Pssst, hey, it's me, Carly Q!
Do you ever think about what it would be like to make contact with another species that grew up on a different planet in a different galaxy?
With no tablets, no video games, no key lime pie?
What would that even be like?
Well, we haven't made contact with aliens yet, but 40 years ago, we thought we had.
Confused? So was I, but fear not, dear listener.
All will be revealed in this week's Intergalactic episode.
I'm Carly Q, and this is Who, When, Wow, Mystery Edition.
In our spectacular shared existence, we consider it our business to recognize a few vops you may not know.
So when, why, made important inventions?
So when, why, asked all the right questions?
History will never be the same.
I got into the office pretty early on Monday morning, 8 .59am, sorry Linda, no time to chat, I wanted to head to the break room before getting sucked into my usual event cataloging.
Odie and I had both been watching a new show called True Alien Hamsters, and the season finale had just dropped the night before.
There was much to discuss, and not much time.
I was almost at the break room, when all of a sudden I was stopped in my tracks by none other than Louis.
Did you get my email?
What email? The one about updating the OS on your desktop?
Sure. And have you?
If I'm what? Updated your OS.
Probably. Carly, are you even listening to me?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
It's just that last night was the season finale of first contact, and I needed - Whatever Carly Q, just update your OS.
All the details are in the email.
Read it carefully. And new.
It's very important.
Yeah, got it. What is an OS?
I raced into the break room, but I was too late.
Odie had left a note.
Dear Carly Q, I waited for you.
But then, I left. I had an elevator inspection I could not be late for.
We will talk at lunch.
We will talk at warm regards.
Odie, warm regards?
So I headed down to the basement to get started with my dick.
Okay, username, Carly Q, password, slice of P13.
I'm a password genius.
I should start a business.
Need a password? Take a password.
Okay. Email, subject.
Super very ultra important.
Huh. Wasn't Lewis saying something about an email this morning?
Let me see what does it say.
Blah, blah, blah. Blah, make sure the desktop is up to date with OS.
What in the name of pi is OS?
Office safe? I took the wheels off my desk last week after the downhill desk break, so I am pretty sure it's office safe now.
Just as I was trying to dissect Lewis' cryptic email, a time sealed event landed on my desk.
I plugged the time sealed event into my computer and waited for it to load.
Event, first contact with Alien Wow Signal 1977 Ohio State University.
Alien contact? Alien contact?
Odie is not going to believe this.
I couldn't contain my excitement.
There were still two hours until lunch.
Wow Signal? But lucky for me, I found another project to keep me occupied until then.
Man, these desk corners are sharp.
Maybe that's what Lewis was talking about in his office safe email.
Where did I put my belt sanding?
After a good few hours of sanding, I was convinced that my desk was now office safe, which meant I could finally get onto my investigation into the wow signal.
It also meant that I finally got a chance to talk to Odie about the series finale of first contact.
Odie! Basement companion!
What happened this morning?
I waited for you in the break room for two whole minutes.
Yeah, sorry about that.
Lewis had some very important information he had to share.
I bet he did. But I'm here now.
So we can finally talk about the show through Alien Hamsters.
I've got something even better.
Check this out. First contact IRL.
Carly Q. It seems to me that every second adventure is about proof of alien life and every time you end up being disappointed.
Yes, but this one actually could be the real deal, Odie.
Look, it says right there, first contact with aliens.
Actually, basement companion, it says first contact with aliens.
How did you make that sound with your mouth?
Don't worry about it.
Just remember, always look close before you leap far.
You know, I'm actually not that into leaping.
Skipping is more my jam.
I'm saying that if you don't pay attention… Sorry, what?
I was distracted by that frog sticker on the time elevator.
Is that new? I'm pretty sure that's new.
Case in point. Don't worry, Odie.
I have a good feeling about this one.
Know Lewis or little rat with you today?
Nope. Lewis is busy enforcing office safety and Nibbles has to study.
What is she studying?
Forensic psychology.
Nice. Now… Don't change the past.
Be back by lunch. Well, it's good to see that you listen sometimes.
Okay, hold on tight.
May the force be with you.
These aren't the toys you're looking for!
I mean, New York and San Francisco with our new live show, Make It Wow, presented by Audible.
There's more to imagine, would you listen?
And apparently you're excited too because our San Francisco performance is filling up and our New York City performance is almost sold out.
So, we're adding even more wow with a second show for New York City.
Growing up, get your tickets today at tinkercast .com slash events.
That's tinkercast .com slash events.
That's it. We'll see you there.
So, this is the Ohio State University.
1977. It's very crowded here.
Obviously a very busy day on campus.
Sorry I didn't see you.
Hey, hey pal. I am standing here.
Excuse me, can anyone tell me where I can find the aliens?
I can't believe the aliens are getting into next year, ma 'am.
Not the aliens, the sports team.
I meant the aliens as in… Help!
I'm being swallowed and proud of college football fans!
Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! I got you.
Thank you, kind stranger.
Not a problem. You gotta be careful around here on game day.
You stand too close to the horseshoe there and it'll suck you right in.
The horseshoe? Ah, the football stadium.
Oh, right. Sports. Are you a student here?
Ah, yes, I am a student.
A fresh woman, to be exact.
Carly is my name and I am looking for the astronomy department, I guess.
You got any telescopes around here?
Oh boy, do we. Ross Fenton, professor of astronomy.
I'm actually on my way over to the big ear telescope now, if you'd like to join me.
Well, that is extremely convenient for me.
I would love to join you.
Great. Follow me. Honestly, this is the real sport in the bed.
How do we get through this crowd?
Ouch. I'm not keeping you from all the football stuff, am I?
Nah, never really got into it.
My eyes have always been transfixed on the night sky.
Ah ha! The fellow science geek.
High five. Assuming that has been invented in 1977.
Nice to know I'm in good company.
Look up there. The big ear telescope.
Big ear telescope? What is it named after?
The school elephant or something?
Not exactly. Turns out that's a very special kind of telescope.
It doesn't look out into the universe and take photos and whatnot.
This telescope listens.
Listen? Yes. Turns out the universe is a very noisy place.
Step right through here.
Hi Ross. Congrats on the big discovery, man.
Thanks, Nancy. Big discovery?
Yeah. Fellow researcher Jerry Amen and I picked up something on the telescope the other day.
It has some folks in here.
Very excited. Big r.
Good work on that radio signal, dude.
Thanks, Sam. So what's this big discovery, professor?
Well, we haven't gone public with it yet, but...
ah, what the heck. Harley, sit down here for a minute.
Okay. We think that we have discovered a radio signal that finally confirms something humankind has been trying to prove for centuries.
That pie is better than cake?
Ha. Uh, no. But that's an interesting take.
Tell me I'm wrong. Um, maybe later.
We're so excited here, because we now finally have undeniable proof of alien life.
Undeniable proof? Can I see it?
Uh, sure. It's just over here in my desk.
Somewhere. I was so excited I was afraid I might explode.
Proof of alien life?
Could this really be happening?
Ah, found it. Here you go.
Uh... what is this?
The proof. This just looks like a bunch of numbers on a page.
Well, where's the spaceship?
Where are the little green men?
Well, it's unlikely that we'd get any images from the Big Ear.
After all, it is a radio telescope.
A radio telescope? You mean like the radio in my car?
Sort of. Remember, I was telling you this telescope listens to the universe.
Ah, yes, right. Hence, the Big Ear telescope.
Exactly. So, just like the radio in your car, which picks up waves being sent out by your local radio station, this telescope listens out for radio waves from deep space.
Dang. Talk about being an active listener.
But that doesn't explain why I'm looking at a bunch of numbers on a piece of paper.
Well, this is that radio wave written out in numbers.
And you see, these numbers that Jerry circled here?
Yeah? That is a very weird radio wave.
My hypothesis is that this could only have been created by alien technology.
Whoa! First contact?
First contact with aliens?
Exactly. This is amazing.
What kind of radio did they send?
Alien jazz? Alien hip -hop?
Alien sports dog? It's just a wave.
But I'm very excited about it.
We plan to publish next week.
What's this? Next to the numbers?
Oh, that's Jerry's terrible handwriting.
It says, wow. He wrote it down there right after we found the signal.
Guess he got a little carried away.
The wow signal? More like the who and wow signal.
Ew! What? Nothing. Hey, Ross.
Can you come take a look at this for a second?
Yeah. Excuse me for one second, Carly.
Wow. Actual proof of alien life in my hands.
Additional information found.
Hey, Dad. I didn't even realize you were on.
I'm always on. Always listening.
Always listening to you.
I think it's time for some new batteries.
Additional information found.
Additional information on the wow signal?
Correct. Checkmark emoji, thumbs up emoji, smiling emoji.
Okay, fine. Can't let me have one moment of excitement before you come in with your facts and your logic, huh?
Okay, H -Dad. Let me have it.
The radio wave, known as wow signal, was discovered in 1977 and was thought to be the strongest evidence for extraterrestrial life.
Until... Oh, no, no, no.
Don't say until. Until 2017, when it was discovered that this radio signal may have been the result of a comet passing in front of the telescope and not actually alien life.
H -Dad, if you were going to ruin my life this way, you need to explain yourself.
Explaining book emoji, glasses emoji, magnifying glass emoji.
Background information.
Two comets, scientifically known as 266P, Christensen and 335P Gibbs, are surrounded by clouds of hydrogen.
So? Hydrogen naturally gives off the same radio frequency that was found in the wow signal.
Oh, no. I see where this is going.
Those comets were in the vicinity of where the Big Ear Telescope was looking back in 1977.
So this wow signal might not be alien communication.
It was probably just the hydrogen gas from these comets.
Correct! Exclamation emoji.
Mumble crust. Odie's going to be so smug about this.
Sorry about that. Sam just wanted to go through a few things on our wow signal news announcement.
We're all pretty excited around here.
Yeah, uh, about that, Ross.
What is it? Danger.
Risk of revealing time -sensitive information imminent.
X -Day on the Uter Bay upstate.
Okay, A. Mm. Nothing.
Just wanted to wish you good luck with everything.
Oh, thanks. Are you leaving?
Yeah. I just got a text from my friend who's at the game.
What's, uh, what's a text?
Uh, don't worry about it.
It was really nice meeting you.
Very nice to meet you too, Carly.
Y -Y -Y. Odie was right.
Odie was right. H. Dad.
Biden in. I can handle this.
Whoo! That was a fast game!
I better get out of here before I get stampaded by Ohio State fans again.
Here they come. Uh, where did I leave the time travel elevator?
Ah, here it is. Then just in the nick of time, go back guys!
Guys! Welcome back, basement companion.
Did you go to any fraternity parties?
Sadly no. So, what happened?
Well, everything seemed to be pointing towards an alien radio signal from outer space.
But then... But then H.
Dad informed me that it probably wasn't alien radio signals, but just hydrogen gas clouds following a couple of comets that were in the same area at the time.
Ugh. Such an easy mistake to make.
If I had a nickel for every time I confused a hydrogen cloud with a...
Actually, never mind.
Mmkay. Uh, but yeah, I am kinda bummed.
I got so excited about alien contact at first.
Maybe I shouldn't have let myself get so carried away.
Always look close before you leap far.
Oh, that's what you meant about listening closely before jumping to conclusions.
Ah, you were listening!
And you know what's ironic?
The Big Ear Telescope where they made the discovery is probably one of the best listening devices on the planet.
I'm sorry, did you say something?
Oh, she's got jokes.
See you later, basement companion.
See ya, Odie. Well, it turns out that we still haven't made contact with aliens, although I do hold out hope for the future.
But I learned an important lesson today.
Double check your findings and listen carefully, even if you have one of the greatest listening devices known to man.
Dear Lewis, you'll be happy to know that I have updated my desk to be as safe as can be.
No wheels or sharp corners anywhere.
You are very welcome.
Harley Q. Harley Q!
Lewis, why do you always sneak up on me like that?
I just sent you an email.
I came to find out why you still haven't updated the OS on your desktop.
Excuse me. Look how smooth the corners are now.
It's completely office safe.
Office safe? What are you talking about?
The email you sent out, our conversation this morning, you said my desktop has to be OS.
I said you had to update your OS.
Your operating system.
IT has been bugging me for weeks to get everyone upgraded and you're the last one.
Ooooooh. OS. Operating system.
Like I said, super important to listen carefully.
Can you please do it this afternoon?
You got it, chief. And clean up this sawdust.
It's a health hazard.
OS. Relax. I will clean it up.
So, another mystery solved.
Or debunked. Or whatever.
It's always satisfying to get to the truth, even if it's disappointing.
Know what I mean? It's not always easy, but if you listen carefully, really listen.
Sometimes you can avoid making mistakes or jumping to conclusions.
But, you know all about being a good listener.
Don't you? A listener?
I'll have another exciting mystery for you to listen to next week.
Until then, I'm Carly Q.
And remember, you never heard this.
HDAD Initiating End Credits Mode.
Who And Wow Mystery Edition is an original Tinkercast production with help from GZM shows.
Handshake emoji. High five emoji.
For Tinkercast, the executive producers are Guy Ross, Mindy Thomas and Meredith Halpern -Rancer.
The shows are written by Aaron Weissman, Susan Moati -Darrage and Tom Van Kalken.
The head writer for Tinkercast is Kenny Curtis and Carly Shiraki is a producing consultant.
Big shout -outs to the rest of the Tinkercast team, including Jed Anderson, Jessica Bodhi, Rebecca Caban, Natasha Crandall, Lizzie Freilich, Kristen Jang, Tui Mack, Erika Medina, Henry Moskle, Jodie Nussbaum, Ali Paxima, Linda Rothenburg, Steph Sosa, Tyler Thall, Joanna Weber and Anna Zegorski.
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The Who And Wow theme song was composed and performed by The Pop -Ups.
For more information on their three -time Grammy -nominated all -ages music, find them at ThePopUps .com.
Producers for GZM shows are David Kreismann, Ben Straus, Chris Terry, Amy Cervini and Claire McClanahan.
The production manager is Sharon Michaels.
Sound design and editing for Who And Wow Mystery Edition is done by Chris Terry and Oded Levari.
Headphones emoji. Microphone emoji.
Thumbs -up emoji. Original music was created by Jennifer Rocamp.
Voice editing is by Yoni Rekim.
And voice direction is handled by David Kreismann and Amy Cervini.
Uh, could you give me another one on that please?
And voice direction is handled by David Kreismann and Amy Cervini.
Our main cast features Carly Schiraki as Carly Q, Brandon Salerno as Lewis, Melissa Van Der Schiff as Nibbles the Rat, Kenny Curtis as H -Dad and Angel Desai as Odie.
Help support Who And Wow by becoming a member of the World Organization of Wowsers and discover wows all year long.
Sign up today at Tinkercast .com slash membership.
You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel at Tinkercast .com slash YouTube for full -length episodes of Who And Wow Mystery Edition.
And reach out to us at Hello at Tinkercast .com if you have a mystery you would like butthead to investigate.
H -Dad, powering off.
Peace sign emoji. Shh, it's starting.
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