A Month of Wonders: Special Announcements and Tinker Class Day Four

Upcoming Milestones and Special Collaborations

As the Wow in the World team prepares for a busy season, host Mindy shared several exciting updates for their listeners, which she describes as a "November to remember." The show is set to collaborate with notable partners, including Circle Round and Terrestrials on Radiolab for Kids. Furthermore, a highly anticipated guest appearance by Elmo from Sesame Street is scheduled for November 24th, promising to "make us all belly laugh."

The most significant milestone on the horizon is the show’s 250th episode, arriving on December 1st. Mindy teased that this episode will be "music to your ears—literally," as it is confirmed to be a musical. For members of the "World Organization of Wowzers," an exclusive listening party is scheduled for November 22nd, where participants can "dance along to our new songs" and engage with other members in a live chat setting.

Tinker Class: Refining the Science of Smell

Following the special announcements, the podcast transitioned into "Tinker Class," a "crash course in Science, Fun 101 for the science seekers and inventoritos of tomorrow." This segment focuses on the fourth day of their week-long project, which draws inspiration from the Wow in the World episode titled "Getting nosy about the science of smell."

The Iterative Process of Experimentation

After spending the first three days of the week listening to the source episode, collecting "good smells from around your home," and testing scent combinations, students are now tasked with the refinement phase. The core challenge is to "create a collection of smells that your whole family can enjoy." Mindy emphasizes the importance of data-driven iteration, urging participants to use the feedback gathered from their families to "change your smell combination to make it more pleasant."

Practical Application and Data Analysis

To succeed in this scientific endeavor, participants are encouraged to "play around with different combinations" by either "removing a smell or adding a smell or just adjusting how much or how little of a certain smell you include." This iterative process requires students to retest the "strength and pleasantness" of their collections, simulating the real-world methodology used by scientists and inventors.

Community Engagement and Final Steps

To foster a sense of community and accountability, the show invites listeners to share their findings. Participants can leave a message on the "WOW hotline" (1-888-7-WOW-WOW) to describe their collections, share what surprised them during the data collection process, or explain how they managed to "stink up the whole house" in a "good way."

The podcast encourages listeners to document their journey, suggesting they upload pictures and videos of their projects to the official website. This project serves as a precursor to the final day of Tinker Class, where the team will conclude the tinkering process. By engaging with these prompts, the show aims to foster curiosity, urging young listeners to "go forth and keep on wowing."