Weird Things

A running conversation about science, AI, culture, and the strange future arriving early.

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Episode

Bear Evictions and Genetic Tinkering: A Peek into the Future

Published Jan 30, 2026, 11:53 AM

In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood explore the curious incident of a Californian homeowner, Kenneth Johnson, who discovered a 550-pound bear living under his house and the challenges he faced in evicting it. The conversation then shifts to the broader implications of AI and genetic engineering, pondering a future where animals could possess human-like intelligence and the ethical considerations that come with it. They also touch upon the potential for AI to revolutionize our understanding of animal communication, specifically mentioning Google’s DeepMind project aimed at deciphering dolphin language.

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Episode Notes

In this episode, Andrew Mayne, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood explore the curious incident of a Californian homeowner, Kenneth Johnson, who discovered a 550-pound bear living under his house and the challenges he faced in evicting it. The conversation then shifts to the broader implications of AI and genetic engineering, pondering a future where animals could possess human-like intelligence and the ethical considerations that come with it. They also touch upon the potential for AI to revolutionize our understanding of animal communication, specifically mentioning Google’s DeepMind project aimed at deciphering dolphin language.

Picks:

Andrew: Zootopia 2

Justin: Stranger Things, Episode 9

Brian: Apple’s SHARP technology

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