[The Science of Googly Eyes: How Quirky Tactics Protect Our Crops and Oceans]-[WeWow Summer Week 2024 - Day 2: Grow Tunes (6/18/24)]

Wow in the World · B1 · 2024-06-18

📋 Summary

Introduction to a Garden Dilemma

In this episode of Wow in the World, hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz explore the intersection of gardening, science, and creative pest control. The narrative begins in Guy Raz's garden, where he struggles to keep his crops safe from hungry birds. Frustrated by the loss of his harvest, Guy Raz attempts to deter the birds by creating a life-sized scarecrow modeled after himself, complete with his own clothes and glasses. However, the birds remain undeterred, leaving his garden looking like a "disaster zone."

The Science of the "Googly Eye" Solution

Recognizing the failure of a standard scarecrow, Mindy introduces a surprising solution from her "adventure toolkit": extra-large googly eyes. She explains that these are not merely for decoration; they are a legitimate scientific tool for wildlife conservation. Mindy references researchers from Bird Life International who faced a similar challenge in the fishing industry. Fisheries, often described as the "farms of the ocean," frequently struggle with seabirds eating their catch and getting trapped in nets.

To combat this, conservationists experimented with attaching googly eyes to buoys in the water. The theory is that the large, blinking eyes mimic the appearance of terrifying predators, which effectively frightens birds away. During trials in Estonia, researchers observed that these googly-eyed buoys reduced the presence of seabirds in the area by 20 to 30 percent. Crucially, when the eyes were removed, the birds "flocked right back," confirming that the eyes were indeed the primary deterrent.

Experimenting with the "Googly-Eyed Guy Raz"

To test if this strategy could solve the problem in a domestic setting, Mindy and Guy Raz set up their googly-eyed scarecrow and hid in a nearby bush to observe. Their experiment is interrupted by various neighbors, including Grandma G-Force and Thomas Fingerling, who react with confusion and amusement to the "zen" silence of the googly-eyed scarecrow.

A Humorous Twist and Conclusion

As the episode concludes, the hosts discover that their initial assumption—that birds were the primary "pests"—was only half the story. While the googly eyes did seem to keep the crows at bay, the garden had also been ransacked by human neighbors, including Dennis, who admitted to eating the tomatoes and carving up pumpkins. The episode highlights a classic Wow in the World blend of genuine scientific inquiry and lighthearted storytelling. By exploring how researchers are taking the googly-eye experiment on a "world tour" to countries like Iceland, the show underscores the power of creative, "tinkering" approaches to solving real-world environmental problems.

🎯Key Sentences

It's going to be a November to remember.

But for now, let's get on with the show.

Well, yeah, I suppose that's true.

Dennis, stop backseat gardening.

All right, this is where I draw the line.

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📝Key Phrases

music to your ears

get on with the show

snoop around

backseat gardening

draw the line

Expand All

📖 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.

Or study on the web version →