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[The Science of Feet: From Tarantula Tastes to Biological Wonders]-[Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Best Foot Forward]

Wow in the World · B1 · 2021-11-12

Preschool Enlightenment
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📋 Summary

Exploring the Wonders of Feet

In this episode of Wow in the World, hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz take a whimsical yet educational dive into the anatomy and biology of feet. Beyond the playful banter about self-care gift baskets for one's own feet—which contain "26 bones, at least 30 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments"—the episode serves as a platform for their signature scientific game show, "Two Whats and a Wow."

The Tarantula’s Unique Sensory Ability

The central scientific revelation of the episode is the fact that "tarantulas taste with their feet." Mindy and Guy Raz explain that this is not limited to tarantulas; many spiders, flies, butterflies, and mosquitoes utilize "special sensory organs on their legs" to navigate their environment. This evolutionary trait acts as a "sampling menu," allowing these creatures to determine whether a surface or substance is safe to consume before they ingest it. This explains the common, albeit annoying, behavior of flies landing on human food—they are effectively taste-testing their surroundings.

Debunking Myths and Uncovering Biological Facts

The game show also highlights two fascinating, albeit incorrect, propositions that lead to deeper biological insights:

  • The Myth of Foot Cheese: While the hosts clarify that one cannot simply find "cheese made from feet" in grocery stores, they discuss a peculiar scientific exhibition in Dublin, Ireland. A biologist and an artist collaborated to create cheese using "bacteria samples from different people's feet." The science behind this is that the same bacteria responsible for "ripening cheese and making it stinky" is the exact same type that "lives on our skin and eats dead skin cells."
  • The Horse’s "Frog": Addressing the misconception about frogs living in horse hooves, the hosts explain that the "frog" is actually a specific anatomical feature of a horse's hoof. It is a "small, slightly squishy triangular pad" located on the underside of the hoof. Its primary function is to act as a shock absorber, protecting the horse's "joints and bones" while it gallops on hard or uneven surfaces.

Engaging with Science Through Movement

The episode concludes with a practical challenge titled "Operation Step To It." This encourages listeners to investigate the mechanics of movement by measuring distances through various methods, such as tiptoeing, hopping, or taking "gigantic steps." By inviting listeners to "draw a map" and experiment with different ways of traversing space, the show emphasizes that science is not just theoretical—it is an active, physical exploration of the world around us.

Through these segments, Wow in the World successfully bridges the gap between complex biological concepts and accessible, entertaining discovery, reminding us that even the parts of our body we take for granted, like our feet, are marvels of evolutionary design.

🎯Key Sentences

1
But for now, let's get on with the show.
2
Is everything okay?
3
Oh yeah, better than okay.
4
Our feet do deserve some appreciation.
5
Talk about bonker balls.
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📝Key Phrases

1
music to your ears
2
get on with the show
3
putting together
4
on our feet
5
deserve some appreciation
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📖 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.

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