[Medical Marvels: Exploring the Science of Human and Animal Biology]-[Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Medical Marvels (2/16/24)]

Wow in the World · B1 · 2024-02-16

📋 Summary

Medical Marvels: Exploring the Wonders of Biology

In this episode of Wow in the World, hosts Mindy and Guy Raz engage listeners in an educational game show titled "Two What's and a Wow." The episode focuses on "Medical Marvels," exploring fascinating biological functions in animals and humans. Through a series of interactive rounds, the show aims to separate scientific facts from common misconceptions.

Round 1: The Respiration of Worms

The first challenge asked whether worms breathe through their skin, if chameleons change their scent, or if camels control their humps based on mood. The correct answer, confirmed by a listener named Tate, is that worms breathe through their skin. The hosts explain that because worms lack lungs and nostrils, they absorb oxygen directly into their bloodstream through their skin. However, this process is delicate; the skin must maintain a specific level of moisture, as oxygen cannot pass through dry surfaces effectively.

Round 2: The Science of Yawning

Moving to the second round, the hosts presented three claims: yawning cools the brain, monkeys smell with their tails, or some lizards have fur. The "winning wow," identified by Dean from Georgia, is that yawning cools your brain. Contrary to the popular belief that yawning is merely a sign of boredom or tiredness, it serves a physiological purpose. By taking a deep breath, the body inhales air that is typically cooler than the internal body temperature, which helps regulate and cool the brain.

Round 3: The Salt-Clearing Tears of Turtles

The final round explored whether horses have a third eye, if turtles get sick without crying, or if cows use poop to mark territory. Clara from Hawaii helped reveal the winning fact: turtles will get sick if they don't cry enough. Because sea turtles consume high amounts of salt water, they face the risk of dehydration and salt buildup. Since their kidneys do not function like human kidneys to filter out excessive salt, they expel the salt by "crying" it out in the form of large, salty tears.

Conclusion and Interactive Learning

The episode concludes with a creative "STEAM-themed challenge" titled "Hearts, Farts, and Body Parts," encouraging listeners to design and build their own hypothetical additional body parts, such as tails or wings. By blending humor with scientific inquiry, the show reinforces the idea that biological functions—from the way worms breathe to how turtles maintain salt balance—are truly "bonker balls" (a term used by the hosts to describe the impressive nature of these facts). The episode serves as both an entertaining game and a platform for children to appreciate the complexities of the natural world.

🎯Key Sentences

I think I'll pass.

Asking for a friend.

I'm more than okay.

How bonker balls is that?

That's a great skill to have.

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📝Key Phrases

music to your ears

get on with the show

show off

on my wish list

once in a while

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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.

Or study on the web version →