerns they find lurking inside everyday things. It's fun?
How often does We Have Concerns release new episodes?
We Have Concerns releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 820 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to We Have Concerns?
You can listen to We Have Concerns on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts We Have Concerns?
We Have Concerns is created and hosted by Jeff Cannata/Anthony Carboni.
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