Tag: dog
-
Dog Callers and Octopus Rights
A new invention, believed to be the first of its kind, allows dogs to video call their owners. The system, dubbed DogPhone, is the brainchild of University of Glasgow’s Dr Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas and her 10-year-old labrador, Zack. Jeff and Anthony discuss the device, and it's potential to change human-canine relations forever. Then, Octopuses, crabs and lobsters will receive greater welfare protection in the UK as the Animal Welfare Bill is extended to all decapod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs. Anthony and Jeff assess the benefits and potential dangers of defining these creatures as sentient. [more]
-
Dog Buttons and Flying.. Cars?
Bunny the dog has 5 million Tik Tok followers and an array of buttons that let's her talk to them. By pressing a button, she can construct rudimentary sentences that her owner believes constitutes a sophisticated understanding of language. Anthony and Jeff discuss the research into Bunny and other animals, and whether this technique might be used to unlock communication in pets. Then, with over a dozen companies actively working on vertical take off and landing vehicles, is the flying car future actually happening? Jeff and Anthony take a look at the current state of personal air transportation. [more]
-
Artificial Photosynthesis, an Old Dog, and New Picks
Researchers have developed a standalone device that converts sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into a carbon-neutral fuel, without requiring any additional components or electricity. Anthony and Jeff discuss how this might be an encouraging new way to combat climate change. Then, Jeff tries 2 stories to see which Anthony enjoys more. The first is perfectly preserved evidence of a 14,000 year old canine that had eaten a much larger animal. The second is a new way to clone a key from just the sound of it entering a lock. Which story will Anthony respond to more? [more]
-
Measuring a Cute Angle (W/ Mica Burton)
PATRONS GET A BONUS EPISODE WITH MICA. LISTEN TO IT HERE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/19007770/ There are roughly (or, if you prefer, ruffly) a billion dogs on the planet. Although dogs and humans have been existing alongside one another for tens of thousands of years, experts say 85 percent of the world’s dogs are feral. When pups are between two and three months old, their mothers will abandon them for any number of reasons. Without mothers, how are these abandoned pups supposed to survive? Science says that if they’re cute enough, puppies can make it by tricking humans into adopting them. Jeff and Anthony consider adopting one billion dogs. [more]
-
Working Like a Dog
If you're a dog lover, just being with your pet feels good. So it's no surprise that therapy dogs are healing companions for people with health conditions. Research confirms that the benefits of pet therapy are real—but what do dogs think about helping humans? Science has considered this question too, and the results are reassuring. Jeff and Anthony discuss whether or not these findings apply to Anthony's perfect prince. [more]
-
Doggie Data Care
What can artificial intelligence learn from dogs? Quite a lot, say researchers from the University of Washington and Allen Institute for AI. They recently trained neural networks to interpret and predict the behavior of canines. Their results, they say, show that animals could provide a new source of training data for AI systems — including those used to control robots. Jeff and Anthony learn that you can teach a new bot an old dog's tricks. [more]
-
Passing the Sniff Test
A dog searching for a lost child is typically given an item of clothing to smell. But what does that scent “look” like? To find out, scientists tested 48 dogs, half of which had special police or rescue training. Jeff and Anthony discuss whether or not this study stinks. [more]
-
Can a Peacock Fly?
Any animal could feasibly provide a human with emotional support, but it doesn't mean that they all should. According to a report by the BBC, the concept artist Ventiko offered to buy a seat for her peacock, Dexter, but was denied by United Airlines because of the bird's large size and weight. It was imperative he be on the flight because, she claimed, he's her emotional support animal. Jeff and Anthony discuss the abuse of support animal laws and ruffle each other's feathers. [more]
-
Robodogs Go To Heaven
Back in 1999, Sony released a robot dog called Aibo. Now, 15 years later, these toys have started to break down, and Sony has ceased repairing them or manufacturing new models. This has caused the few people who still use and care for these little robotic companions to come to terms with the loss of a wholly inorganic member of their families. Jeff and Anthony discuss whether man-made friends can ever truly replace natural ones, and why we must always accept the inevitable death of all cute things. [more]
Do NOT join our secret society. You’ll just wind up with a bunch of cool stuff. It’s gross.