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[Exploring Animal Diets: A 'Two Whats and a Wow' Special]-[Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Feeding Frenzy]

Wow in the World · B1 · 2021-10-22

Preschool Enlightenment
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📋 Summary

Introduction: A November to Remember

The latest episode of Wow in the World hosted by Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz sets an energetic tone, highlighting upcoming milestones including the show's 250th episode and a special musical celebration. Beyond the announcements, the hosts dive into a whimsical yet educational scenario featuring a "dining room table" buffet for various animals, setting the stage for their signature scientific game show, Two Whats and a Wow.

The Scientific Game: Animal Eating Habits

This installment of the game centers on the theme of "animal eating habits." Mindy presents three scientific statements to the audience, challenging them to identify the one true "wow" among two "made up whats." The candidates for the true scientific fact were:

  1. Beetle behavior: Some beetles drink the tears of sleeping birds.
  2. Snail diet: African land snails like to eat human shoes.
  3. Python anatomy: A Burmese python literally burst after trying to eat an alligator.

Unveiling the "Winning Wow"

With the help of a young caller named Miles from Ohio, the hosts confirm that statement C is the correct answer. The "winning wow" describes a documented incident in Florida where a Burmese python was found burst open after consuming a six-foot-long alligator, proving that the snake truly "bit off more than it could chew."

Debunking the "Whats"

To ensure listeners gain a deeper scientific understanding, the hosts clarify the misconceptions behind the other options:

  • On Tear-Drinking: While beetles do not drink bird tears, the phenomenon is real in the animal kingdom. Moths, bees, and butterflies have been observed drinking the tears of birds, turtles, and crocodiles, respectively.
  • On Snail Diets: African land snails do not eat shoes, but they do consume the stucco wall siding of houses. The hosts explain that this behavior is driven by the need for calcium, which is essential for "maintaining a healthy shell."

Conclusion and Citizen Science Challenge

The episode concludes with a fun, fictional prize—an "invisible goat" capable of eating anything from pizza to sweatpants—followed by an invitation for listeners to engage in "Operation What's for Lunch?" This citizen science challenge encourages children to observe the dietary habits of local animals, such as comparing the food sources of park squirrels with domestic pets like iguanas. By documenting these findings, the show continues its mission to inspire curiosity and encourage young "Wowzers" to explore the natural world around them.

🎯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'm just setting out some lunch.
4
Oh, had I known, I would have brought a kale salad.
5
I did have trouble finding roast zebra for the lions.
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📝Key Phrases

1
music to your ears
2
get on with the show
3
all-you-can-eat buffet
4
grab some grub
5
chow down
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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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