A group of researchers studying the effects of alcohol on speech decided to get some birds drunk.  They divided a group of zebra finches - birds that learn and produce sounds similar to humans - into two groups.  One sipped pure juice and the other a mixture of ethanol and juice.  The results may shock you.  Or not.  Jeff and Anthony wonder how a group of researchers can spend grant money intoxicating birds, and why the fact that they slur their tweets is news to anyone.

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

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

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

Today's story: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2014/12/31/drunken-birds-slur-songs/#.VLzEhUfF98G

Today's story was submitted by rkirsmcneely

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A review led by a brain scientist at MIT found growing evidence that brain scans can predict future behaviors.  If, one day, we are able to simply scan our brains to determine what kinds of activities we are more inclined to excel at, or problems we may encounter, will that lead to a healthier, more adaptive populace, or one shackled to in-born tendencies?  Anthony and Jeff wrestle with that question, and try to predict what their own brain scans might indicate.

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.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/01/07/375589387/brain-scans-may-help-predict-future-problems-and-solutions

Today's story was submitted by seekmystery in the Subreddit!

Submit a story: wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com

Subreddit: http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns

NASA is conducting a study about the long-term effects of weightlessness by asking applicants to stay completely horizontal for 70 days.  In exchange for staying in bed and never standing up up, even to use the restroom or shower, NASA will pay test subjects $18,000, which works out to $1,200 per week or $257 per day.  Anthony and Jeff wonder if they could stand it, and why NASA is holding out on horizontal showering technology for everyone.

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://uk.businessinsider.com/nasa-will-pays-you-to-lie-in-bed-2013-9

Today's story was submitted by Morgan Nixon.  Thanks, Morgan!

Submit a story: wehaveconcernsshow@gmail.com

Subreddit: http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns

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