[The Thousand-Legged Wonder: Unveiling the Eumillipes Persephone]-[One True Millipede]

Wow in the World · B1 · 2022-05-09

📋 Summary

The Mystery at the Knuckle Hut

In this episode of Wow in the World, hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz find themselves at the “Knuckle Hut,” a restaurant owned by their acquaintance Thomas Fingerling. The atmosphere is electric as a massive crowd has gathered for a mysterious “world record attempt.” While Mindy is initially driven by her hunger for a “pork knuckle taco,” her curiosity is piqued by rumors that the event involves bugs.

The Discovery of Eumillipes Persephone

After some sleuthing—and help from Grandma G-Force—Mindy and Guy Raz discover that the record-breaking candidate is a millipede found by Mr. Fingerling in a “mystery box” labeled Eumillipes Persephone. The creature had accidentally arrived during a routine inventory check, leading Mr. Fingerling to contact the “Genius Book of World Records” to verify its unique physiology.

Scientific Insights: Latin and Evolution

Using a Latin translator on his “guy phone,” Guy Raz breaks down the name Eumillipes Persephone. The term Eumillipes translates to “truly thousand-footed,” challenging the common misconception that millipedes possess exactly 1,000 legs. In reality, most millipedes have between 40 and 400 legs.

The hosts dive into the evolutionary biology of this species. Discovered by researchers in Western Australia in 2020, this specific millipede has evolved to have no eyes because it lives deep underground in complete darkness. The name Persephone draws from Greek mythology—referencing the goddess of spring who spent winters in the underworld—aptly describing a creature that dwells beneath the surface.

A New World Record

As the official judge from the Genius Book of World Records meticulously counts the legs under a microscope, the tension rises. Ultimately, the millipede is confirmed to have 1,306 legs, shattering previous records. The episode notes that because this species is so rare—with only eight individuals found in the wild—there is potential for this record to be broken again as scientists continue their research. The variation in leg counts among the discovered specimens is significant, with some having as few as 800 legs and others over 1,300.

Conclusion

Despite Mr. Fingerling’s initial plan to return the creature to avoid the costs of ownership, Mindy becomes attached to the “eye-less” wonder, naming it “Footloose.” The episode concludes with the hosts deciding to adopt the millipede, planning to keep it under Mindy’s “gingerbread mansion” while committing to learning how to knit “little booties” for its thousands of feet, leaving the audience with a blend of scientific curiosity and the show’s signature whimsical humor.

🎯Key Sentences

It's going to be a November to remember.

But for now, let's get on with the show.

Tell me about it.

I can't remember the last time we ate at the knuckle hut.

You're telling me it took me a week to bake this bad boy.

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📝Key Phrases

music to your ears

get on with the show

tell me about it

a little birdie told me

going down

Expand All

📖 Transcript

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.

Or study on the web version →