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[Exploring the Science of Clouds and the Wonders of Blinking]-[Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Blink and You'll Miss It!]

Wow in the World · B1 · 2020-05-15

Preschool Enlightenment
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📋 Summary

The Science Behind the Clouds

In this episode of Wow in the World, hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz delve into the fascinating science of clouds. The show highlights a "wow" fact confirmed by a listener: clouds are significantly heavier than they appear. While they may seem light and fluffy, a single cloud can weigh up to one million pounds. This phenomenon is made possible by the fact that clouds consist of tiny water droplets or ice crystals, which are kept suspended in the sky by "updrafts of wind" from the ground.

Additionally, the hosts debunked common misconceptions regarding cloud formation, noting that while no rain clouds typically form inside shopping malls, there was a historical case where a massive Boeing factory near Seattle experienced "small water-based clouds" forming indoors, necessitating the installation of an advanced "air circulation system" to manage the indoor weather.

The Mechanics and Trivia of Blinking

The episode transitions into a segment focused on the biological act of blinking. Mindy introduces a humorous (albeit fictional) invention—glasses designed to "pause whenever you blink"—to address the cumulative time humans spend blinking, which she claims totals "one hour" daily.

Building on this theme, the game show Two Whats and a Wow presents listeners with three scientific statements regarding blinking to test their knowledge:

  • Statement A: The longest a human has gone without blinking is 3 hours and 53 minutes.
  • Statement B: Some frogs blink while swallowing because they utilize their eyeballs to help "push food down their throats."
  • Statement C: Chinchillas are capable of blinking with only one eye at a time.

Listeners are challenged to identify the single "true scientific wow" among these options, encouraging an interactive "Operation Blink Olympics" where families are invited to participate in a "stare-off" to see who can endure the longest without blinking.

Community and Educational Engagement

Beyond the scientific exploration, the podcast serves as a platform for community interaction. The hosts emphasize the importance of curiosity, promoting their "Wow in the World" toys, which are designed to help children "learn about their world through play" via experiments and astronomy kits. The episode concludes with a call to action for young listeners to share their own discoveries and participate in the ongoing educational journey fostered by Tinkercast, reinforcing the show's commitment to making science accessible and engaging for all ages.

🎯Key Sentences

1
Oh boy, do I have a surprise for you.
2
But for now, let's get on with the show.
3
I don't think they're my prescription.
4
Wait a minute.
5
Everything is extremely blurry.
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📝Key Phrases

1
music to your ears
2
get on with the show
3
try them on
4
at any given moment
5
not too far off
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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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