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[Scientific Wonders and Pig Facts: An Adventure with Wow in the World]-[Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Sweat Like A Pig (encore)]

Wow in the World · B1 · 2020-08-05

Preschool Enlightenment
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📋 Summary

Introduction: Celebrating 250 Episodes

The popular children's science podcast Wow in the World, hosted by Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz, is gearing up for a major milestone: their 250th episode, which will be presented as a musical. The hosts invite their listeners, affectionately known as "Wowzers," to participate in an exclusive early-access listening party on November 22nd. This milestone reflects the show’s ongoing commitment to blending curiosity with entertainment, a theme that permeates their educational segments.

The Science of Respiration: Cloacal Breathing

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the scientific game show "Two What's and a Wow." In the previous round, listeners were challenged to identify a true scientific fact about breathing. The winning answer, confirmed by a young listener named Ellie, is that some turtles engage in "cloacal respiration" while they hibernate. As the hosts explain, "when turtles hibernate, they take in oxygen from water and move it through the parts of their bodies with a lot of blood vessels like their butts." This biological adaptation allows them to survive underwater without needing to break the surface for air, proving that their "butts are all they need" to stay oxygenated during the winter months.

Debunking Myths and Exploring Biology

The show also touches on intriguing animal trivia, specifically regarding pigs. Mindy introduces a humorous observation about the common idiom "sweating like a pig," noting that, scientifically, "pigs don't even have that many sweat glands to begin with, so they physically can't really sweat at all." This biological limitation explains why pigs rely on mud to regulate their body temperature. This segment serves as a lead-in to the current episode’s challenge: identifying the "true scientific wow" among three statements about pigs. The options provided to the audience are: (A) there are twice as many pigs in Iceland as people, (B) pigs are physically unable to look up at the sky, or (C) pigs can learn to play video games.

Engaging the Audience: Peripheral Vision Challenge

Beyond animal facts, the podcast encourages active learning through hands-on experiments. The hosts challenge listeners to test their "peripheral vision," which is described as "everything that you see outside of what you're directly looking at." By staring at a fixed object while a family member moves around the room, listeners can observe the limits of their field of vision. This interactive approach reinforces the show’s mission to help children "learn about their world through play."

Conclusion

Through a mix of quirky humor, listener participation, and fascinating biological insights, Wow in the World continues to make science accessible and exciting. Whether discussing the unusual breathing habits of hibernating turtles or the physiological constraints of pigs, the hosts maintain a lighthearted tone that keeps their young audience engaged. As the team prepares for their 250th episode and the holiday season, they remain dedicated to their core mission: fostering a sense of "wow and wonder" in every listener.

🎯Key Sentences

1
That's it.
2
It's going to be a November to remember.
3
But for now, let's get on with the show.
4
What's so perfect?
5
Oh, that's great.
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📝Key Phrases

1
music to your ears
2
get on with the show
3
sweating like a pig
4
to begin with
5
cool themselves down
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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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