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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 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!
For everyone's second favorite game show after, Mesopotamia's Got Talent, it's Two What's and a Wow!
With your hosts, Mindy and...
Two what's and a wow.
Two what's and a wow.
The scientific game show that separates the wows from the what's.
And the category or theme for today is Landmarks.
Mindy, why don't you refresh our contestants on how the game works?
You know it.
Wowzers, in each of our three rounds today, Guy Raz and I will present you with three scientific statements about landmarks, or famous human structures from around the world.
But...
And this is a big but.
Only one of those statements will be a true wow.
The other two, just a couple of made up what?
Now, in each round, if you guess correctly, well, congratulations, you win a point.
But if you guess incorrectly, you must stop, drop, and do a ridonkulous physical challenge.
Okay, everyone ready to start the game?
Great, then let's get to it.
Round one.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, the Great Wall of China was made of stone, bricks, wood, and sticky rice?
Or is it B, the Taj Mahal is taller than the Empire State Building?
Or is it C, the Sydney Opera House is home to the world's only all-wombat orchestra?
When you think you have the correct answer, yell out the capital of every country in the world.
Hey, French, turn on the thinking music, please.
And time is up.
Let's now reveal the winning wow.
And to do just that, it's Mia from Texas.
Mia.
What's the winning wow?
Hi, Mindy and guys.
My wow in the world is that the Great Wall of China is made out of stone, wood bricks and sticky rice.
Winner, winner, sticky rice for dinner.
That's right, Mia.
Contestants if you guessed the answer A, that the Great Wall of China was made of stone bricks, wood and sticky rice.
Well, congratulations.
You found the winning wow.
Building the Great Wall of China was one of the largest construction projects in human history and it took over 2000 years to build.
It's made of some materials that you might expect, like wood and stone, but a surprising ingredient was used as well.
I'm talking about sticky rice.
And in 2010, scientists studied the mortar or sticky paste that holds the bricks together, used to make the Great Wall.
And they found that sticky rice had been mixed in with a common building material called lime.
This sticky rice mortar was found to be stronger and more water resistant than regular mortar.
Maybe I should use sticky rice the next time I go to rebuild my gingerbread mansion.
Well, it could help.
If you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop and run the length of the entire Great Wall.
Run, run, run, run, run, run.
Mindy, can we finish the show before you run thousands of miles?
Sorry, Guy Raz.
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run.
Okay, let's get back to it.
Okay, round two.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, the insides of the pyramids of Giza are covered in hieroglyphics?
Or is it B, the Eiffel Tower grows 15 centimeters in the summer?
Or is it C, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is made out of pizza?
When you think you have the correct answer, Yell it out in a foreign language.
Uh, thinking music, please.
And time is up.
And joining us by phone to reveal the winning wow, it's Glenn from Texas.
Glenn, what's the wow?
My wow? is that the Eiffel Tower grows 15 centimeters taller during the summer.
Winner, winner, French bread for dinner.
That's right, Glenn.
Wowzers, if you guessed B, that the Eiffel Tower grows 15 centimeters in the summer well, congratulations.
You found the winning wow.
The Eiffel Tower in France is 330 meters tall or about 1,083 feet.
It's primarily made out of iron, which is sensitive to temperature.
And when it gets hot in the summer, that iron increases volume.
The phenomenon is called thermal expansion.
Because of thermal expansion, the Eiffel Tower grows about 15 centimeters or just under six inches.
And when the weather cools down, the tower shrinks back down again.
Now, if you did not get that answer correct, You must stop drop and stretch until you grow 15 centimeters.
Okay, round three.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, the Statue of Liberty was originally brown?
Or is it B, touching the Hollywood sign will magically turn you into a movie star?
Or is it C?
Machu Picchu was built with the same kind of sticky rice mortar as the Great Wall of China.
When you think you have the correct answer, write it down and mail it to yourself.
Hey, Reggie, cue the thinking music.
And time is up.
And joining us by phone, it's Ethan from North Carolina.
Ethan, please tell us the winning wow.
My wow in the world is that the Statue of Liberty was originally copper brown.
Winner, winner, statues for dinner!
You got it, Ethan.
Wowzers, if you guessed A, that the Statue of Liberty was originally brown...
Well, congratulations.
You found the winning wow.
When you think of the Statue of Liberty, you probably think of a big green lady.
But the outside of Lady Liberty is actually made out of copper.
And when the statue was first unveiled, all the way back in 1886, it was that same copper brown color.
Over the course of 30 years, the statue's metal exterior had various chemical reactions with the air, salt water and pollution from New York City.
And by 1906, the statue had become its now signature green.
Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop, and jump in the New York Harbor.
Just kidding.
Don't do that.
And now... it's time to take a moment to thank our sponsors.
Today's show is brought to you in part by Wow Airlines.
Our mostly safe, sometimes functional aircrafts let you travel the world in comfort and style.
Tokyo, Paris, Dubai.
These are all places we can take you if the duct tape keeping the wings on holds up.
Uh, Grandma G4?
Well, airlines, we'll get you there.
Probably.
Maybe?
I think I might just stay home this time.
Suit yourself.
Why don't we take a quick break and hear some other important messages for grown-ups?
To What's in a Wow, we'll be right back.
Grown-ups.
This message is for you grown-ups.
It's mindy and guy ross 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.
Yet, from our 100 experiments, that wow kit to the telescope and astronomy kit, our wow in the world toys help your wowser learn about their world through play plus.
That's it.
Nope.
Welcome back to Two What's and a Wow.
Two What's and a Wow!
The scientific game show that separates the wows from the what!
What was that?
Oh, Guy Raz, that sound can mean only one thing.
You ate too many beans?
No, it's time for today's Bonker Balls bonus round.
If you listen to our Wow in the World episode, The Handshake Shack, you will know the answer to this one.
And the Bonker Ball's bonus question is hand-tracking technology, like the tech found in the smart glove, can be used for a variety of different functions, from helping stroke victims remember how to use their muscles to fixing Grandma G-Force and Thomas Fingerling's super-secret handshake.
What's another function that this smart glove technology is being used for?
Is it A, interpreting sign language and then reading it aloud through a computer?
Or is it B, keeping your hands warm as you code?
Or is it C converting your hand gestures into musical notes so that you can play air guitar, but for real?
If you answered A, you are correct.
The smart gloves developed by researchers at the University of British Columbia are using the technology to help translate sign language into spoken words in real time.
Wow.
Well, congratulations to all of our winning Wowzers.
Mindy, what's today's prize?
Guy Raz, today's winning Wowzers will all be receiving their very own travel chess set.
Ooh, that's a great prize, Mindy!
I know!
Hey, Reg!
Cue the prize cannon!
Uh, Mindy, those chess sets are securely closed, right?
Nope!
Fire away!
Mindy!
Woo-hoo!
Chess sets for everyone!
Whoops!
Ooh, those little pieces are really going everywhere, huh?
I think I have a rook in my ear!
Whoops!
Well, that's about all the time we have for today.
But if you want to keep the fun going, then become a member of the World Organization of Wowzers and unlock hundreds of activities.
And for any teachers in our listening audience.
Consider joining Tinker Class, our free brand-new learning platform that helps get kids wild about science.
Just visit Tinkercast.com slash membership.
That's Tinkercast.com slash membership.
And be sure to come back on Monday for a brand new episode of Wow in the World.
This weekend for some WeWow in the weekend with Dennis.
And again on Friday for a new episode of Two What's and a Wow.
Until then, keep on wowing.
Two What's in a Wow is executive produced by Meredith Halpern-Ranzer, Mindy Thomas, and me, Guy Raz.
Our writers are Ruth Morrison and Anna Zagorski, with collaboration from our head writer, Kenny Curtis.
Sound production and design is by Marion Lozano with help from Jed Anderson and Tyler Thull.
Special thanks to Rebecca Caban, Dr Natasha Crandall, Lizzie Freilich, Kristen Yang Thuy Mac, Erica Medina, Henry Moskal, Jodi Nussbaum, Ali Paxima, Linda Rothenberg, Steph Sosa, Joanna Weber, Anna Zagorski and all of the other tinkerers at Tinkercast HQ.
Our theme song was written and composed by The Pop-Ups.
For more on their three-time Grammy-nominated all-ages music, find them at thepopups.com.
And to keep the wow rolling after you finish this episode, you can visit us at tinkercast.com.
There you can become a member of the World Organization of Wowzers to get year-round mailings and weekly activities.
Shop our Wow Shop.
Get tickets for upcoming events, find our best-selling books and learn all about the other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast.
Grown-ups.
You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at WowInTheWorld, and our email address is hello at Tinkercastcom.
Finally, if you're a kid with a big wow to share, it could be used on an upcoming episode of Two.
What's in a Wow?
Call us at 1-888-
Thanks again for listening and playing along.
Meet us back here next Friday or every Monday for Wow in the World.
Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.
