Robot Wolves, Neanderthal Brains and Why Snakes Are Winning

About this episode

This episode discusses the use of robot wolves to deter bears in Japan, the creation of mini Neanderthal brains, and the rising issue of snakebite fatalities.

Robot wolves are now being used to scare bears away from Japanese schools, scientists have grown mini Neanderthal brains and plugged them into little robots, and snakes are quietly topping the lethality leaderboard while everyone keeps blaming sharks. This week, Will and Rod bounce between wildlife deterrence, prehistoric brain tech, and a public health reality check that hits harder than any movie monster. We start in Japan, where bears have been wandering into supermarkets and school grounds, and the solution is peak Japan: “monster robot wolves” with sensors, lights, and loud noises designed to scare bears off without harming them. They look like an 80s horror prop, but the goal is serious, keep people safe and avoid lethal control. Then we head into the lab, where researchers have grown tiny Neanderthal brain organoids, nicknamed Neanderoids, and connected them to small crab like robots. It is fascinating, slightly unsettling, and a reminder that science will always find a way to make the past feel uncomfortably present. Finally, we look at snakes as one of the world’s biggest killers, with India carrying a huge share of snakebite deaths, and we end with a…

People in this episode

Hosts: Will, Rod

Topics covered

• robot wolves
• Neanderthal brains
• wildlife deterrence
• snakebite deaths
• public health
• cybersecurity

Keywords

• robot wolves
• Neanderthal brains
• wildlife deterrence
• snakebite deaths
• public health
• cybersecurity

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Neanderoids

Places: Japan, India

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