Grownups, Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to Wow in the World early and ad-free right now.
Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids Plus on Apple Podcasts.
Hey, Wowzer fans, Mindy here.
And before we start the show, I gotta let you know that this November, with a special new episode featuring our friends at Circle Round and Terrestrials on Radiolab for Kids,
And don't miss when Elmo from Sesame Street stops by Wow in the World to make us all belly laugh on November 24th.
Oh, but that's not all, Reg.
On December 1st, we are sharing our 250th episode of Wow in the World with all of you.
We think this one is going to be music to your ears.
Literally.
Did I mention it's a musical?
And if you're a member of the World Organization of Wowzers...
Oh boy, do I have a surprise for you.
You can listen to our 250th episode early with me and other members from around the world on Saturday, November 22nd, at 7pm Eastern.
That's right, we are throwing another listening party.
Join us as we dance along to our new songs.
React to the episode with other members in the chat and more.
Grownups.
If you want your wowzer to join this members-only listening party, you can sign up to become a member today at Tinkercastcom.
Slash wow.
Already a member?
Well, you can find the link and password to join the event when you sign in at Tinkercastcom.
Slash wow.
That's it.
It's going to be a November to remember.
But for now, let's get on with the show.
Woo!
Knock, knock, knock.
Special delivery.
Oh, the mail's here.
Hello.
I'll take that.
Thank you very much.
Oh, oh, uh, it seems to be stuck to my fingers.
And it's released.
Doc, what is this?
Maple syrup?
It is maple syrup.
Who would put this in the mail?
I recognize those sticky fingerprints anywhere, man.
Here, let me try and pry that thing out of your hands.
It's everywhere.
Okay, on the count of three.
One, two.
Ouch.
Got it.
Carry the mail, they said.
It'll be fun, they said.
No, you'll never be covered in maple syrup.
Okay, now to get this thing open...
Let's see what this invitation says here.
Your presence is requested in Mindy's gingerbread bathroom.
The crumbling house next door.
Now a clock.
Chocolate milk and horse doves will be served.
Horse doves?
Does she mean hors d'oeuvres?
P.S.
Mindy has something bonker balls to show you.
Hey, guy, run!
Coming, I'm coming.
Hi, Mindy.
Hi, guys.
Oh, hi, Dennis.
Did I hear someone say invitation?
Should I go check my mailbox?
Sorry, Dennis.
Didn't know your address.
Oh, that's okay.
My address is Dennis' neighbor, the house next door, Bisquebody Avenue.
Mindy?
Read the sign.
What?
Let's see here.
Huh.
No dumping allowed.
Nope, the other one.
Oh, right.
Let's see here.
The sign says, rage against the latrine, potty this way.
Potty?
It's a word play on the word party.
Oh, right.
I get it.
Okay, this must be the place.
There it was.
You came.
Come right in.
Make yourself at home.
Mindy, how many toilets are in this bathroom?
Wait, are those my clogs?
The shoes I brought back from my trip to Amsterdam?
What are they doing in your toilet?
Clogging it up.
And is that a tree growing out of that one?
My toilet tree?
In the spring, it's supposed to bear tiny toothbrushes.
Uh... Can I interest you in any horse doves?
Don't you mean hors d'oeuvres?
No, I mean horse doves.
See?
Ah!
I genetically engineered them by combining the DNA of a horse with the DNA of a duck.
Aren't they cute?
Tiny white flying horses?
Mindy, what did you invite me over here for?
Well, Guy Raz, I brought you here because we need to talk.
Okay, so why didn't you just call me on the phone or stop by?
You know, I do live right next door.
I mean, we could have done this literally anywhere, But your bathroom.
Well, that's the thing, Guy Raz.
See, the bathroom is really the only place we can have this particular talk.
Mindy, where are you going with this?
Well, you know how you're always saying that toilet talk belongs in the bathroom?
Yeah, I do say that to you multiple times a day.
Well, this is one of those times.
I'm not sure I follow.
Guy Raz, we need to talk about these.
Ooh, toiletries. dark chocolate truffles.
Don't mind if I do.
No, Guy Raz, stop.
Ain't no stopping me now.
Ah, Guy Raz, that's wombat poop.
Wombat poop?
Wombat poop.
That's why I invited you here to my bathroom.
We need to talk about it.
And this is the Only place where that would be appropriate.
Mindy, I don't know where you got this wombat poop from, but I think it's safe to say you've been swindled.
What?
This poop is cubed like tiny brown blocks.
Yeah, okay.
Well, number one, I got this wombat poop off the interwebs by zoodling poop cubes.
You what?
And for only $1 plus $322 plus taxes plus shipping and handling...
This little bag of wombat poops is all mine.
Wait.
Certified, authentic, and imported from Australia.
Wait a minute, Mindy.
You spent $323 on poop?
No, you did.
Mindy.
And number two, this number two is supposed to be cubed.
It's wombat poop.
Okay, now I've been to Australia and I've seen these things furry little short-legged waddling marsupials with my own four eyes, but I've never seen any cubes left behind.
Well, neither did Patricia Yang from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Oh, I've heard of her.
Isn't she that mechanical engineer who studies hydrodynamics, or the motion and action of fluids?
Yeah, and not only that, but she specializes in bodily fluids of animals, like blood Food traveling through the intestines.
Pee probably barf.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I got it.
Anywho, when she first learned that wombats do poop cubic bricks, she did what any other good scientist would do and she asked the question Oh, why?
No, actually, she asked if she could build a little poop igloo out of them.
But then she asked the question, why?
Why?
Why?
Patricia Yang had stumbled upon a scientific mystery.
My favorite kind of mystery.
So, what happened next?
Oh, wait, wait.
Let me get my popcorn.
What?
So good.
Okay, now I'm ready.
What happened next?
Well, I could tell you, Guy Raz.
Yeah?
But I'd rather show you.
Uh...
Mindy, are you sure it's a good idea to keep him in your house?
Yes, of course I'm not sure it's a good idea to keep him in my house, Guy Raz.
But he pays half the mortgage.
And he's the only one who knows how to clean out my licorice gutters.
Oh.
But you're right.
From now on, we'll keep him in your house.
Come on, Reg.
Got a long fly ahead of us.
Let's go, Guy Raz.
Hop on.
Where are we going, Mindy?
Ah!
I'll give you a few hints.
It's the smallest continent in the world.
Australia.
It's surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Australia.
It's famous for its beaches, kangaroos, and the Sydney Opera House.
Mindy, you're talking about Australia.
Ooh, I'm sorry, Guy Raz.
The correct answer is Australia.
That's what I just said.
Reg, put another shrimp on the Barbie doll and get ready for takeoff, because here we go!
Thanks for the ride, Reg!
Whoa, looks like Reggie's met his match.
What in the wow is up with that? crazy.
Look, an ostrich.
That's not an ostrich, Mindy.
That's an emu.
Only the second largest living bird by height.
I'll say.
That thing's taller than you, Guy Raz.
Sounds like she's asking Reggie for a ride.
Wait, you speak emu?
Wait, she's saying that her wings are only there for decoration and now she's bragging about how she can run like 30 miles an hour.
And she's hopping on Reggie's back, a bird riding another bird.
What is happening?
I don't know.
Come on, Reg!
Don't forget to pick us up later!
Okay, so what in the world are we doing in Australia again?
Remember, we're here to explore a cubic poop mystery.
Why do wombats poop in cubes?
Oh, right.
So, where do we begin?
Look behind you, Guy Raz.
Welcome to the poo-seum.
The poo-seum?
Yeah, like museum, only it's full of poops.
Anywho, inside this poo-seum is an immersive, interactive exhibit on wombat poops.
Come on!
We...
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run.
Hello there and welcome to the Poozeum featuring our immersive interactive exhibit on the magic and mystery of wombat bowel movements.
Two tickets, please.
Perfect.
Thank you very much.
Now, please proceed to the bag check.
Okie doke.
Excuse me, ma'am.
Please open your toolbox.
Are you sure you want me to do that?
Mindy, let him inspect the adventure toolkit so we can enter the poose-ium.
You asked for it.
Okay, everybody, stand back.
What in the... Are these cats?
Thank you.
Enjoy your day at the poose-ium.
Hey, I'm supposed to say that to you.
So, looking at the map here, it looks like our first stop is the wombat exhibit.
Oh, that must be it over there.
Huh, how can you tell?
Well, because it's a... wombat structure the size of a car wash.
Looks like the entrance is the wombat's open mouth.
This is so wow.
A giant building shaped like a wombat with a wide open mouth.
It says here on the map that we're supposed to cover ourselves in grass and then enter through the mouth as wombat food.
What is this?
Cover ourselves in grass?
Hey, anything for science, right?
Anything for science.
Okay now stay still while I dump this barrel of grass all over us, transforming us into delicious grassy wombat food.
It's itchy.
Okay, let me just see here.
Next stop, we enter the immersive exhibit through the mouth.
Whoa, is it supposed to be this dark, Mindy?
What happens next?
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our immersive and interactive exhibit on the magic and mystery of wombat poop.
For the next two and a half weeks, you will experience what it's like to travel through a wombat's digestive system, beginning as a simple meal of grasses and ending up as a one-of-a-kind cubic poop.
We're going to be converted into poop?
Anything for science.
That means anything.
Ladies and gentlemen, please follow me and step aboard the bowel mover and begin our two and a half week journey throughout the wombat's digestive tract.
Two and a half weeks?
We only bought one day tickets to the museum.
Caroz.
Two and a half weeks is the length of time it takes for a wombat's food to travel through the intestines and convert to poop.
So have a seat.
You'd think they'd speed it up for the exhibit's sake.
Just be patient, Guy Raz.
The end is where all the magic happens.
In the meantime, while we're on this bowel mover, we've got plenty of time to talk about this poop cube mystery I was telling you about.
Oh, right.
The mystery of the cubic poop.
Yeah.
So Georgia Tech's Patricia Yang and her fellow research buddies set out to discover why and how wombats poop in cubes.
And how did she exactly begin this exploration?
By collecting wombat intestines.
And by intestines you mean those long tubes found in the bodies of humans and animals that help us break down food and turn it into energy.
You know it, Guy Raz.
But what do you mean when you say collected wombat intestines?
I mean, did the wombats just give up their intestinal tracts voluntarily, or...?
Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
I should clarify that these particular intestinal tracts came from wombats who were no longer living.
May they rest in peace.
Oh.
So the next thing they did was pretty wow.
Oh, yeah?
What's that?
Well, in the spirit of anything for science, Patricia Yang and her fellow research buddies pumped up these intestines, blowing them up like giant freakish balloons.
Ugh.
Are you making this up, Mindy?
Not this time, Guy Raz.
They did this to compare the stretchiness of the wombat intestines to the stretchiness of pig intestines.
And what was the difference?
Well, the difference was that while the pig intestines had sort of an even stretchiness throughout, the wombat intestines' stretchiness was super uneven, especially in two separate, distinct places.
Meaning that, when the food went through the digestion process and turned into poop, that uneven stretchiness created uneven pressure, which was then put on the poop before it.
Yeah,
Before it, um... I believe the word you're looking for is popped out the wombat's butt.
Yeah, the butt.
And it looks like we're almost there.
Has it been two and a half weeks already?
Well, judging by the time on this watch I'm not wearing right now, I'd say time flies when you're having fun.
Guy Raz.
Now, we're nearing the end of our journey, and this is where all the magic happens.
Are we going to be turned into magic poops?
Hold on tight, Guy Raz.
We're about to reach the first uneven stretchy groove in the intestine. ingestion process.
We're firming up and the intestine is squeezing us into cubes.
Poop cubes.
Now close your eyes, Guy Raz.
We're about to pop out the...
You look like a cubic poop emoji with googly eyes.
And you look like a cubic poop emoji with googly eyes and glasses.
So now what do we do?
Wait, are we in a gift shop?
Ooh, souvenirs.
Hey, stop taking our picture.
Poop is a private matter.
Too bad your pictures won't be scratched and snipped.
Am I right?
Okay, Guy Raz, here's what we're going to do.
We're going to take a deep, cleansing breath.
Then we're gonna stretch and shimmy until we bust loose from these compact poop cubes, okay?
Take a deep breath.
Stretch it out!
Stretch it out!
Gimme a shimmy!
Stretch it out!
There we go!
Good as new!
Ooh, look!
This gift shop has those little Personalized license plates and keychains.
Let's see if we can find one that says Guy Raz.
Keychains?
Mindy, I think we need to take some time to digest what we just experienced in there.
Yeah?
Well, now that we know how cubic poop is formed, the question we're left with is... Why?
So, as you may recall, that was the first question that led Patricia Yang on her journey to solve this mystery.
So...
Did she discover the answer?
Here's the thing, Guy Raz.
Wombats, which are nocturnal animals... Meaning that they sleep all day and poop all night?
Yeah, basically.
So every night, they poop out 80 to 100 little one-inch poops.
One cubic inch?
Well, almost that big.
And they use these poops to communicate and to mark their territory so that potential mates know where to find them.
Mark their territory?
Do they use them as bricks to build tiny wombat poop huts?
I wish, but no.
But wombats are known for having pretty bad eyesight, so...
How will other wombats even know where to find them once they've marked their territory?
Well, what they lack in vision, they make up for with their supersonic sense of smell.
Ah, yes, I've heard about this.
Hey, Roz, have you ever dreamed of smelling wombat poop the way that a wombat smells its poop?
Uh, no.
Well, then today is your lucky day.
Please.
Hang on a second.
I got to get it out of my adventure toolkit first.
I know I put it in here somewhere.
Dog toy?
I don't even have a dog.
Here it is.
Here it is.
Okay, Guy Raz presenting the Handy Dandy 5D Sensory Hat D. My friend Amina made it for us.
Here, stay still and I'll put it on your head.
Stay still.
I got to fasten the chin straps.
There we go.
What is all this stuff hanging off of it?
Geras, those are the sensors.
Oh.
See, Mina is a world-renowned inventorito from Southern California and she invented this hat helmet as a way for us to experience the five senses the way that animals do.
Like the way that wombats smell with supersonic sniff power.
You know it.
OK, now let me just attach this doohickey to your nose here.
And adjust the settings on the dial here on top.
There, that should do it.
Okay, deep breath through your nose.
Pretty wow, huh?
Oh, Brittany, get this helmet off of me.
Stay still.
There we go.
So that's how wombats do it.
They take their poop cubes, mark their territory and then wait for other potential wombat mates to smell their stinky surroundings.
And then they fall in love.
Or something like that.
So wombat poop plays a valuable role in a wombat's life.
And, if you think about it, it might be safe to say that their poop is essential to the survival of wombats as a species.
Exact Doritos.
And, as a major bonus, the unusual cubed shape of the poop helps to keep it from rolling down a hill or in the wind.
Genius!
So why don't we make all poop like this?
I know, right?
If I had a nickel for every time, your cat Alice's poop would just roll away underneath your refrigerator when I was cat-sitting for her.
What?
Before we leave, Guy Raz, I want you to look to the left of this gift shop, right through that big window over there.
Huh, looks like a bunch of scientists and engineers and manufacturers are working on something.
Yeah.
So once scientist Patricia Yang got to the bottom of this mystery, the scientific community went bonker balls thinking of all the things they could do.
If only they could find a way to make fake wombat intestines.
Oh, yeah.
It's something called biomimicry, or using nature as a model for human inventions.
Wow, like using it in manufacturing to make cubes.
I mean, just imagine all of the biomimicry possibilities, Guy Raz.
Cubic wombat poops as a model for bricks and blocks and board game dyes and chocolates?
Okay, time to put the poop talk back in the bathroom.
Man.
You know, why don't we try to find one of those little keychains with our names on it?
Or a souvenir pair of poop dice to hang from the rearview mirror of Reggie.
Reggie has a... Reggie right in the middle of the gift shop?
Now if only nature could find a way to pack bird poop into neat little cubes.
We're going to need a cleanup on aisle seven.
Wow in the World will be right back.
Grown-ups, this message is for you.
Hey, grown-ups.
It's Mindy and Guy Raz here from Wow in the World.
Mindy and I have some brand new Wow in the World toys out in the world just in time for the holidays.
Made for the kids who love science and for the ones who don't.
From our 100 experiments, that wow kit to the telescope and astronomy kit.
Our wow in the world toys help your wowzer learn about their world through play.
Plus, you can hear exclusive audio content from me and Guy Raz to help your wowzer discover even more wows.
Grownups.
Give the gift of wow and wonder this holiday season with our latest wow in the world toys designed with your curiosity.
That's it.
Back to the show.
Hi, thanks for calling Wow in the World.
After the beep, get ready to record.
Hi, Mindy.
Hi, Guy Raz.
My name is Noam, and I live in Kfosaba, Israel.
My wow in the world is that Mindy gets around by a pigeon.
Hi, my name is Wyatt, and I live in Austin, Texas.
My wow in the world is that dinosaurs' brains are as small as a walnut.
Hi, my name is Rowan.
I live in Canada, New York.
And my own world is this.
The four states of matter of plasma can be found in light bulbs, when you turn them on, and in light bulbs.
Say hi to Reggie for me.
Maybe even Dennis, who's annoying.
Reggie!
Reggie!
I heard my name!
Well, what did he say?
I am so...
Hi, Mindy and Guyrod.
My name is Oliver, and my wow in the world is that frogs don't drink water.
They absorb it through their skin.
Bye, Mindy and Guyrod.
Hi, my name is Millie, and I live in Los Angeles, California.
My wow in the world is that a one-day-old reindeer can outrun most humans.
Hi, my name is Liam, and I live in Phoenix, Arizona.
And my wow in the world is that can change their gender.
Bye, Mindy and Guy Raz.
Say hi to Reggie.
Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz.
My name is Wynn, and I come from Petaluma, California.
And my wow in the world is that the International Space Station is three blue whales long.
Bye.
Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz.
My name is Audrey, and I am from Boca Raton, Florida. that the universe is 13.8 billion years old.
I love your podcast.
Say hi to Reggie for me.
Goodbye.
Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz.
My name is Maren, and I live in Brisbane, Australia.
My wow in the world is that octopi decorate their home with rocks and shells, but they don't do it for any fighting mechanisms.
They just do it for it to look pretty.
I think it's really cute.
Bye.
Hi, my name is Nathan.
End of messages.
Hey, everyone.
Thank you so much for watching. for hanging out with us this week on Wow in the World.
And to keep the wow rolling, check out this week's scientific conversation starters at our website wowintheworldcom.
And grownups.
There you can find more info on how your kids can become members of the World Organization of Wowzers shop, our wow shop.
Upload photos and videos to us and check dates for our upcoming live events.
That's wowintheworld.com.
Our show is produced by Jed Anderson.
Who provides the bells, whistles, and silly characters.
Say hello, Jed.
Hello.
Our show is written by me, Guy Raz, and Thomas Van Kalken, who also provides silly characters.
Tom?
Hello there.
Thanks also to Jessica Bode, Casey Koffer, Rebecca Caban, Kit Ballinger, and Alex Curley.
Meredith Halpern-Ranzer powers the wow at Tinkercast.
Our theme song was composed and performed by The Pop-Ups.
For more info on their two-time Grammy-nominated all-ages music, find them at thepopups.com.
And grown-ups, you can follow Wow in the World on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at wowintheworld.
And our email address is hello at wowintheworld.com.
And if you're a kid with a big wow to share with us, call us at 1-888-WOW for a chance to be featured at the end of the show.
Also, if you haven't already done so, please subscribe to Wow in the World on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Yeah, leave us a few stars, a review, or just tell a friend about the show.
Thanks again for listening and until next time, keep on wowing.
Wow in the World is made Bye, Tinkercast.
And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short survey at wondery.com slash survey.
