Hey, Wowzer fams, Mindy here.
And before we start the show, Happy New Year!
Thank you for helping to make our 2025 so full of wow.
This year we celebrated our 10th season of Wow in the World with our 250th episode, special guests, a new book, New toys, out into the world.
Live events listening parties.
Oh my, so many things.
Whether you shared our podcast with a friend or teacher, joined our WOW membership called our WOW hotline, wrote a review on Apple or Spotify, watched us on WOWtube or just tuned into an episode.
This year would not have been possible without your support.
So thank you for wowing with us in 2025, and here's to even more in 2026.
That's it, and now let's get back to the show.
Happy New Year!
And now, for everyone's second favorite game show after, what does this button do?
It's Two What's and a Wow!
With your hosts, Mindy and Guy!
Hello and welcome 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.
And the category or theme for today is trains.
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 trains.
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 retunculus physical challenge.
Okay, everyone ready to start the game?
Great, then let's do it.
Okay, round one.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, every year more people ride trains than planes, cars, and buses combined?
Or is it B, gravy trains transport eight million gallons of gravy every year?
Or is it C, the longest train ever was over four and a half miles long?
When you think you have the correct answer, scream all aboard.
Reggie, how about some thinking music?
And time is up.
Let's now reveal the winning wow.
And to do just that, joining us by phone, it's Gideon from New Jersey.
Gideon, tell us, what's the winning wow?
My winning wow is that the longest train is over four and a half miles long.
Is it that bonk-a-bonk?
Winner, winner, Diesel for dinner.
Thank you, Gideon.
Contestants, if you guessed the answer C, that the longest train ever was over four and a half miles long well congratulations, you found the winning wow.
The longest train ever was an Australian freight train in the year 2000.
Eight diesel locomotives pushed 682 cars and was 4.57 miles long in total.
It was also the largest and heaviest train ever, weighing 99,732 tons.
That's almost as heavy as 10 Eiffel Towers.
Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop drop and chugga-chugga-choo-choo your way across Australia.
Okay, round two.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, most trains around the world use the same tracks?
Or is it B, some trains levitate with magnets?
Or is it C, scientists are building a train to the moon?
When you think you have the correct answer, yell, get up on the brain train.
Hey Reggie, can we get some thinking music please?
And time is up.
And joining us by phone, it's Erin from Minnesota.
Erin, please give us the winning wow.
Hi, my name is Erin.
My wow is that some trains levitate with magnets.
Winner, winner, levitation for dinner.
That's right, Erin.
Wowzers, if you guessed B, that some trains levitate with magnets, well, congratulations.
You found the winning wow.
Magnetic levitation, or maglev trains use magnets to hover above the tracks instead of using wheels that roll on top of the rails.
These trains can go incredibly fast, up to 375 miles per hour.
Because there's no friction or resistance from the train rubbing against the track.
Maglev trains are quieter, they're more energy efficient and they don't break down as easily as traditional trains.
Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop, and levitate off the ground.
Okay, round three.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, the Shinkansen bullet train can go up to 200 miles per hour?
Or is it B, the Mandovi Express has almost 350 stops?
Or is it C?
The Orient Express provides luxury dining, hot towels and a dramatic mystery with every ride.
When you think you have the correct answer, yell, I'm a superconductor!
Uh, thinking music, please.
And time is up.
And joining us by phone, it's Jack from Indiana.
Jack, tell us the winning wow.
Hi, my name is Jack and my wow in the world is that the Shinkansen bull train from Japan can go up to 200 miles per hour.
Winner, winner, bullet trains for dinner!
That's right, Jack.
Wowzers, if you guessed A that the Shinkansen bullet train can go up to 200 miles per hour well congratulations, you've found the winning wow.
Japan's Shinkansen trains are called bullet trains because of their aerodynamic shape and how fast they can go.
Passengers can take a bullet train from Osaka to Tokyo, traveling nearly 250 miles in just two and a half hours.
And that's pretty fast compared to the six hours it takes to drive that same distance.
And there are even Maglev-Shinkansen lines being built.
The first Shinkansen Maglev passenger line is planned to be ready by 2027.
Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop drop and run around at 200 miles per hour.
And now it's time to take a moment to thank our sponsors.
Today's show is brought to you in part by yelling chugga chugga choo choo.
Do you love trains?
Do you wish you could ride or possibly even be a train?
Well, try yelling chugga chugga choo choo.
And suddenly, a car trip or a piggyback ride becomes a picturesque train experience.
Ride the rails of everyday life by yelling chugga chugga choo choo today.
Okay, thank you, chugga-chugga-choo-choo.
Now, let's take a quick break and hear some other important messages for grown-ups.
Two What's and a Wow will 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.
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.
Stand clear of the closing doors?
Nope.
It's time for today's Bonker Balls bonus round.
In our Wow.
In the World episode titled Practice Makes Permanent, researchers studied mice brains as they practiced identifying different smells.
The purpose of this experiment was to better understand the way practice affects our human brains.
So the Bunker Balls bonus question is why in the world do scientists study mice brains to understand human brains?
Is it A, because mice have brains that are similar to human brains?
Or is it B, because mice brains are easier to find?
Or is it C, because mice can talk?
And with the answer to today's Bonker Balls bonus question, it's Reggie.
Reggie, tell us, what's the winning wow?
And there you have it.
If you chose A, that scientists study mice brains to better understand human brains because our brains are so similar well, congratulations.
You found the winning wow.
Turns out that mice brains and human brains are similar in structure and the way they work, making them useful for scientific research.
Well, congratulations to all of our winning Wowzers.
Mindy, what's today's prize?
Guy Raz, today's winning Wowzers will all receive their very own train whistle.
Reggie, cue the prize cannon.
Do we really need the cannon for this?
Oh, yeah.
Fire away!
Woo-hoo!
Grab a whistle, everyone.
The train is about to leave the station.
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 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 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.
