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[The Science of Swallowing Eyes and Oxidizing Pennies: A Wow in the World Deep Dive]-[Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Metallic-wha?!]

Wow in the World · B1 · 2020-05-19

Preschool Enlightenment
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📋 Summary

Unlocking the Wonders of Biology and Chemistry

In this episode of Wow in the World, hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz guide listeners through their signature educational game show, "Two Whats and a Wow." The episode masterfully blends humor with scientific inquiry, challenging young "Wowzers" to distinguish between established facts and creative fabrications, while providing hands-on experiments to engage curious minds.

The Science of Swallowing: Frogs and Their Eyeballs

The episode highlights a fascinating biological phenomenon: how frogs eat. The winning "Wow" of the previous round revealed that "some frogs blink when swallowing because they use their eyeballs to push food down their throats." Mindy explains the process: after a frog takes a bite, the act of blinking causes its eyeballs to descend into the roof of its mouth, physically squeezing the food into its throat. This unique mechanism is essential for their survival, contrasting with human anatomy where blinking serves primarily to keep eyes hydrated and protected from dust, occurring roughly 15 to 20 times per minute.

Scientific Myths Debunked

The hosts also clarified common misconceptions during the game. While the frog fact was the true "Wow," other statements were debunked. For instance, the myth that chinchillas blink one eye at a time was corrected; it is actually hamsters that exhibit this behavior to keep their eyes clean. Furthermore, Mindy and Guy Raz clarified that while humans often attempt to set endurance records for not blinking, there is no official world record, and constant blinking is a necessary reflex for ocular health.

Exploring the Chemistry of Metals

The show transitioned into a new round of "Two Whats and a Wow" centered on the theme of metals. The contestants were presented with three intriguing statements:

  1. Earthquakes can turn water into gold.
  2. In ancient Egypt, people used copper to dye their hair orange.
  3. Gold medals from the Olympics are actually made of bronze and coated in 24-karat gold.

Listeners were encouraged to "carve" their guesses into a "silver spoon" and await the reveal in the next episode, emphasizing the show's commitment to interactive learning.

Operation Greenify Your Money: A Practical Experiment

To bridge the gap between theory and practice, the hosts introduced "Operation Greenify Your Money." This segment focuses on the chemical process of oxidation. The hosts explain that copper, when exposed to oxygen over time, undergoes a chemical reaction that changes its color—a phenomenon famously observed in the Statue of Liberty, which turned from reddish-brown to green.

Listeners are challenged to perform a home experiment using pennies minted before 1982 (when they were primarily copper). By soaking a paper towel in vinegar, adding salt to facilitate the reaction, and placing the pennies on the tray, children can observe the oxidation process firsthand. This hands-on approach reinforces the scientific concepts discussed in the show, encouraging "Wowzers" to engage with the world around them as active participants in discovery.

🎯Key Sentences

1
That's right, we are throwing another listening party.
2
It's going to be a November to remember.
3
But for now, let's get on with the show.
4
I have it right here.
5
I know, that's what I said.
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📝Key Phrases

1
music to your ears
2
get on with the show
3
stop by
4
where I left off
5
not too far off
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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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