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[The Science of Clouds and the Mystery of Blinking: A Wow in the World Deep Dive]-[Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Blink and You'll Miss It! (encore)]

Wow in the World · B1 · 2020-07-24

Preschool Enlightenment
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📋 Summary

Unlocking the Wonders of Science: Clouds and Blinking

The Heavy Reality of Clouds

In this episode of Wow in the World, hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz explore the fascinating science behind weather and human biology. The show kicked off by addressing a listener’s inquiry about the weight of clouds. While they often appear light and "fluffy," the scientific reality is quite staggering. As confirmed by a young listener named Ade, a single cloud can weigh up to "1.1 million pounds." The hosts explained that these massive structures remain suspended in the sky due to "updrafts of wind from the ground" that support the tiny water droplets and ice crystals forming the cloud.

Furthermore, the episode clarified some common misconceptions regarding cloud coverage. While it might seem like the sky is always full of them, only about "67% or two-thirds of the Earth" is covered by clouds at any given time. The hosts also shared an intriguing fact about industrial history: a Boeing factory near Seattle was once so large that it began "developing small water-based clouds inside the facility," forcing the company to install an air circulation system to prevent indoor rain.

The "Blinking" Experiment

Transitioning from meteorology to human anatomy, the episode centered on the concept of blinking. Mindy introduced a humorous, albeit fictional, invention: glasses designed to "pause whenever you blink." This was inspired by the host’s observation that if humans added up all their blinks throughout a single day, it would account for "one whole hour of blinking every day."

This led to the show's signature segment, Two Whats and a Wow, which challenged listeners to identify the true scientific fact among three statements regarding blinking:

  1. Option A: The longest a human has gone without blinking is 3 hours and 53 minutes.
  2. Option B: Some frogs blink when swallowing, using their eyeballs to "push food down their throats."
  3. Option C: Chinchillas can only blink with one eye at a time.

Listeners were encouraged to participate in "Operation Blink Olympics," a "stare-off" challenge where they use a stopwatch to compete against family members to see who can endure the longest without blinking, further engaging the audience in the scientific exploration of involuntary reflexes.

Community and Upcoming Milestones

Beyond the scientific facts, the episode served as a platform for community engagement. The hosts announced several major milestones for the podcast, including the upcoming "250th episode" on December 1st, which will be a special musical production. Dedicated "Wowzers" (the show's term for fans) were invited to participate in an exclusive listening party on November 22nd.

Through these segments, Wow in the World continues to bridge the gap between complex scientific phenomena and playful, accessible learning for children and families. By combining trivia, listener participation, and an enthusiastic delivery, the show effectively turns everyday observations—like blinking or cloud formations—into moments of curiosity and discovery.

🎯Key Sentences

1
It's going to be a November to remember.
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
Okay, that wasn't supposed to happen.
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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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