[The Science of Reversal: Exploring Nature's Backwards Wonders]-[Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Wardsback? (10/24/25)]

Wow in the World · B1 · 2025-10-24

📋 Summary

Exploring the Science of Reversal: A Journey Through 'Two Whats and a Wow'

In this episode of the popular children's science podcast Wow in the World, hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz take listeners on an educational and playful journey through the concept of "backwards" movement in the animal kingdom. Through their interactive game show, Two Whats and a Wow, the hosts challenge listeners to distinguish scientific facts from creative fabrications, highlighting unique biological adaptations.

Hummingbirds: Masters of Aerial Agility

The first round of the game focuses on avian locomotion. The "true scientific wow" revealed is that hummingbirds can fly backwards and upside down. While most birds rely on a simple up-and-down wing stroke, hummingbirds utilize a specialized "figure eight motion" with their wings. This unique biomechanical adaptation allows them to hover, move in reverse, and briefly fly upside down—a maneuver often used to access nectar from downward-facing flowers or to evade predators. The hosts emphasize that this ability is vital for their survival, as their "high metabolism" requires constant caloric intake.

The Forward-Only Movement of Emus

In the second round, the discussion shifts to flightless birds. The winning fact is that emus cannot walk backwards. Unlike cows, which are physically capable of walking in reverse (even if they dislike doing so), or alligators, which must "extend their legs" and lift their bodies to perform a cumbersome backward crawl, the emu is built strictly for forward motion. Emus are capable of sprinting at high speeds, but their physiology restricts them to moving only forward, distinguishing them from other animals that possess more flexible, albeit reluctant, backward mobility.

Kinkajous and the Art of Backward Climbing

In the final round, the show uncovers a fascinating trait of the kinkajou, often referred to as a "honey bear." The scientific truth is that kinkajous can twist their hind feet backwards to climb trees. These arboreal creatures possess "five clawed fingers" with webbing, which, combined with their ability to rotate their feet entirely around, allows them to navigate tree branches with remarkable ease.

During this segment, the hosts also debunk common misconceptions:

Owls: Contrary to popular belief, they cannot rotate their heads a full 360 degrees; they are limited to a still-impressive 270-degree range.
Giraffes: They do not possess eyes in the back of their heads, despite their height and wide field of vision.

Conclusion

This episode of Two Whats and a Wow successfully blends humor with scientific inquiry. By engaging young listeners in a game-show format, Mindy and Guy Raz demonstrate how specific physical adaptations—from the "figure eight" wing beats of a hummingbird to the rotating paws of a kinkajou—are essential tools for animal survival. The episode serves as a reminder that nature is full of "wows" waiting to be discovered, encouraging children to stay curious about the biological mechanics of the world around them.

🎯Key Sentences

So what are you waiting for?

We can't wait to see you there.

It's Two What's and a What.

Mindy, why don't you refresh our contestants on how the game works?

You know it, Guy Raz.

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📝Key Phrases

keep someone engaged

have someone covered

refresh someone on something

get to it

at most

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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 grown-ups, Mindy here.

And did you hear that we have a brand new book coming out?

That's right.

Dinosaurs Are Wow.

Or study on the web version →