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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!
It's WeWow Week.
Hello, and welcome back to WeWow.
A hands-on crash course in Fun Fun 101 for the science seekers and inventoritos everywhere.
I'm Mindy.
And I'm Guy Raz.
And it's Hello Wow Week here in the WeWow Laboratory of Bad Ideas.
That's right.
Every day this week we will be sharing one of our favorite Halloweeny episodes of Wow in the World to help get you in the spooktacular science spirit.
But that's not all.
Every day this week, we'll also share a new tinkering challenge for you to try while you listen.
Today's episode is all about screaming, something that I personally excel at.
Yes, you do, Mindy.
It's called Screaming for Science Weekend. what that scream really means.
What in the?
Just screaming for science, Guy Raz.
And with that, we've got a screaming for science experiment for you.
We call it the screaming balloon.
And in this experiment you'll discover a few things you probably didn't know about the science of sound.
You'll also drive your grown-ups bonker balls.
Okay, let's get started.
For this experiment, you'll need only two types of materials.
Balloons.
Floppy ones.
And a handful of hex nuts.
Like the little metal kind you find at the hardware store.
And now for the wow two.
Step one, start with one balloon and one hex nut.
Okay, I've got mine here.
Okay, now you're going to squeeze the hex nut through the mouth of the balloon.
Make sure it goes all the way into the balloon so you don't accidentally suck it out when you're blowing up the balloon in step number two.
Step number two, blow the balloon and tie it off.
Oh!
Uh, Mindy?
Uh... And, uh, be careful not to over-inflate the balloon, or it'll... Explode!
Oopsie!
Uh, don't worry, Guy Raz.
I'll inflate another one.
Don't faint, Mindy!
Ah!
Whoops!
Whew, okay.
Once you manage to inflate your balloon without popping it... Tying off the end of the balloon.
There we go.
Then we can move on to step three.
Grasp the neck of the balloon or the knotted end with one hand and swirl it in a circular motion.
Swirl, swirl, swirl, swirl, swirl, swirl, swirl.
The hex nut might pop bounce around at first, but soon it'll begin to roll around inside of the balloon.
Step four.
Once the hex nut begins to spin, use your other hand to stabilize the balloon.
Your hex nut should continue to spin for ten seconds or more.
And now for step five, the final step.
Listen.
What's that sound?
A hex nut has six and these flat edges cause the hex nut to bounce or vibrate against the inside wall of the balloon.
Whoa!
It sounds so cool!
It almost sounds like... a screaming balloon!
Amazing!
Wowzers, we would love to see pictures and videos of your screaming balloons!
You can upload them to us and find more detailed instructions on today's WeWow Tinkering Challenge at Tinkercastcom.
Slash WeWow.
Happy Hello Wow!
And now, listen up as Wow in the World presents Screaming for Science.
What the scream really means.
Hit it, Reg!
Woo!
Okay, let's try this out.
What's the first emotion on the list, Reg?
Pain?
Okay, um... How's that?
Okay, give me another one.
Anger?
All right.
I think I'm pretty good at this.
What's next, Reg?
Fear?
Oh, uh... What?
What in the... that Mindy?
Mindy?
Hi, guys.
Oh, Dennis, what's going on inside Mindy's gingerbread mansion?
I don't know.
Dennis, what if she's in trouble in there?
What if she needs our help?
I mean, she sounds fine.
That's it.
I'm going in.
Well, you're going to have kicked down the door.
I saw her eat the handle for breakfast.
I'll save you, Mindy.
Here I come.
Run, run, run, run, run, run.
Reggie, where's Mindy?
Is she okay?
You okay?
Oh yeah, never been better.
Why, what's up?
Well well i, i just.
It's just that i heard you screaming from inside my micro house next door.
So, oh yeah, i was just practicing.
What practicing by screaming in front of your bathroom mirror.
Yeah, practicing my screams.
So you're not And you're not in trouble.
Ross, do I look like the type of person who would get herself into trouble?
Yes.
Well, I'm not.
I'm just practicing my screams for ScreamCon.
ScreamCon?
That screaming festival down at the convention center?
Yep, that's the one.
And the theme this year is outside voices.
Well, that sounds obvious.
Yeah.
And the thing everyone's going to be screaming about this year is this new research study on screams that just came out in the scientific journal Plus Biology.
Wait, screaming for science?
Tell me more.
Well, I could tell you, but I'd rather show you.
Why don't you come with us to ScreamCon, Guy Raz?
We can take Screamin' Green.
Screamin'.
Screaming Green?
Don't tell me you got another vehicle Mindy, in addition to your ice cream truck and the sleigh cats and the wow machine and Reggie and your motor pickle.
Hey, Roz, Screaming Green is my motor pickle.
I just tricked it out with a new muffler.
Come on, I'll show you.
Need me out in front in two minutes.
I'll warm it up and pull it around and pick you up.
What?
What in the... think I preferred it when it was just a lowly motor pickle.
Come on, hop on.
Reggie, you too.
And don't forget your helmets.
I added some noise-canceling headsets to them.
Thought it would be a good idea to, you know, protect the old eardrums.
Okay.
Everyone all set?
Well, I... Because here we Wouldn't hurt to keep one close by just in case.
Wow, look at this place.
A whole convention center dedicated to nothing but screaming for an entire weekend.
Makes me feel right at home.
Uh... Come on, let's go in.
So Mindy, you mentioned that the big excitement this year had something to do with a scientific study on
Oh, yeah.
So this new study out of the University of Zurich in Switzerland involved a team of researchers who, set out to you know, categorize all of the different types of screams.
Huh.
Sort of like how I categorize my different types of heirloom beans.
Uh, yeah.
Only a little different.
Oh, look.
We're at the entrance.
Welcome to ScreamCon.
Please have your passes ready.
Mindy, did you have our passes?
I sure do.
Here it is!
I love it here.
Thank you.
Enjoy your time at ScreamCon.
You know, we are right here in front of you.
You don't have to scream.
Oh, I'm not screaming.
I'm yelling.
There's a huge difference.
For example, this is me yelling.
And now, this is me screaming.
They are quite distinct.
Uh-huh.
Come on, let's go inside.
Oh, look at this place, Guy Raz.
What a scream.
What is even happening in here?
Hi, me again.
Sorry, just wanted to give you a brief tour of the convention hall.
ScreamCon can be a little intimidating if you don't know your way around.
Yeah, I'm coming here for years, but it looks like it's all laid out differently this year.
That's right.
See?
We've organized the floor by the six different types of human screams.
Six different types of human screams?
Oh, just like the ones those researchers from the University of Zurich were trying to categorize for their city.
Sorry.
Yes.
To the left, you'll find all of the classic alarm screams.
Oh, yeah.
Pain, fear, and anger.
Yes!
How did you know that?
Well, there's just giant signs hanging from the ceiling that say pain and fear and anger.
Oh, right.
Oh, and what about the non-alarm screams?
You know, the happy ones.
Those exhibits are to the right.
Maybe we should start there, Mindy, in the non-alarm wings.
Actually, you may want to start at the main stage located in the center of the convention hall.
A screaming game show is about to begin.
Ooh, I love game shows.
You know, my buddy Guy Raz here and I actually hosted... Oh, look at the time.
I've got to run and take the tickets.
Bye.
It's called Two Ones in a Row!
You should check it out sometime!
Sorry, can't hear you.
Ugh.
So there are six different types of screams, Mindy?
Alarm screams, non-alarm screams.
It's amazing.
I always just assumed a scream is a scream is a scream.
Well, as I was saying earlier, Guy Raz, those researchers from the University of Zurich began their study by trying to categorize the different types of screams.
You know, to show that there's a lot more to a person's scream than meets the ear.
So I know a person might scream out in pain, but they can also scream out in joy?
Yeah, joy or sadness, fear, pleasure, anger.
There's a whole range of different emotions just screaming to get out.
Wow, so what got these researchers interested in screaming in the first place?
Well, it all started with a cognitive neuroscientist named Sasha Fruholes.
Aha and a cognitive neuroscientist is a scientist who studies how the different parts of our brains help to create our thoughts and emotions and behaviors.
Exactoritos.
So one day this particular cognitive neuroscientist, Dr Fruholes, was watching a video of a Beatles concert from 1960, during the height of Beatlemania.
And he couldn't but notice that the fans were going bunker balls screaming with delight.
As opposed to screaming in fear or anger or pain?
Yes, their extreme joy was so overwhelming that these Beatles fans had no other way to release it than to scream their ever-loving brains out.
Almost like there was no other way to express their joy and pleasure and excitement.
Remember that time I turned your bathroom into a laboratory so I could play hip-hop music to cheese and you were so happy about it.
All you could do was scream, because you were so happy about it.
Uh, that's not a great example, Mindy.
Well, anywho, this got a very curious Dr. Fruholes wondering.
Wondering?
Yeah, so if humans scream when we're really, really scared or hurt...
But we also scream when we're really, really happy or excited.
Then what else are we screaming about?
And is there any difference between all of these screams?
Woo!
Looks like humans aren't the only screamers around here.
That was a goat.
Oh, she's just screaming for her kids.
Looks like they got lost somewhere in this conference hall.
There are wild goats on the loose in here?
Woo!
This place is a zoo, Mindy.
Oh, no.
Zoos are much more organized than this.
This is more like a dysfunctional farm.
Is that a barn owl?
Oh, wow.
He's a real hoot.
He sounds like he's trying to warn us about something.
Yeah, that was a real scream.
Maybe he's trying to warn us that the game show on the main stage is about to begin.
Come on, Guyron.
If you're happy and you know it, make some noise!
Welcome, everyone, to ScreamCon!
Our game show today is based on a new Scream study out of the University of Zurich!
Kairos, this must be the study that I mentioned earlier!
I told you everyone here was gonna be The one where Dr Fruholtz was trying to figure out all the different kinds of human screams.
Now to get us started, I'm going to need a volunteer contestant.
Oh, oh, oh, pick me, pick me.
I'll be a contestant, pick me.
You there, the one with the t-shirt that says, scream into a colander, strain your voice.
Come on up to the stage.
Everyone, give it up for today's contestant.
Hi.
Wow, I am really nervous up here.
And what's your name?
My name is Mindy, and oh, hi, Guy Razzi.
Hi, I'm on stage.
That's my best friend down there in the blue glasses.
Hi.
OK, that's terrific.
Let's jump right into the first question.
Can you name the six different categories of screaming?
Okay, uh, well, there are the alarm screams, um, uh, pain, fear, and anger, um... Go, Mindy!
Just three more!
Okay, and then there are the uh non-alarm screams, uh pleasure sadness, and uh uh, Come on, Mindy.
You got this!
I can't remember!
Can I phone a friend?
You know what?
Let's get your spectacled friend up here to help you out.
Come on up here, fella.
Who, me?
No, no, no, no.
I'm fine down here, just being a spectacled spectator.
Guy Raz, come up to the stage.
You can't leave me here hanging.
Well, you see, I'm actually afraid of heights and people and screaming and... Guy Raz, look at me.
Oh.
Anything for science?
Anything for science?
Alright, let's get him up here.
Uh... Hi buddy, you okay?
You wanna barf?
Guy, we asked your friend Mindy here to name the six different screams that were identified in this study.
And so far, she's named five out of six.
Pain, fear, anger, pleasure, sadness.
I can't think of the sixth.
Oh, I remember the sixth, Mindy.
Remember the kind of screams that Dr Fruholt discovered when he was watching the fans at that Beatles concert?
Those were screams of... Hold on there.
Not so fast.
What?
What?
In order to help Mindy find the answer, you're going to need to play Guess the Scream.
I'm not sure I follow.
Guy Raz, are you ready to scream for science?
Uh-oh.
Can't I just... tell her the answer?
No.
I mean, we're going to give you a few different scream scenarios.
And if Mindy correctly identifies all of the screams, you both win.
Win what?
Guy Raz, this is exactly what Dr. Furholes and his team did in the study.
He roped unwilling participants into a game show?
No.
He got a group of 12 willing participants to scream the way they would in different situations.
Then he roped in 23 more participants to listen to the screams, while Dr Fruples and his teams monitored their brains.
Ooh, are you gonna monitor my brains?
Uh... Okay, Guy Raz.
Scream scenario number one.
You're the recipient of one of Grandma G-Force's power hugs.
You know Grandma G-Force?
Uh, yeah, dude.
I mean, she's, like, super famous.
Now, let's hear your scream!
Okay now, Mindy, it's time for you to guess that scream.
Ooh, uh, yeah.
Having a really hard time identifying the emotion behind that scream.
Ugh.
Ooh, I'm sorry, Mindy.
That was a scream in pain.
Yeah, I guess that makes sense, since Grandma G-Force does break all of your backbones when she tries to hug you.
Okay, guys, scream scenario number two.
Your friend Mindy says she has just hatched an idea, and it's going to involve costumes.
Uh, okay.
Okay, Mindy, what do you think?
It sounds like another alarm sound.
Sorry, time is up.
That was a scream of fear.
But you love costumes, Guy Raz.
Actually.
All right, scream scenario number three.
The friendly neighborhood Snoop has just launched a neighborhood blog chronicling all of your personal business like a screaming surprise.
Oh, i'm sorry, but that was a scream of anger, let's go to scream.
Scenario number four guy ross, your favorite band has just released a new album of original elevator music.
They are performing that album live in a nearby elevator and you have got the only ticket to the show.
Okay Mindy, can you guess that scream?
Mr. Announcer Man, I would know that scream if it hit me right between the ears, which it has.
That was the scream. sadness, and joy.
The six different types of screams mentioned in the scientific scream study, do I win a prize?
Mindy, because you only managed to guess one of Guy Raz's screams.
You will be taking home the consolation prize.
Your very own silent scream.
With this noise-suppressing attachment for your face, you can scream all day long without disturbing your neighbors.
Simply put on the comfort, form-fitting headwear, activate the screen-canceling module and effectively manage the volume of your screams.
Congratulations!
Silent screaming?
What a wonderful prize!
Uh, too bad a silent scream is just a yawn.
Come on, Guy Raz.
Let's get out of here.
Let's hear you scream one more time for our contestants, Mindy and Guy Raz!
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
You know Mindy, It's pretty amazing that, out of all of my screams, Joy was the one that you recognized right away.
Well, it's not surprising, Guy Raz.
See, that's exactly what Dr. Fruholes and his team found when they did their study as well.
Really?
Yeah.
Plenty of animals, including humans, use screaming as an alarm to alert others of danger, or even just to communicate anger or aggression.
But what about positive, non-alarm screaming like joy?
Well, that's what was so surprising to these researchers.
They found that, out of all the different categories of screams, it was screams of joy that the listening group of participants recognized the quickest and the clearest.
So you're saying that when the listening group heard all of these different types of screams coming from the screaming group?
It was the screams of joy that they were most efficient at identifying?
Exactoritos!
Huh, but why?
Well, the answer to that question is going to require a lot more screaming experiments.
But one idea is that positive or joyful screams have become just as important as alarm screams.
I wonder if this could have something to do with humans evolving over time to communicate and socialize in more complex ways.
Yeah, screaming.
It's not just for danger anymore.
Well, at least, maybe not for humans, because I can't think of any other primates or animal species that scream to signal extreme happiness or joy.
Maybe having a variety pack of screams to choose from is part of what makes us uniquely human.
Yeah.
One more piece of the puzzle of how our human communication has evolved.
Well, Guy Raz, it looks like the next stage show doesn't start for another 30 minutes or so.
What do you think about a little ice cream while we wait?
No, thanks.
I screamed enough for one day.
How about you scream now?
No, I scream.
Go ahead, scream.
You're in the right place.
No, I scream.
You scream.
I scream.
You scream.
I scream. be right back grown-ups this message is for you hey grown-ups it's mindy and guy ross here from wow in the world mindy and i have some brand new wow in the world toys out in the world just in time for the holidays made for the kids who love science and for the ones who don't yet from our 100 experiments that wow kit to the telescope and astronomy kit 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.
Hi, thanks for calling Wow in the World.
After the beep, get ready to record.
I'm Zoe from Graham, North Carolina.
And my wow in the world is that you drink the same water that dinosaurs did, because in the water cycle the water never really disappears.
Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz.
My name is Magnolia.
I'm nine years old, and I live in Orlando, Florida.
My wow in the world is that in a battle between a porcupine and a lion, the porcupine would win.
Scientists in Chicago found that, even though a lion is much bigger, the porcupine's quills could injure or even kill the lion.
Bye.
I love your show.
Say hi to Dennis.
Howdy.
Thomas Fingo and Grandma G-Force.
Say what?
Hi, Mindy.
Hi, Guy.
My name is Nicholas.
I'm calling from Northwest Massachusetts.
And my vow in the world is that some cobras can spit venom six and a half feet.
That's longer than a hockey stick.
Say hi to Grandma G-Force and Thomas Bingley.
Bye.
I'm Reggie.
I'm Indian Guy Ron.
My name's Simone.
And I'm Tristan.
We live in Marshallville Louisiana, and our vow in the world is that if a tornado takes us to the water with fish in it, later it will rain fish.
Isn't that amazing?
Say hi to Grandma, Eve, or Tom Singling.
Bonjourno.
What's up?
Reggie.
Oh, yeah, and Dennis.
Bye, Mindy.
Bye, Ron.
We love your show.
Hi, my name is Lucy, and I'm from Montgomery Village, Maryland.
My vow in the world is that horses' hooves are just like our fingernails.
Sometimes you have to get a farrier to come to your house and cut your horse's hooves.
Hi, I'm Judith, and I'm from Salida, Colorado.
My law in the world is that jellyfish sting even when dead.
Oh, and Reggie, I have a question.
Hi, my name is Ellie, and I'm from Hendersonville, North Carolina.
My law in the world is that bull sharks swim up from the Atlantic Ocean to Amazon River to.
My name is Connor from Sterling Alberta.
My route to share with you is that the CN Tower in Toronto gets hit by lightning about 75 times per year.
Say hi to Chad again for me.
Bye.
Hi, Mindy and Guy Ross.
My name is Adler and I'm nine years old and I live in Lowell, Arkansas.
Did you know that the largest seed is the Coco de Mer palm and the smallest seed is the orchid?
The cocoa demerger can weigh up to 60 pounds.
That's almost as much as me.
There might be a million seeds in one pot of orchids.
Isn't that bonker balls?
Hey, Grandma G-Force, have you ever tried fighting a robot?
Oh, no.
Oh, no.
End of messages.
Wow in the World is written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Kalken with help from me.
Sky Roz.
Our senior producer, Jed Anderson, brings our show to life with sound design and music editing and is also in charge of wrangling Dennis Thomas Fingerling, Reggie and many of the other silly characters you hear.
Jessica Bode keeps our facts straight as our fact checker and Meredith Halpern-Ranzer powers the wow at Tinkercast.
Our theme song was composed and performed by three-time Grammy nominees, The Pop-Ups.
Find them at thepopups.com.
Special thanks to the rest of our team of tinkerers, including Anna Zagorski, Rebecca Caban, Kit Ballinger and Henry Moskal.
To keep the wows rolling, visit us at tinkercast.com.
There you can learn more about becoming an official member of the World Organization of Wowsers.
Learn more about upcoming events.
Shop our shop and pick up a copy of our new number one New York Times bestselling book, The How and Wow of the Human Body.
Grownups, you can follow Wow in the World on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at wowintheworld.
And our email address is hello at tinkercast.com.
And if you're a kid with a big wow to share with us, call us at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW for a chance to be featured at the end of our show or an upcoming episode of Two What's and a Wow.
Thanks again for listening.
And until next time, keep on wowing.
Made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.
