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 Anthony don their capes and cowls to investiagte this mystery, and the solution may surprise you!

LInk to the story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250331151152.htm

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Anthony on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/acarboni.bsky.social

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: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/walking-shouldnt-be-so-dangerous-in-the-u-s/

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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 to VR will made the world a better place.

Today's story: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/feb/28/scientists-create-e-taste-device-that-could-add-flavour-to-virtual-reality-experiences

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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

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 crowd, and how science can make these large events safer for everyone.

Link to the story: https://phys.org/news/2025-02-spanish-bulls-festival-reveals-crowd.html

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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 the story: https://www.livescience.com/health/neuroscience/people-who-cant-see-with-their-minds-eye-have-different-wiring-in-the-brain

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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

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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

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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
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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
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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.

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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/

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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