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[The Science of Sweat and Caterpillar Marvels: A Wow in the World Special]-[Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Don't Sweat It!]

Wow in the World · B1 · 2020-04-08

Preschool Enlightenment
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📋 Summary

Exploring the Science of Sweat and Caterpillar Biology

In this episode of Wow in the World, hosts Mindy and Guy Raz take listeners on a whimsical yet educational journey, blending scientific inquiry with their signature comedic flair. The episode focuses on two main segments: a follow-up on the biology of caterpillars and a new scientific challenge centered on the physiological marvel of sweat.

The Caterpillar Conundrum: Muscle Power and Communication

The show begins by revealing the answer to a previous scientific challenge regarding caterpillars. The "True Wow" was that caterpillars have more muscles than humans. As Mindy and Guy Raz explain, while humans typically possess between 640 and 840 muscles, a caterpillar can have as many as 4,000 muscles packed into its tiny body.

Beyond this, the hosts clarified two other interesting biological behaviors that listeners might have been curious about:

  • Communication: Masked birch caterpillars communicate with one another by "making drumming vibrations with their booties" or scraping their behinds against leaves, a method used to coordinate the construction of their silken shelters.
  • Memory: Contrary to the myth that they forget everything, butterflies do retain some lessons learned during their time as caterpillars, though the extent of their memory remains a subject of scientific intrigue.

The Science of Sweat: A New Challenge

Transitioning to the game show segment, Two Whats and a Wow, the hosts introduce the theme of "Sweat." They present three scientific claims to the audience, tasking them with identifying the genuine "scientific wow":

  1. Hippo sweat is purple.
  2. Every person’s sweat smells and tastes different.
  3. Horses sweat exclusively through their nostrils.

To further engage their "Wowzers," the hosts introduced "Operation Sweat-tacular," an at-home experiment. Families are encouraged to engage in physical activity, such as a dance party or a jog, and then use their "super sniffers" while blindfolded to identify family members based on the unique scent of their sweat. This hands-on approach reflects the show's mission to help children "learn about their world through play."

Upcoming Milestones

Interspersed with the science, the hosts shared several updates for their community. Most notably, they are approaching their 250th episode, which will be presented as a musical on December 1st. Members of the "World Organization of Wowzers" are invited to an exclusive early-listening party on November 22nd to celebrate this milestone. The episode also teased upcoming guest appearances, including a special visit from Elmo on November 24th, ensuring that November remains a "November to remember" for their dedicated listeners.

Through these segments, Wow in the World continues to foster a love for science, encouraging young minds to look closer at the world around them—whether it's the hidden muscles of a caterpillar or the unique biological signature of human sweat.

🎯Key Sentences

1
I knew I was forgetting something.
2
Hit the lights.
3
fasten your seatbelts
4
separates the wows from the whats.
5
let's review where we left off yesterday.
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📝Key Phrases

1
music to your ears
2
get on with the show
3
get my sweat on
4
turn up the heat
5
fasten your seatbelts
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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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