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 course. Jeff and Anthony dig into the science of itchiness to learn more. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00256-3

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

If you’ve seen a story you think belongs on the show, share it on our Discord

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.

Today's story: https://phys.org/news/2025-01-ai-linked-eroding-critical-skills.html

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

If you’ve seen a story you think belongs on the show, share it on the Discord, send it to [email protected] or leave it on the subreddit: http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns

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 cover-up that led to lead staying in gasoline far longer than it should have.

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

If you’ve seen a story you think belongs on the show, share it on the Discord, send it to [email protected] or leave it on the subreddit: http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns

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 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

If you’ve seen a story you think belongs on the show, share it on the Discord, send it to [email protected] or leave it on the subreddit: http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns

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 thinking it has far-reaching ramification for how we all behave, every day.

For bonus content, check out our Patreon! 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.

Link to this week's stories: https://www.sciencealert.com/something-strange-happens-to-wolves-infected-by-an-infamous-mind-altering-parasite

https://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/stitcherwhconcerns

Jeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannata
Anthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboni

If you've seen a story you think belongs on the show, send it to [email protected] or leave it on the subreddit: http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns

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/wehaveconcerns

Hey! 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-steady

Here’s the iTunes link: http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns And here’s the Stitcher link: http://bit.ly/stitcherwhconcerns

Jeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannata
Anthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboni

If you've seen a story you think belongs on the show, send it to [email protected] 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/wehaveconcerns

If you’ve seen a story you think belongs on the show, share it on the Discord, send it to [email protected] 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/wehaveconcerns

Jeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannata
Anthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboni

If you’ve seen a story you think belongs on the show, share it on the Discord, send it to [email protected] 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/wehaveconcerns

Jeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannata
Anthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboni

If you’ve seen a story you think belongs on the show, share it on the Discord, send it to [email protected] 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-poyais

Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns

Jeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannata
Anthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboni

If you’ve seen a story you think belongs on the show, share it on the Discord, send it to [email protected] or leave it on the subreddit: http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns