Hey, grownups, Mindy here from Wow in the World.
And over the years, you've listened to all of the bonker balls things that we have said and shared.
And guess what?
Now it's our turn to listen to you.
What do you like about Tinkercast shows?
What do you not like?
What's your favorite type of pasta?
Mine's elbow macaroni, but I also like meat. macaroni.
You're right, Reg.
We probably won't ask you about pasta, but the questions we do have will really help us to understand who our Wowzer fans are and how we can keep making the bonker balls content that you love.
Grown-ups, visit Tinkercast.com slash survey to find out more.
It won't take much of your time and you'll automatically be entered for a chance to win a prize pack of Wow in the World toys and books.
That's Tinkercast.com slash survey.
We can't wait to hear from you.
That's it, and now let's get back to the show.
Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo!
And now for everyone's second favorite game show.
After repeating everything your brother says stop doing that.
Seriously!
Stop!
It's Two What's and a Wow!
With your hosts, Mindy and Guy Rye!
Hello and welcome back to Two What's in a Wow.
The scientific game show that separates the wows from the what's.
And the category or theme for today is koalas.
Mindy, why don't you refresh our contestants on how the game works?
You know it.
Wowzers in each of our three rounds.
Today, Guy Raz and I will present you with three scientific statements about koalas.
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, well, 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 get to it.
Round one.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, koalas are the only bears native to Australia?
Or is it B, koalas drink a cup of eucalyptin tea every morning?
Or is it C, koalas have two opposable thumbs on each hand?
When you think you have the correct answer, say it in koala.
Hey, Reg, cue the thinking music.
And time is up.
Let's now reveal the winning wow.
And to do just that, it's Jack from North Carolina.
Jack from North Carolina, what's the winning wow?
Hi, my name is Jack, and my wow is that the Wallace have two opposable thumbs.
Winner, winner, two thumbs up for dinner.
Thank you, Jack.
Contestants.
If you guessed the answer C, that koalas have two opposable thumbs on each hand well, congratulations.
You found the winning wow.
We humans have opposable thumbs, meaning that our thumbs can move independently of our fingers and are placed roughly opposite of them.
They help us to grab and hold things, which makes them pretty handy to have around.
Pun intended.
And koalas actually have two opposable thumbs on each hand, which is pretty helpful with climbing the trees they live in.
They also have a large opposable digit on their feet which helps them grasp branches and stay securely in the trees.
Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop, and climb a eucalyptus tree.
What?
Okay, round two.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, most koalas live to be 80 years old?
Or is it B, baby koalas eat their mom's poop?
Or is it C, koalas live in groups called cutie pods?
When you think you have the correct answer, yell koala-wala-ding-dong!
Hey, Reggie, cue the thinking music.
And time is up.
And joining us by phone, it's Maya from Washington.
Maya, please reveal the winning wow.
Hi, Mom and Dad Rock.
My name is Maya.
My wow in the world is that baby koalas eat their mom's poop.
Winner pooped for dinner.
That's gross.
That's right, Maya.
Wowzers, if you guessed B, that koalas eat their mom's poop, well, congratulations.
You found the winning wow.
Newborn baby koalas, or joeys, drink milk from their mother's pouch.
But after about six weeks they start eating something called pap, which is basically a softer, runnier version of their mother's poop.
Pap is rich in protein and full of the mother's gut bacteria.
And scientists think that eating pap helps transition the joey's diet from milk to eucalyptus leaves.
Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop drop and run the whole length of Australia.
Okay, time for round three.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, koalas have retractable tails?
Or is it B, koalas' favorite flavor of cupcake is funfetti?
Or is it C, when baby koalas are born, they're the size of a jelly bean?
When you think you have the correct answer, yell, me-calyptus?
No, eucalyptus.
Uh, thinking music, please.
Okay, time is up.
And joining us by phone, it's Andrew from Texas.
Andrew, please reveal the winning wow.
Hello, my name is Andrew.
My wow is that when baby koalas are born, they are the size of a jelly bean.
Winner, winner, jelly beanie babies for dinner.
That's right, Andrew.
Wowzers, if you guessed C, that when baby koalas are born they're the size of a jelly bean well congratulations, you found the winning wow.
Koalas are marsupials like kangaroos.
They give birth to underdeveloped joeys, which are only about two centimeters long.
These jellybean-sized newborns are blind, with no fur or ears, so they kinda look like jellybeans too.
And a newborn joey has to make its way across its mother's abdomen all the way to her pouch.
Once the joey makes it into the pouch, it spends about seven months continuing to grow until it's ready to come out and join its mom.
Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop drop and crawl around like a baby koala.
And now it's time to take a moment to thank our sponsors.
Today's show is brought to you in part by Sleeping All Day.
Do you like to sleep?
So do koalas.
They spend up to 22 hours a day conked out in the trees, and so can you.
Simply eat a diet with very little nutrition.
Keep your metabolism low and soon you'll have almost no energy at all.
Let's hear it from some satisfied customers.
You heard it here first, folks.
Sleeping all day.
It's... Uh, Mindy?
Just put on the koala suit, Kairos.
Just put on the koala suit.
Okay, why don't we take a quick break and hear some other important messages for grown-ups.
To what's in a while, we'll be right back.
Grown-ups, this message is for you.
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.
Reggie's throwing a party?
Oh, it's time for today's Bonker Balls bonus round.
Now, if you listen to our Wow in the World episode titled The Great Salt Lake, you'll know the answer to this one.
And the question for this round is... Breaking news.
The Great Salt Lake is shrinking.
Yep, now the Great Salt Lake is around 2,500 square kilometers large.
But 40 years ago in 1985, the lake was almost three times that size.
So what's the main reason that the lake is shrinking?
Is it A, climate change?
Or is it B, people using too much water on their crops and gardens?
Or is it C, Dennis got really, really thirsty one day?
And with the answer to today's Bonker Balls bonus question, it's Reggie.
Reggie, tell us, what's the winning wow?
Hmm.
Well, if you answered B, you are correct.
Although climate change-related droughts have certainly driven some shrinkage of the lake, the main reason that the lake is a third of its original size is because of unsustainable water usage in the towns and cities that surround it.
Luckily, city planners and residents have a plan to reverse this shrinking and bring the lake back to the size it used to be all those years ago.
Well, congratulations to all of our winning Wowzers.
Mindy, what's today's prize?
Hey, Roz, today's winning Wowzers will all receive their very own lifetime supply of eggs.
Eggs?
Reggie, cue the prize cannon.
Oh, no.
Oops, sorry, that one broke.
Sorry, that one too.
Oh, try to catch them, people.
You're breaking the eggs.
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 and 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 Paksima, 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 the pop ups dot 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 wow in the world and our email address is hello at tinkercastcom.
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 1-888-7-wow-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.
