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Hey, grownups.
Mindy and Guy Raz here.
And before we start the show, happy National STEM Day.
Mindy!
We think that every day should be National STEM Day, so we are bringing the wows of STEM home to you.
That's right.
Mindy and I have some brand new Wow in the World toys out in the world just in time for the holidays.
Made for the kids who love science and for the ones who don't yet.
From our 100 experiments, that wow kit to the telescope and astronomy kit.
Our Wow in the World toys help your wowser learn about their world through play.
Plus, you can hear exclusive audio content from me and Guy Raz to help your wowzer discover even more wows.
Grownups.
Help make every day feel like STEM day at your home with our latest Wow in the World toys designed with your wowzer in mind.
You can shop our Wow in the World toys at Tinkercast.com slash toys.
That's Tinkercast.com slash toys.
Oh, hey, Guy Raz, can you hand me some toys?
Oh, sure, uh...
Here you go.
Thank you.
I'm going to throw them in the confetti can and see what happens.
Oh, no.
And now for everyone's second favorite game show after The Lice is Right, it's Two What's and the What.
The scientific game show that separates the wows from the what's.
And the category for today is space.
Mindy, why don't you refresh our contestants on how the game works?
You know it.
Wowsers in each of our three rounds.
Today, Guy Raz and I will present you with three scientific statements about space.
But... And this is a big but...
Only one of those statements will be a true wow.
The other two, just a couple of made up what?
Now, in each round, if you guess correctly, congratulations, you win a point.
But if you guess incorrectly, you must stop, drop, and do a redonkulous physical challenge.
Okay, everyone ready to start the game?
Then let's do it.
Round one.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, there are more trees on Earth than stars in our solar system?
Or is it B?
If you shoot for the moon by launching yourself in a giant catapult, you'll land among the stars.
Or is it C, it takes roughly 50 years to travel from Earth to Pluto?
When you think you have the correct answer, count your fingers with your toes.
Uh, thinking music please.
And time is up.
Let's now reveal the winning wow.
And to do just that, joining us by phone, it's Louie from Arizona.
Louie from Arizona, please reveal the winning wow.
Hi, my name is Louie and my wow in the world is our planet has more trees compared to stars in the solar system.
Winner, winner, tree bark for dinner.
Thank you, Louie.
Contestants.
If you guessed the answer A that there are more trees on Earth than stars in our solar system well, congratulations.
You found the winning wow.
While you might see a lot of stars in the night sky, those are from our Milky Way galaxy.
There's only one star in our solar system.
And that star, of course, is named Dennis?
Dennis, stop messing with the cue cards!
That star, of course, is the sun.
It's the only star in our solar system.
But Earth has over three trillion trees.
That's over 400 trees for every person.
Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop, and do your best tree impression.
All right, time for round two.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, astronauts are shorter in space?
Or is it B, the cow who jumped over the moon received an honorary award from NASA in 1983?
Or is it C, the planet Mercury is slowly shrinking over time?
When you think you have the correct answer, say your guess without opening your mouth.
Hey Reggie, can we get some thinking music please?
And time is up.
To reveal the winning wow, it's Presley from Florida.
Presley, tell us, what's the winning wow?
Hi, I'm Inigai Roz.
My wow in the world is that Mercury is slowly shrinking over time.
Winner, winner, planet Mercury for dinner.
Thank you, Presley.
Contestants.
If you guessed the answer C, that Mercury is slowly shrinking over time well congratulations, you found the winning, wow.
Mercury formed about four and a half billion years ago, and since then, Mercury's molten hot core has been cooling down, so much so that the planet has lost about 86 miles from its diameter.
So in other words, this planet is literally taking up less space.
Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop, and roll to the nearest bathroom.
And now for the final round, round three.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, M&Ms have been on all space shuttle missions since 1981.
Or is it B?
If you were to walk the distance to the moon nonstop 24-7, it would take you approximately 20 years.
Or is it C?
The moon isn't made of cheese, but astronauts report that it actually smells like Parmesan.
Hey, Reggie!
Cue the thinking music.
And now to reveal that winning wow, please welcome by phone, Charlie from New Hampshire.
Charlie, tell us, what's the winning wow?
Hi, Mindy and Guy Ross.
My name is Charlie.
Am I well that M&M's were on it?
All space shuttle missions after 1981.
Astronauts gobbled them up like Pac-Man as they floated in the craft.
Winner, winner, M&M's for dinner.
Thank you, Charlie.
Contestants.
If you guessed the answer A, that MM's have been on all space shuttle missions since 1981.
Well, congratulations.
You've found the winning wow.
That's right, Guy Raz.
M&Ms actually joined NASA's astronauts in over 130 space shuttle missions.
In fact, some of these M&Ms were actually personalized for the astronauts themselves.
And speaking of personalized candies, I have a little surprise for you.
Let me just get it out of my adventure toolkit here.
Yep.
Fingerling made us personalized candy.
Oh, wow.
That's so nice.
Let's see what they say.
Wendy and some guy named Ross?
Eh, close enough.
Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop drop and sing your favorite song backwards.
And now let's take a moment to thank our sponsors.
Today's To What's in a Wow is brought to you by Flamin' Hot Cheerios, the world's first spicy cereal.
Add a kick to your morning with a piping hot bowl of cereal today.
Not an actual product.
All right.
Well, let's take a quick break and hear some other important messages for grownups.
To What's in a Wow will be right back. message is for you hey grown-ups mindy here from wow in the world the number one podcast for curious kids and their grown-ups that's you and we are so excited to bring the wows of the world to your home with our brand new wow in the world stem toys from wondery kids and themes and cosmos Channel your inner astronomer with our Wow in the World telescope kit.
Or zoom in on the tiny wows of nature with our Wow in the World microscope and biology kit.
You can even tinker like real scientists with our 100 experiments that wow kit.
And with every Wow in the World stem toy, you unlock access to exclusive audio content from me and my buddy, Guy Raz.
There are so many ways to wow, so whether you're shopping for a kid who loves science or one who doesn't, just yet our Wow in the World stem toys are the perfect gift for your curious kids.
Grownups, visit Tinkercast.com slash toys to shop the wow now.
That's it.
Now back to the show.
Welcome back to Two What's and a Wow.
Two What's and a Wow.
The scientific game show that separates the wows from the what's.
What was that?
Oh, Guy Raz, that sound can mean only one thing.
You illegally parked your ice cream truck again?
I did, but that is the sound of the Bonker Balls bonus round.
If you listen to our Wow in the World episode titled Sponge City, you'll know the answer to this one.
And if not, go back and give it a listen.
It's a fun one.
And the Bonker Ball's bonus question for today is, what makes a sponge city a sponge city?
Is it A, a pineapple under the sea?
Or is it B, enough bacteria in a single sponge to infect the entire city with germs?
Or is it C, using materials found in nature to turn a city into a big sponge that can absorb rain and water and even save it for later?
And joining us with today's answer, it's Reggie.
Reggie, tell us, what's the winning wow?
Sponge cities use materials found in nature to mimic or copy the natural world.
Materials that can absorb rain and water, just like a sponge.
The goal of making sponge cities is to prevent floods where much of the natural water and water-absorbing materials have been destroyed, to build buildings and homes and roads.
Well, congratulations to all of our winning wowsers.
Mindy, what's today's prize?
Guy Raz, today's winning wowsers will all be receiving their very own Miss Fortune Cookies.
Here, try one, Guy Raz.
Well, my Miss Fortune Cookie says... What does it say?
You are destined to have a popcorn kernel stuck in the back of your teeth this week.
Oh, that's just the way the cookie crumbles.
Okay, Reg, cue the Oh, no.
Sorry!
No!
Well, that's about all the time we have for today.
But if you want to keep the fun going, then become a member of the World Organization of Wowzers and unlock hundreds of activities.
And for any teachers in our listening audience, consider joining Tinker Class.
Our free, brand new learning platform that helps get kids wild about science.
Just visit Tinkercast.com slash membership.
That's Tinkercast.com slash membership.
And be sure to come back on Monday for a brand new episode of Wow in the World.
This weekend for some WeWow in the weekend with Dennis.
And again on Friday for a new episode of Two What's and a Wow.
Until then, keep on wowing.
Two What's in a Wow is executive produced by Meredith Halpern-Ranzer, Mindy Thomas, and me, Guy Raz.
Our writers are Ruth Morrison and Anna Zagorski, with collaboration from our head writer, Kenny Curtis.
Sound production and design is by Marion Lozano, with help from Jed Anderson and Tyler Thull.
Special thanks to Rebecca Caban, Dr Natasha Crandall, Lizzie Freilich, Kristen Yang Twee Mack, Erica Medina, Henry Moskal, Jodi Nussbaum, Ali Paxima, Linda Rothenberg, Steph Sosa, Joanna Weber, Anna Zagorski and all of the other Tinkerers at Tinkercast HQ.
Our theme song was written and composed by The Pop-Ups.
For more on their three-time Grammy-nominated all-ages music, find them at thepopups.com.
And to keep the wow rolling after you finish this episode, you can visit us at Tinkercast.com.
There you can become a member of the World Organization of Wowzers to get year-round mailings and weekly activities.
Shop our wow shop, get tickets for upcoming events, Find our best-selling books and learn all about the other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast.
Grown-ups, you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at WowInTheWorld.
And our email address is hello at Tinkercast.com.
Finally, if you're a kid with a big wow to share, it could be used on an upcoming episode of Two.
What's in a Wow?
Call us at 1-888-7WOW-WOW.
Thanks again for listening and playing along.
Meet us back here next Friday or every Monday for Wow in the World.
Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.
