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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 7 pm.
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!
Okay, okay, let's see here.
One warm glass of oat milk, check.
20 minutes of meditation, check.
Alpaca wool pajamas, check.
And teeth brushed and flossed, check.
All right, all ready for bed.
Okay, okay, hey, Zoodle.
Set an alarm for 8 o'clock.
Okay, setting off the fire alarm.
No, no, no, Zoodle.
Set an alarm for 8 o'clock in the mor... Blah!
I'm sorry.
I can't find anyone in your contact named Blah.
Hello?
Is there anyone there?
Blah!
It's okay.
It's okay.
It's, uh...
Probably just the house settling in.
Yeah, that'll be it.
Maybe some TV will calm me down.
Come to the Spit Take Restaurant for family-friendly atmosphere and our new citrus rind salad with coffee ground compote for the low, low price of just 7.
Coming up this week.
In sports, the Chili Chomping World Championship is heating up and Grandma G-Force is here to defend her title against the Chili Chomper from Colorado.
Grandma G-Force, what do you have to say?
When I tell you, this little mountain boy don't know what he's jumping himself into.
And another thing.
Are you spooked by things that go bump, bleh, or grr in the middle of the night?
Yes.
I can't hear you.
Yes.
If you just screamed yes at your TV, Then have no fear!
We're here to help with all of your seemingly paranormal problemos!
Introducing... Ghost catchers!
Ghost catchers?
That's right!
Ghost catchers!
Don't delay!
Pick up the phone and call us today!
Hey, that rhymed!
Give us a call at 555-555-555
Ghost catchers!
I know I really shouldn't, but... Okay, let's see here.
Five, five, five.
Five, five, five.
Five, five, five.
One.
Hello, ghost catchers.
You fear them, we clear them.
Hi, yes.
I think I might have a paranormal problemo and... Not a problem, sir.
We'll send over our... ghost catcher right away.
Wait, don't you need my address or... Wow, that was... fast.
Guy Ross!
Mindy, what are you doing here?
It's the middle of the night.
What do you mean, what am I doing here?
You called me.
Wait, what?
Yeah, remember?
You fear him, we clear him.
Wait a minute, that was your voice on the commercial?
Your ghost?
Ghost catchers?
Well, that's what my jacket says.
Look, it's got sequins and everything.
Mindy, since when are you an expert in the supernatural?
Since I got my online degree last week.
Here, check it out.
Mindy, this is just a napkin with I am qualified written on it.
Yeah, I know.
Anywho, you gonna invite Reggie and me inside, or are you just gonna leave us out here in our sparkly jackets?
Reggie is out here too?
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, he's my trainee.
He's just grabbing the gear from the ice cream truck.
Uh, ghost catching mobile.
Oh, excuse me.
It'll just be a second.
Okay.
All right.
So, can we come in?
Well, I guess so.
I mean, I'll take all the help I can get at this point.
After you, Reg.
Womp, womp, womp, womp, womp.
Okay, so where can we put down our gear?
Oh, just here in the living room is fine.
Just make sure to... Just here, Reg!
Keep it tidy.
Okay, so what seems to be the problem, Guy Razzi?
Well, Mindy, I know this might sound a little bit silly, but I think my house might be haunted.
That doesn't sound silly, Guy Raz.
This sounds silly.
Indy!
So, what makes you think that your minimalist, Scandinavian-inspired bungalow is, uh, haunted?
Well, I was trying to get to sleep just a few minutes ago, and I kept on hearing... Ah!
That!
Hmm, okay.
Uh, Reggie, can you hand me one of those evaluation forms, please and thank you?
Thank you.
Okay, let's see here.
Paranormal evaluation for one guy.
What's your last name again?
Mindy.
Guy Mindy.
Funny name.
Okay, so how long have you had this property for, sir?
Almost a hundred episodes.
Okay, well, the house should have Dolphinately settled in by now.
Okay.
And when was the last time you replaced your frosting?
Frosting?
Mindy, my house is not made out of gingerbread and frosting.
It's made out of ethically sourced and sustainable timber.
Each piece laser cut precisely and shaped perfectly for one another.
There's no frosting necessary.
Well, then it must be ghosts.
Unless...
Unless what?
Eros, have you been to the beach recently?
Well, yeah, we just went last week, remember?
Just one more seashell and done!
A perfect scale model replica of the Empire State Building in sand.
Uh-oh, that's not a good sound.
Yeah, it took Reggie and me two hours to dig you out from under there.
Well, why are you asking about the beach anyway?
Well, Guy Raz, I think you might actually have ghosts in your house.
What?
Just not the kind you're thinking of.
Not the kind I'm thinking of?
Mindy, what in the wow are you talking about?
I'm talking about ghost crabs.
Ghost crabs?
Like...
Crabs from beyond the grave?
Don't be redonkulous, Guy Raz.
You're thinking of zombie crabs.
Ghost crabs are a species of crab that get their name from their pale color and the fact that they never reply to their texts.
Really?
Okay, I made up that last part.
But they are very pale and they only come out at night.
Sort of like ants.
A ghost!
Exact Doritos.
And what would make you think that I have a ghost crab infestation?
Well, they are found all over the American Atlantic coast.
And they are known to make some spooky sounds.
I agree, Reg.
Guy Raz, we're going to have to inspect the entire house before we can say for sure.
Well, okay.
Why don't we start over here?
Okay.
Don't mind if I don't.
Hey, Reg, pass me that broomstick over there, will ya?
Broomstick?
Oh, yeah.
It's one of my highly sophisticated ghost-catching gadgets.
Oh, how does it work?
It's a little complicated, but stay with me.
You hold it here like this.
Okay.
And then you knock it on the wall to see if the crab makes that weird noise again like this.
But Mindy, why do these ghost crabs sound so angry?
Well, maybe they're just a little hungry.
Hungry?
Yeah, you never had a grumbly tummy before?
Well, there was that one time.
You sure you don't want to eat this triple caramel tuna fish popcorn guy, Rog?
That's the best combo yet.
No thanks, Mindy.
I think I'll pass.
More for me.
Oh, the movie's starting.
Oh, Guy Raz, was that you?
Um... Shh, be quiet.
Guy Raz, your stomach is making more noise than a cat in a car wash.
Well, I can't help it.
Is there a small lion in here?
Uh, yeah, maybe.
Maybe I have had a grumbly tummy once or twice.
Yeah, so these crabs are the same.
Really?
Well, they're the same in that they have grumbly tummies.
Go on.
But they're different in the way that when their stomachs growl, they are 100% in control.
On command stomach growling.
Yep.
So how do they do it?
Well, they do it using the mouth.
The mouth in their stomach?
Mindy, what are you talking about?
I'm talking about the ghost crab's gastric mill.
Gastric mill?
Yeah, it's a set of teeth located in the crab's guts that help it to process food.
The ghost crab has teeth in its stomach, Guy Raz!
And I guess by grinding these teeth together, they're able to make that growling sound?
Well, according to a recent study by Jennifer Taylor from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography yes,
Wait a minute.
I think I know about this, Mindy.
What you're describing is known in the animal kingdom as a vocalization.
A vocalization?
Yes, vocalizations are the sounds that people or animals make to communicate information to one another.
Ah.
Ah, so like how we're talking to each other right now.
Yes, exactly.
Human speech is a great example of vocalization.
But it's not just humans that vocalize.
Other animals do it too.
Birds when they sing, cats when they purr.
Or ghost crabs when they growl.
That's exactly right, Mindy.
But how are we going to find these little guys anyway, Mindy?
Oh, we're not.
We're not?
Nope.
We're going to let them vocalize. find us.
Well, how?
Oh, well, I'm so glad you asked.
Hey, Reg, did you bring in my adventure toolkit?
Thanks, Reg.
Just open this up here.
OK.
Oh, here they are.
Oh, Mindy, that stinks.
What are those things?
They're clams.
Clams?
Yep.
I use them for after-dinner mince.
What?
But they also just so happen to be a ghost crab's favorite food.
Huh.
Wait.
So we're going to lure them out with these clams?
Yep.
And then we're going to catch them with this.
Oh, yeah.
Another one of your high-tech ghost-catching gadgets, huh?
No.
This is just a $2 butterfly net.
Here, hold these.
Ugh.
Ugh.
Okay, and just one more thing.
Where are they?
Ah, got it.
Mindy, what is that?
Melted butter and garlic.
What?
For the clams.
These crabs are super fancy when it comes to their food.
Why is it in the paper bag?
Because I'm trying to be more eco-friendly.
Now, hold still while I marinate.
Oh, ah.
Mindy, you got this stuff everywhere.
Now, let's get this bag. laid it up here.
That's a beautiful presentation.
Mindy, are you using my artisanal dinner plates?
I knew you would want it this way.
Now, quick, follow me behind the couch.
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack.
Crouch.
Mindy.
Shh, Guy Raz.
We have to pay attention.
These little crabs are only about two inches wide and the same pale color as your pine floorboards.
So we have to pay attention if we want to... Ooh, there's a couple over there!
I can fix that!
It touched me!
Got him!
Quick, Kairos, pass me that bucket.
Bucket?
Yeah, the bedazzled one in the toolkit.
Uh... Okay, I got it.
Okay.
On the count of three.
Ready?
Three!
Nice work, Guy Raz.
I should make you an honorary ghost catcher.
I do have a spare jacket in the van.
Uh, no thanks, Mindy.
I'm fine.
Aw, look at these little ghosty crabbies.
They're so cute with their little claws and their six fudgy little legs.
Their adorable little exoskeleton.
Oh, you're a Ghosty crabby, aren't you?
Yes, you are.
Yes, you are.
Maybe not that cute.
Whoa, Mindy, did you just see that?
See what?
When that ghost crab made its creepy little growling noise.
Yeah?
It looked as though it was using its claws to make the noise.
But I thought you said that they made that noise with their stomachs.
Well, it's kind of both.
Both?
Yeah, so those researchers I was telling you about earlier.
They found that these crabs make those noises when they're put under hostile situations.
You mean like being trapped in my walls or being scooped up into a bedazzled beach bucket?
Exactly.
Or in the wild when they're being approached by another crab or a predator.
They'll make this noise?
Yeah, to try and scare them off.
Like when other animals...
Growl like a dog?
Exactoritos.
They have these little bristles on each of their claws that they rub together to make that sound.
So where does the grumbly tummy come in?
Well, the researchers observed, or noticed, that there was a second sound coming from the crabs when they made this growling noise.
And that second sound was coming... from inside the crab.
So how did these researchers figure out that it was the crab's weird mouth stomach that was making all this sound?
They found out using a scientific tool called a laser Doppler vibrometer.
Oh, I think I've heard of it before, Mindy.
It's a scientific tool that uses lasers to measure how much something is vibrating.
Exactly.
And by using this tool, they were able to see that the part of the crab that was vibrating the most, And therefore making that secondary noise, Was the crab.
So Mindy, if these crabs are already able to make this noise with their big, scary claws, why do they also need to growl with their stomachs?
Well, the researchers think that these crabs might use the sound of their claws to scare off opponents from a distance.
But the stomach growling?
Well, that's for when things get up close and personal.
Uh-huh.
Well, we better get these little cuties back to the Atlantic where they belong.
Thank you once again for choosing Ghost Catchers.
Oh, yeah, and don't forget to rate us on Whelp.
Well, thank you once again, Mindy.
I can finally sleep soundly.
It's not a problem, sir.
Just doing not my job.
Hey, Reg!
Fire up the van!
Whelp!
Finally, some peace and quiet.
Mindy, wait, wait!
Mindy, come back!
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 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 yet.
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 curious wowzer in mind.
You can shop our Wow in the World toys at Tinkercast.com slash toys.
That's Tinkercast.com slash toys.
Hi, thanks for calling Wow in the World.
After the beep, get ready to record.
Hi, my name is Finn and I live in Northern California, and my Wow in the World is that when the astronauts from the Apollo missions were sent to the moon,
They left their poo and pee in plastic bags there.
I love your show.
Say hi to Reggie for me.
Hi, Mindy.
Hi, Guy Raz.
My name is Nina, and I'm from Chilliwack, Canada.
Did you know that in some Asian countries, people harvest coffee beans from cat poo?
Love your show.
Say hi to Reggie and Dennis, the best person in the world.
My name is Madden, and I'm from Seattle, Washington.
My wow in the world is that by terraforming, which is like transforming a part of a planet to another, there's a possibility we could live on Mars.
Isn't that crazy?
Hi, my name is Josie.
I live in Belmont Massachusetts, and my wow in the world is that jellyfish lay their eggs on top of water so other predators don't get to eat it.
And hi, Grandma Deep Forest.
Anybody want an arm wrestle?
And Reggie.
Hi, my name is Benjamin.
I live in Knoxville Tennessee, and my wow is that there's a mountain on Mars and Mount Everest is shorter than Earth.
Hi, my name is Grace, and I live in Allen, Texas.
And my wow in the world is that cheetahs have lines on their face to keep the sun out of their eyes.
Bye, Mindy and Guy Raz.
I'm Penny.
I live in Baltimore, Maryland.
Did you know that jellyfish don't have eyes, ears, or a brain?
Isn't that weird?
Say hi to Reggie, Annoying Dennis, and Mindy for me.
Hi, Dennis.
Hi, I'm Max.
I'm from Lakewood, Washington.
And my wow in the world. is that there are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on Earth.
And by the way, Reggie... Bye.
End of messages.
Hey everyone, thank you so much 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, Anna Zagorski, 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 on their three-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.
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!
And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short survey at wondery.com slash survey.
