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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! news, your source for animal news, and specifically, their bad habits.
I'm Norman Newman.
Tonight we bring you a story out of central China's Foping National Nature Reserve, where wild pandas are reportedly covering themselves in poop.
Wait, what?
Guy Raz, come over here!
Coming!
Get a load of this!
We now go live to the Foping National Nature Reserve, where our brand new A spy witness reporter is standing by with the latest.
Mr. Spy Witness, are you there?
Hello?
Hey, cameraman, what's that red light?
What?
What are you looking at me like that for?
Dennis, you're live.
I am?
I'm on TV?
Dennis?
I'm on TV!
Mother!
Mother, look!
I'm on TV.
I'm on TV.
Clap, clap.
Mr. Spy Witness, Your report, please.
Oh, right, right, right, right.
Ahem.
Thank you, Norman.
I'm here on the scene snooping for the scoop.
The scoop on poop.
Scoop on poop?
Are you hearing this, Guy Raz?
He's a natural.
And at the center of today's poop scoop is the giant panda.
Oh, I love pandas.
They're super cute.
Oh, no, Norman.
Oh, no, no, no.
These pandas...
Roll around in poop.
Oh, my.
Am I hearing you correctly?
Did you say poop?
Yes, Norman, poop.
And no one seems to be asking any questions.
So I, Dennis, spy witness reporter, will get some answers.
Wonderful, Dennis.
Just be tactful, polite, and when you approach... Hey, Panda!
Yeah, you!
Why are you covered in poop?
Is that what a panda sounds like?
Fascinating.
Well, there you have it.
Straight from the panda's mouth.
I don't know what you're saying!
Back to you, Norman.
Thank you, Dennis.
In other news, a crab-eating raccoon from South America was spotted last week eating lobster.
What?
No, Dennis!
I need answers!
Actually, Mindy.
I just read about this strange phenomenon in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
There was a scientific study about Dennis' report on pandas smothering themselves in poop?
Yes, it was conducted by a team of researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and led by a biologist named Fu Wenwei.
Well, a biologist is a scientist who studies the natural world and the things living in it, and both pandas and pandas poop fit the bill, so Exactly.
Dr Wei and his team were studying giant pandas, specifically wild giant pandas, in the Qingling Mountains of central China.
Oh, hold that thought, Guy Raz.
It's Dennis.
Dennis?
Jello!
Mendy!
Did you see me?
On the TV?
What's he saying?
Who's that?
Is that Guy? the way you interviewed that panda?
We had no idea you had a new job as a TV news reporter, Dennis.
Yeah, you're a professional professional snoop now, Dennis.
Well, I'm not exactly sure this job is gonna work out.
What?
The network fired me.
You got fired your first day on the job?
Yeah, they didn't even tell me why.
Uh, because you have zero experience or Whose side are you on, Guy?
Yeah, whose side are you on, Guy Raz?
Well, I'm just saying as someone who did spend years serving as a professional foreign correspondent.
Dennis, where are you now?
Well, that's what I'm calling.
I'm just a tiny bit stranded in China with a bunch of poop-covered pandas.
Sorry, sorry.
Can you come get me?
The network didn't even fly you home after they fired you? economy with three layovers.
Okay, Dennis, stay calm.
We will be right there to rescue you.
We will?
Just tell us exactly where you are.
Okay, let's see.
I am somewhere cold and there are too many trees and the ground is covered in snow.
Oh, and there's dirt under that.
Oh, and there are giant pandas everywhere and some of them Just sit tight and we'll be right there.
Thanks, Mindy.
You're one of the good ones.
Phew.
Okay, now, Guy Raz, where exactly did you say that that poo-poo panda party study took place?
Okay, it wasn't a poo-poo panda party.
It was a... No, just where did the researchers discover the poop pandas?
Well, to be clear, they were giant pandas, not big.
Poop pandas, and they were first discovered by Dr. Wei back in the year 2007.
Okay, but where?
Oh, in the Qingling Mountains of central China.
Okay, great.
Now, let me just look this up here.
Qingling Mountains, also known as the Sichuan Alps, located in southern Shaanxi, China.
Wow, that's a pretty big...
Big and vast mountain range, Guy Raz.
Oh, wait.
I remember the news anchor mentioned something about a National Nature Reserve.
Yes, yes, that's it.
The Fo Ping National Nature Reserve.
Great.
Now we just need to get dressed for the rescue mission. rescue mission?
Yes, we promised Dennis that we would go rescue him.
And he also mentioned that it was cold there, so I've got the perfect costumes to keep us warm while helping us to.
You know, blend in with the locals, if you know what I mean.
No, I don't know what you mean.
Wait, did you say costumes?
Hang on, I know they're in this closet somewhere.
One panda suit for you, Guy Raz.
And one panda suit for me.
Now just step right into it and I'll zip up the back, okay?
There we go.
Now, just stay still while I pop your head on here.
Can't I just wear my own head, Mindy?
I mean, you could, but your own head wouldn't really match your panda body.
Pop on the panda head.
That's the spirit.
Look at yourself in this mirror while I step into my panda suit here.
I am adorable.
I look so cute and cuddly, Mindy.
Like a big, soft and squishy panda.
I could be a boo-boo beanie bopper.
Give me a zip.
Oh, right.
Here you go.
Okay, so how are we planning to get to China to rescue Dennis?
Well, follow me right outside here.
Reggie!
Reggie, of course.
Service with a smile.
Reggie, we really need a ride to the Foping National Nature Reserve in central China.
Oh, because Dennis is stranded forest with a bunch of poop-covered pandas.
Do you think you can give us a ride, Reggie?
We're on a bit of a rescue mission.
Yes.
Okay, hop on, Guy Raz.
Here, I'll pull you up.
There we go.
Operation Rescue Dennis from the Poop Poop Panda Party here we go!
Mindy, this nature reserve is huge.
From the sky, it looked like it spanned over 100 miles at least.
135 square miles, or 350 square kilometers to be exact.
Well, how are we supposed to find Dennis among all these trees?
Maybe we should just call for him?
Dad! should just listen for him.
Oh, sorry.
Sorry.
You know, Dennis' voice does tend to, uh, travel.
Alright.
Ah!
Quit sniffing at me like that!
What?
I gave you all my food already!
Well, how would you like it if I sniffed in your face?
I'd recognize that voice anywhere.
All right, you're asking for it.
Sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff.
Oh, yuck.
What is that smell?
Oh, yeah, it's poop.
Dennis!
It's coming from this way, Guy Raz.
Come on.
Slow down, Mindy.
It's hard to run in this panda suit.
Listen, you all look very cute and cuddly, but I don't want to be near you.
We're getting closer.
Dennis!
We'll save you!
Did you hear that?
It's humans!
They must be here to rescue me!
Help!
Help!
Save me!
Save me!
Save me!
There he is, Guy Raz!
It's him!
Dennis!
Save me!
Save me!
Oh, Ray.
It's just more pandas.
Dennis!
It's us!
Mindy and Guy Raz!
And Reggie!
Yeah, we're just wearing matching panda suits.
Matching panda suits?
You look ridiculous.
See, I told you we look ridiculous, Mindy.
Dennis, we're here on a rescue mission to bring you back home.
And also we wanted to see the poop-smothered pandas.
Wait, that's why we're here?
Well, I got plenty of those.
Feast your eyes.
And nose.
Yeah, they've been rolling around in horse poop all day.
Uh, did you say horse poop?
That's right.
Horse poop.
Yeah, but horse poop?
Mindy!
Yes!
Horse poop!
Why do you keep saying it?
Well, it's just that the habitats of horses and giant pandas don't usually overlap naturally in the wild.
And on top of that, giant pandas are solitary animals, meaning that they often live alone and don't tend to socialize the way other animals do.
Well, that is true, but over thousands of years...
Humans have been bringing horses through the kindling mountains, as they deliver supplies and such to farmers who live up here.
Ew, like the Pony Express.
Look, here comes a horse now.
What a coincidence.
Ew.
Yikes.
That's a whole lot of horse poop.
Sure is.
Now watch what that giant panda does.
It's.
Buys the fresh pile of horse poop, takes a big ol' whiff of it, gently rubs its cheeks in it, and There it is.
It's rolling around in it!
It's rolling in the horse poop!
I can't watch anymore.
Okay, Guy Raz, I'll narrate for you.
And now it's using its little giant panda paws to smother horse poop over every inch of its big furry body and face.
Oh, you're right, Reggie.
The poop is exceptionally fresh.
I think I'm going to be sick.
We interrupt this episode of Wild in the World for a brief bath break.
Here we are.
And now back to your regularly scheduled program.
There, you feeling better now, Guy-Rod?
Yeah, I'm better now.
Well, back to the big mystery then.
Why would these pandas smear themselves with another species' feces?
Well, that's exactly what Dr. Wei and his fellow researchers wanted to find out.
Especially since this behavior of stealing another species' feces is so unusual.
Well, did they have a hypothesis or an educated guess as to why these pandas would do this?
Actually, they did.
Dr Wei and his team had the hypothesis that maybe, by coating themselves in horse poop, these giant pandas were helping to keep themselves warm during the cold winter months.
Ah, nothing like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket of fresh feces.
Mindy, no!
Ugh!
Well, what happened next, Guy?
Did they interview the pandas?
Well, to test their hypothesis, they set up an experiment.
An experiment that lasted an entire year.
A whole year?
Sounds like they were testing their patience to me.
Dr. Wei and his team set out camera traps in this very nature reserve.
Camera traps?
Ooh, camera traps.
Snooping 101.
That's right.
These camera traps were cameras hidden among the trees, rocks, and ground covering.
And they contained sensors that detected movement.
Oh, so cameras that only took pictures when there was action happening.
Exactly.
Huh.
So what did they do after setting the camera traps, Sky Roz?
Well, they waited.
From June 2016 until July 2017, the cameras would wait for any movement from the giant pandas and horses.
And when the cameras detected a panda or a horse in action, they'd start recording.
Ooh, candid cameras.
And over the course of that year the cameras captured 38 instances of giant pandas rolling around in horse poop.
And every single time, they followed the same detailed steps that we just saw a minute ago.
So this place is home to giant panda poop parties.
Yes, but why, Guy?
Why?
Well, it appears that the pandas were drawn to the smell of the poop.
Oh.
Ew.
And the freshest poop newer than 10 days old seemed to attract the pandas more than the older poop.
And when they examined this poop back in their lab, the scientists discovered that it contained two chemical compounds called sesquiterpenes that are commonly found in plants.
Huh.
Well, that would make sense, since horses are herbivores, meaning that they only eat like hay and grass.
I mean, what goes in must come out.
Well, I don't get it.
This doesn't connect to the hypothesis that smearing horse poop all over their bodies keeps pandas warm in the winter.
Ah, but it does, Dennis.
Oh, well, that makes it.
Oh, wait a minute.
No, it doesn't.
Let him finish his story, Dennis.
Fine, fine, fine, fine.
So for the next part of the experiment, Dr Wei and his team smeared some of these sesquiterpene chemicals onto the fur and paws of some mice in their lab.
OK.
And what they found was that these chemicals essentially numbed or stopped the mice's bodies from feeling the chill of freezing air.
Whoa.
And since horse poop is packed With sesquiterpenes, Dr Wei and his team believe that the giant pandas really could be smothering themselves in horse poop in an attempt to stay warm.
Well, there certainly is strong evidence to suggest it, but more experiments will be needed before we can know for sure.
Okay, okay.
I hate to burst your bubble here, you two, but you seem to have forgotten pandas have fur.
You know? to help keep warm.
Yeah, good observation, Dennis.
I mean, Guy Raz, isn't that the whole point of having fur to keep the animal warm?
Well, that is true, but in their year-long study, the scientists learned that the giant pandas only seem to roll in the horse poop during the coldest winter months, when the temperatures were near or below freezing.
Huh, maybe It's like how we humans might add an extra layer of coat or jacket to protect ourselves from the cold wind.
Well, it's possible, but staying warm in the winter can also be challenging for giant pandas, as they don't hibernate the way other bears do.
Oh, well, I didn't know that.
Yeah, and I guess their low-calorie bamboo diets make it hard for them to store fat in their bodies, to insulate themselves from the cold too.
I didn't know that either.
Is it possible that, even though covering their bodies in horse poop isn't something that they would naturally do, that maybe it's something that they've adapted to over the thousands of years that horses have been coming through this region of China?
It's possible.
And just like any good experiment, sometimes the answers just lead to more questions.
Like maybe, does it just feel good?
Help me.
There's only one way to find out.
Oh no, no, no, no, no, no.
Come on, we're dressed like giant pandas, Guy Raz.
Consider these suits our own protective layers.
Yeah, Guy, come on.
Haven't you ever wanted to prance around in fresh horse poo?
No.
Well, moan for me then.
No, Dennis!
You're not wearing any...
Ew, ew!
Save me, Mindy!
Oh, no!
It's so gross!
Dennis, I promised that I would rescue you today, and I am keeping that promise!
Now stand back!
I'm coming in!
Run, run, run, run, run, run!
Oh!
Ooh!
This is kind of fun!
Come on in, Tyros!
Your panda suit will protect you from the poop!
Oh, I hate it, I hate it, I hate it, I hate it, I hate it!
Ah!
In the spirit of anything for science, I'm coming in.
Yay!
Well, great.
Now who's going to save us?
Reggie?
I mean, look at him.
He seems busy, like he's about to deliver a live news broadcast or something.
Wait a minute.
Reggie, did you replace me as spy witness for bad habit news?
Okay, Mr. Pigeon, you'll hear a lead-in from Norman Newman, and then you'll be live.
Reggie!
Okay, here we go.
Hi, I'm Norman Newman.
This just in.
A pair of humans in panda costumes and a disgraced former news reporter have been seen frolicking in horse feces in the wild forests of central China.
We now go live to the scene with Reggie, a reporter from the Pigeon Press.
Reggie.
Wow, that sounds dangerous and disgusting.
My thoughts exactly.
Folks, don't try this at home.
Someone get me out of them.
Help.
Loud in the world, we'll be right This message is for you.
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.
Hello, my name is Zen.
I live in Miami.
My wow in the world is that some planets don't orbit a star.
I'm Zoe from Grand North Carolina and my wow in the world was that Echoes of the Big Bang were once mistaken for pigeon poop on an antenna.
No offense, Reggie.
Love your show.
Bye.
Hi, this is Morgan from Pleasant Grove Utah, and my wow in the world is rabbits make secret tropes on nutrient-dense poop and they eat it.
I have a rabbit.
She's a Netherland dwarf rabbit, and her name is Winnie.
Bye, Mindy and Guy Ross.
I love your show.
And my name is Chloe.
I'm nine years old.
And my name is Sam, and I'm five years old.
And we're from New London, New Hampshire.
And our wow is that the tuatara, a species of reptile that lives in New Zealand, has a third eye on the top of its head.
Um, say hi to Reggie, Dennis, and Grandma G-Force for me.
Aw, isn't that nice? life.
My name is Ian from Gilbert, Arizona and my wow is that hippos make their own sunscreen.
Hi, I'm Jill.
I'm from Melbourne, Australia.
My wow in the world is that how the monkeys have booming voices and carry up to five kilometers throughout the forest.
Bye!
Hi, I'm Ella and I live in Conway Arkansas, and my wow in the world is that whenever a starfish comes up, something that is too large to fit in its mouth.
It unfolds its stomach, grabs it, and brings it back in.
Bye!
Hi, Mindy and guys.
My name is Evie, and I live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
My wow in the world is that tardigrades can survive on the moon and pretty much anywhere else.
How bonker balls is that?
Bye!
Hey, Mindy and guys.
My name is Brave Girl.
I am 11 years old, and I live in Kapaa, Hawaii.
My wow Wow in the World is that I just wrote you this song.
Wow in the World is so, so great.
I really appreciate.
There's Mindy and Guy and Dennis too.
Don't forget Reggie.
Grandma T-Force and Thomas Fingerling.
Bye.
Love your show.
End of messages.
Grownups.
If you like, Wow in the World, you can listen early and And, before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short survey at wonderycom slash survey.
Wow in the World is written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Kalken with help from me.
Our senior producer, Jed Anderson, brings our show to life with sound design and music editing and is also in charge of wrangling Dennis Thomas Fingerling, Reggie and many of the other silly characters you hear.
Our theme song was composed and performed by three-time Grammy nominees, The Pop-Up.
Find them at thepopups.com.
Special thanks to the rest of our team of tinkerers, including Anna Zagorski, Rebecca Caban, Kit Ballinger, Henry Moskal and Tyler Thole.
To keep the wows rolling, visit us at tinkercast.com.
There you can learn more about becoming an official member of the World Organization of Wowsers.
Learn more about upcoming events.
Shop our shop and pick up a copy of our new number one New York Times bestselling book, The How and Wow of the Human Body.
Grownups, you can follow Wow in the World on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at wowintheworld.
And our email address is hello at tinkercast.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 our show or an upcoming episode of Two What's and a Wow.
Thanks again for listening and until next time, keep on wowing!
Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.
