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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.
On December 1st, we are sharing our 250th episode of Wow in the World with all of you.
We think this one is going to be music to your ears.
Literally.
Did I mention it's a musical?
And if you're a member of the World Organization of Wowzers...
Oh boy, do I have a surprise for you.
You can listen to our 250th episode early with me and other members from around the world on Saturday, November 22nd, at 7 pm.
Eastern.
That's right, we are throwing another listening party.
Join us as we dance along to our new songs.
React to the episode with other members in the chat and more.
Grownups.
If you want your wowzer to join this members-only listening party, you can sign up to become a member today at Tinkercastcom.
Slash wow.
Already a member?
Well, you can find the link and password to join the event when you sign in at Tinkercastcom.
Slash wow.
That's it.
It's going to be a November to remember.
But for now, let's get on with the show.
Woo!
Hey grownups, if you're planning on taking a family trip to Orlando this summer to be transported to magical universes well, you should know there's one portal you don't want to miss.
Your portal to the original universe Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, where they have flying dragons too.
It's about science where no spells are required.
Walk beneath a towering Falcon 9 booster, touch a real moon rock and come face-to-face with Space Shuttle Atlantis plus.
Take a behind-the-gates bus tour for an exclusive look at NASA's legendary launch sites and the future of space exploration.
Visitors also have the chance to meet an astronaut.
Talk about a core memory in the making.
And get this, our friends at Kennedy Space Center have offered our listeners $7 off admission.
Just use code WOW at checkout.
With missions to Mars, rocket launches, and deep space exploration...
No trip to Orlando is complete without landing at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
Discover something real.
And now for everyone's second favorite game show, after having a staring contest with a fish.
It's Two What's and a Why.
The scientific game show that separates the wows from the what?
And the category or theme for today is whales.
Mindy, why don't you refresh our contestants on how the game works?
You know it.
Wowsers in each of our three rounds.
Today, Guy Raz and I will present you with three scientific statements about whales.
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 redonkulous physical challenge.
All right, everyone ready to start the game?
Great, then let's get to it.
Round one.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, whales are the largest fish on the planet?
Or is it B, bowhead whales like to wear fancy hats?
Or is it C, you can tell how old a blue whale is by their earwax?
When you think you have the correct answer, yell, thar she blows!
Hey, Reg!
We need thinking music.
And time is up.
Let's now reveal the winning wow.
And to do just that, it's Lola from Texas.
Lola from Texas, tell us, what's the winning wow?
Hello, my name is Lola.
And my wow is you can tell how old a blue whale is by their earwax.
Winner, winner, earwax for dinner.
Thank you, Lola.
Contestants if you guessed the answer C, that you can tell how old a blue whale is by their earwax well, congratulations.
You found the winning wow.
All whales have earwax.
And some species of whale have earwax that stays in their ear canal and forms a kind of earplug.
This can actually help them hear better, because it blocks out the water while letting sounds pass through.
These earplugs form in layers and can become up to 10 inches long.
And by counting the number of layers, scientists can tell the age of the whale.
Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop drop and put your elbow in your ear.
Okay, round two.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, pilot whales don't have dorsal fins?
Or is it B, humpback whales use bubbles to hunt?
Or is it C, orcas have long and beautiful eyelashes?
When you think you have the correct answer, yell whale-a-bee.
Hey, Reggie, cue the thinking music.
And time is up.
And joining us by phone for the answer, it's Jackson from Maryland.
Jackson, please reveal...
The winning wow.
Hi, Mindy and Guy Ross.
My wow in the world is that humpback whales use bubbles to hunt.
Winner, winner, bubbles for dinner.
You got it, Jackson.
Wowzers, if you guessed B, that humpback whales use bubbles to hunt, well, congratulations.
You found the winning wow.
Humpback whales eat mostly small fish and krill, and they eat a lot of it roughly one and a half tons of food per day.
And they have a pretty unusual way of going fishing.
Groups of whales, or pods, work together by swimming in a circle around schools of fish.
They create bubbles by splashing and blowing through their blowholes.
This traps the fish in a kind of net of bubbles, which is why this way of hunting is called bubble net feeding.
Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop drop and shoot bubbles out of your blowhole.
Okay, time for round three.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, beluga whales are the only whales that can turn their heads?
Or is it B, narwhals use only their tusks for fighting each other?
Or is it C, all whales speak Welsh?
When you think you have the correct answer, yell, I have the correct answer!
Uh, thinking music, please.
And time is up.
And joining us by phone, it's Theodore from California.
Theodore, please tell us the winning wow.
My name is Theodore, and my wow is that beluga whales are the only whales that can turn their heads.
Winner, winner, fish heads for dinner.
That's right, Theodore.
Wowzers, if you guessed A that beluga whales are the only whales that can turn their heads.
Well, congratulations.
You found the winning wow.
Most whales cannot turn their heads because their neck vertebrae, or neck bones, are fused.
Scientists think that this kind of neck helps whales to support the weight of their ginormous heads.
But belugas do not have fused neck vertebrae, so their necks are more flexible.
They're able to turn their heads up and down and side to side, kind of like humans.
Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop drop and spin your head around and around and around.
And now it's time to take a moment to thank our sponsors.
Today's show is brought to you in part by Now That's What I Call Whale Songs, Volume 12.
This deluxe compilation has songs from all of your favorite artists.
Whaler Swift, Fluke Combs, Bailene Dion, and more.
We've got classic hits like this.
And who could forget this one?
Order now, and you'll also receive baby beluga buffs absolutely free.
Okay, thank you, whale songs.
Now, let's take a quick break and hear some other important messages for grown-ups.
To What's in a Wow, we'll be right back.
Grown-ups, this message is for you.
Hey, grown-ups, it's Mindy and Guy Raz here from Wow in the World.
Mindy and I have some great news.
We'll be right back.
Our Wow in the World toys help your wowzer learn about their world through play.
Plus, you can hear exclusive audio content from me and Guy Raz to help your wowzer discover even more wows.
Grown-ups.
Give the gift of wow and wonder this holiday season with our latest Wow in the World toys designed with your curious wowzer in mind.
You can shop our Wow in the World toys at Tinkercast.com slash toys.
That's Tinkercast.com slash toys.
Welcome back 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.
What was that?
Oh, Guy Raz, that sound can mean only one thing.
Land ho?
Nope.
It is time for today's Bonker Balls bonus round.
If you listen to our Wow in the World episode, Ohm Sweet Ohm, you'll know the answer to this one.
And the Bunker Balls bonus question is, what happens almost immediately after an ohm is born?
Is it A, it turns inside out with all of its guts showing on the outside?
Or is it B, skin grows over its eyes?
Or is it C, it does a little dance to let the underground animal kingdom know it's arrived.
And now to reveal the winning wow, it's Reggie.
Reggie, tell us, what's the winning wow?
And the correct answer is B.
When an ohm is born, its eyes are almost immediately covered in skin, leaving its face basically featureless and ready for a life underground.
Well, congratulations to all of our winning Wowzers.
Mindy, what's today's prize?
Guy Raz, today's winning Wowzers will all be receiving their very own giant pile of seaweed.
Reggie, cue the prize cannon.
I don't think you should.
Fire away!
Woo slimy because it's fresh.
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 wowsers 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 Tinkercastcom.
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.
What's in 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 Thuy Mac, 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.
Grownups.
You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at WowInTheWorld, 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.
The world was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.
