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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! on the weekend we wow on the weekend because this is what we do on the weekend talking laughing me and reggie singing laughing and then we oh wait no i said laughing twice uh whatever we wow on the weekend yeah we wow on the weekend we wow on the weekend because this is what we do Hello and welcome to WeWow on the Weekend.
I'm your host, Dennis.
And that's Reggie.
Oh, nothing, Reggie.
I'm fine.
Well, it's just.
I was going to start the episode off with a snoop scoop, but everyone's being really boring today shenanigans.
No wacky hijinks.
Everyone's just sitting around enjoying their day.
It's horrible.
Oh, you're right.
I could still do the Snoop Scoop.
I just have to jazz it up a little.
Okay, let's get jazzy.
Snoop Scoop Snoop Scoop Snoop Scoop Sneakiest Snoopity News Yeah!
Okay, that felt good.
Welcome to the Snoop Scoop, the part of the show where I tell you everything I've seen going on around the neighborhood.
All right, Reggie, get this.
Today, I saw Guy Raz buying groceries!
Oh, right, I gotta jazz it up.
Um, can you play saxophone?
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Do that!
Oh, this is gonna be so great!
Jazzy Snoop Scoop!
Here we go!
Today was boring.
Almost too boring.
I thought, huh, where is everyone?
And then, there he was.
Out of the nowhere.
Guy Raz.
With a bag of groceries.
I wondered, what was in that bag of groceries?
Cheese?
Bread?
Vegetables?
And that's when I saw her.
Mindy, off in the distance, reading a book.
Wow.
I know, just when I thought this day couldn't get any more boring.
Oh, but what's this?
Why, it's Reggie.
That's right, Reggie, you.
You were coming right for me, walking with purpose.
But what purpose could that be?
What business could Reggie possibly have with me, Dennis?
Oh, that's right.
You were just coming over to record the podcast.
Okay, well, that's been today's Snoop Scoop.
Jazz edition.
All right, let's do a reading reviewsy segment.
Because, Reggie, I want to hear from my adoring fans.
Ahem.
I'm reading reviewsies for me and for yousies.
We've got us some doozies, so let's read reviewsies.
This is the part where I print off a bunch of comments that people left us on Apple Music or Spotify or wherever, and I read them aloud.
I go off on a tangent and forget what the comment was.
Well, I don't know.
It's definitely one of the two.
Okay, here we go.
This first Reviewsy comes from username Lion.
And Lion asks, what is your favorite type of sneaker?
Hmm, good question.
Well, of course we snoops are excellent sneakers.
We have to sneak around all sneaky when we listen to people's conversations.
But there are other kinds of sneakers, right?
Like foxes are pretty sneaky.
Oh, and spies are also very sneaky.
Spies are kind of like snoops, but they have more gadgets, which is very cool.
Also on the sneaky list is the... Lion meant sneakers, like the kind of shoe?
Well, in that case, my answer is red ones.
Next reviewsy.
This next Refusee is from username Cool.
Now, Reggie, cool, not coo.
Close enough.
Cool asks, do you like cake?
Oh, yeah.
I love cake.
I love the different flavors and I love the frosting and I love the decorating cakes with sprinkles.
Oh, great idea, Reggie.
We should bake a cake on Dishing It Up With Dennis.
Okay, listeners, let us know in the comments what kind of cake we should bake.
Next, Raboozy.
Okay, this one's from Yuanyu, who asks, what is inside a bug's body?
Huh, I believe the scientific term for what is inside a bug's body is icky, squishy bug guts.
Okay, fine, that's not the scientific term.
Well, what would you call the inside of a bug?
Delicious?
I forget how many bugs you eat.
Yeah, okay.
This conversation is making me itchy.
Thanks for all your reviewsies, listeners.
Keep them coming.
If you leave me a comment on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, I just might read it on WeWow on the weekend.
Five stars or more, please.
Okie doke.
Up next, there's a little segment I like to call Inside Tinkercast Studios.
Inside Tinkercast Studios.
This is the part where we revisit an episode of one of my favorite Tinkercast shows.
And today we're listening to Wow in the World.
Season 2, Episode 12, called Spaced Out Pen Pal.
Part 1.
Oh, a space one!
Yay!
And a two-parter, which means we can make this whole weekend a space weekend!
Okay, here we go.
And play.
Wow in the World will 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 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 Kids 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.
That's it.
Back to the show.
Hope things are going well for you up there on the International Space Station.
Hope to see you soon.
Yours, sincerely, Guy Raz.
There.
All done.
Come in.
Get out.
Hi, Mindy.
Wow, you're even cheerier and happier than normal.
What's up?
Well, for starters, this morning I found some shrimp in my pocket that I forgot I put there a couple of weeks ago and it's still kind of fresh.
Here, you want some?
Eat it.
Eat it.
Well, I was just about to deliver this letter to my pen pal.
What?
You have other friends besides me and Reggie?
Well, Mindy, I happen to be a very popular guy.
Roz.
What?
You happen to be a very popular guy, Roz.
Oh, yeah, right.
So this pen pal I was writing to, well, she happens to be on the International Space Station.
The International?
International Space Station?
The ISS?
Yep.
In her last letter to me, she signed off and wrote, see you later.
See you later?
Yeah.
Roz, you know what this means?
She wants you to come visit.
What?
Oh, my one-eyed cat.
Roz, you're going to the International Space Station.
I don't know, Mindy.
I suppose it would be a nice gesture to deliver this letter in.
Well, if you're going to deliver your snail mail to the International Space Station Guy Raz Well, Then I'm going with you.
What?
Come on.
Grab your stuff.
Let's go.
But, Mindy, I'm not sure see you later literally means I'll see you later.
I mean, I think she was just being polite.
Uh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
She said specifically I'll see you later.
As in, I'll see you later on the International Space Station.
P.S., Bring your best friend, especially if her name rhymes with Wendy.
Are you sure about this, Mindy?
Of course I'm not sure about this, Guy Raz.
Now go suit up and get ready to go.
But I'm already wearing a suit.
Guy Raz, a spacesuit.
Okay, well, let me just run upstairs and put on my spacesuit.
Just give me two seconds, okay?
Just wait right here.
Okay, just make it snappy, okay?
All right.
Guy Raz, what is taking you so long?
All right, good to go.
Uh, Guy Raz?
Uh, yeah?
You're wearing the exact same thing as you were before.
That's not true.
I'm now wearing my fancy Saturn cufflinks and my paisley bow ties.
See, look, it spins.
It's my spacesuit.
Okay, Guy Raz, so you and I both know that space can be a seriously dangerous place.
I mean, with all of that space junk just flying around up there, I think you're going to need something a little more um.
Substantial to protect you from the elements.
Substantial?
Like what?
Well, you know how you need a big fluffy jacket in the winter to protect you against snow or rain?
Yeah.
Well, in space, you need a special kind of suit to protect you against the dangers of space.
One that doesn't involve cufflinks or a spinning bow tie.
The dangers of space?
Like what?
Like what?
Well, instead of snow and rain in space, you have to protect yourself against things like cosmic radiation and space dust.
Space dust?
Maybe I hate dust.
That's why I get sick every time I visit your house.
Oh, you're just allergic to Dusty.
Who?
Dusty, my pet dust bunny.
That's what that thing is.
And if you think the dust in my house is bad, just wait until you get a load of some space dust, because that stuff can beat.
But dust particles are so small, Mindy.
I mean, how can something so small be so deadly?
Well, because some of these particles can orbit or float around the planet at up to 10000 miles per hour.
10,000 miles per hour?
That's like five times faster than a speeding bullet.
I know, right?
And when these little pieces of space rock are traveling that fast, they can cause some serious damage.
Whoa.
In fact, some scientists actually refer to these tiny bits of space dust as micrometeorites.
Micro meaning really, really, really small, and meteorites meaning bits of space rock?
You know it.
I never thought I'd say this, Mindy, but I think I might need a new suit.
Guy Raz, let's go shopping.
No, really, I've been meaning to get a new space suit anyway ever since I grew out of my old one.
Wait, you already have a space suit?
Well, yeah, you want to see it?
Of course I want to see it.
Okay, you wait right here.
I'll be right back.
What?
Found it!
Ta-da!
What is that, Mindy?
You like it?
It's so bright, it's hurting my eyes.
It's like a disco ball.
I know, pretty retro, huh? is my old spacesuit.
I'll say.
Why is it so shiny?
Oh well, the first ever American spacesuits were made out of a reflective material called aluminized nylon.
It's meant to reflect thermal radiation.
Thermal radiation?
Oh, that's the type of energy the sun gives off that makes us hot.
Exactoritos.
So this shiny material is actually used to reflect that energy back into space, so that the astronaut wearing it doesn't overheat.
Ah, I get it.
Kind of like how you put a reflective sun visor on your car's dashboard to keep it cool on hot summer days.
You know it.
In fact, this is the same suit that astronaut John Glenn wore.
The John Glenn?
The first American to orbit the Earth?
Yep, that's the one.
My Aunt Mojo gave it to me.
She used to cat sit for him when he went off on his space missions and he gave it to her as a Thank you present.
Yeah, maybe you should get a new space suit, Mindy.
I think that one kind of belongs in a museum or something.
I think you belong in a museum, Guy Raz.
Uh, what?
What?
So are we going to go to the mall or what?
Yeah, I'm ready when you are.
Okay, let me just lock up the house.
Another beautiful day.
Mindy, do you really think they're gonna have spacesuits at the mall?
Oh, yeah.
They just opened up this new store called The Black Hole and I hear the fashion in there is out of this world.
Well, I think I'll be the judge of that.
Reggie!
Oh, we can't ride Reggie to the mall, Guy Raz.
Why not?
His taekwondo lessons aren't for another four hours.
There's no pigeon parking at the mall.
Oh, right.
Sorry, Reg.
Looks like you're going to have to hang back this time.
Mindy and I are... Mindy?
Mindy?
What in the... Hop on back, Guy Raz.
But first, put this helmet on your head.
Mindy, this is a coconut shell.
And what is this thing you're sitting on?
Is this a... It's a motor pickle, Guy Raz.
A motor what?
A motor pickle pickle.
So last summer i grew this monster cucumber that i later pickled and then realized it was too big to eat.
So i just added a motor, some handlebars and the wheels from your car, and now it's a motor pickle, and i built it all by myself.
First, and only one of its kind.
Do you think it's safe to ride?
Of course i don't think it's safe to ride what?
But i bet it tastes great.
Man, did she just eat her motor?
Now hop on back and hold on for your life, Kairos.
Mindy!
You too, Reg.
It's a three-seater.
Mindy, I... Here we go!
Whoa!
Look at all these people checking out my sweet ride.
Thought it was a sour pickle.
Yeah, I went with bread and butter.
Wow, everyone here really is looking at us, Mindy.
I know.
Isn't it great?
Excuse me, everybody.
Excuse me.
Nothing to see here.
Nothing to see here.
Just me and Mindy and a carrier pigeon riding on a motor pickle.
Take a picture, folks.
It'll last longer.
Mindy, can we go anywhere without causing a scene?
No.
Ugh.
Let's just get inside the mall.
Okay.
Come on, Reggie.
Ah, the mall.
Christmas music already?
Now we can just get past all these teens.
Excuse me.
Sorry.
Sorry.
Coming through.
Coming through.
Wait.
Hey, Reggie, where are you going?
Well, just meet us back here when you're done, all right?
Don't take any wooden nickels.
Where's he going, Mindy?
He says he has a job interview at Foot Locker.
What does Reggie know about shoes?
Oh, well, where is this black hole shop you were telling me about, Mindy?
Oh, yeah, so apparently you know you're there when you see it.
Or rather, don't see it?
I don't know.
It's the only store that light can't escape from.
Wait, is that it there?
Where?
That store is pitch black.
Yeah, this is it.
Come on, let's go inside.
Check this place out, Guy Raz.
Look at all these awesome spacesuits for sale.
Yeah.
Which one do you think would make the best impression with your new pen pal on the International Space Station?
You know, I hear you can't really go wrong with the emu.
Emu?
What?
Yeah, Roz, we're shopping for spacesuits, not flightless birds.
I know, Mindy.
E-M-U.
EMU.
It stands for Extra Mobility Unit, and it's the name of the spacesuit that astronauts at NASA have been using since 1983.
Oh, yeah, the classic spacesuit.
Yeah.
Well, I guess life-saving technology never really goes out of style.
And unlike any of the suits in my closet...
The EMU spacesuit has built-in technology that keeps its astronauts from getting too hot.
Because of the sun's thermal radiation.
And from getting too cold.
Too cold?
What?
Let me check the weather forecast up there.
Oh, yeah.
It says here the forecast for space for the next several billion years or so is minus 454.8.
81 degrees Fahrenheit.
So you can see why it's important for that suit to keep the astronauts nice and warm.
Ooh, check this out.
Another cool feature on the tag here says that it will also provide the astronaut with oxygen to breathe, while also removing the carbon dioxide that the astronaut breathes out.
Which is important because as the astronaut breathes out, she fills up the suit with carbon dioxide.
And if you don't get rid of it, the astronaut can breathe it in, which...
If she does it for too long, it can be deadly.
Yikes.
So air filtration or some kind of a feature that helps to remove the carbon dioxide from the suit is a must, right?
Exactly.
And check this out, Mindy.
The suit even has a special gold-lined visor that protects the wearer's eyes eyes from bright sunlight.
Like one massive pair of sunglasses.
Yep.
Cool.
Well, I have to say, Mindy, I am S-O-L-D sold.
Hey, you want to check and see if it's on sale?
Mindy?
Mindy?
Oh, Guy Raz, I'm over here.
Check out this rack of prototype suits.
Mindy, I'm not looking for any bunker balls and whistles.
I just want whatever suit is going to keep me the safest.
Oh, well, there's a ton of research that goes into safety.
And look, these suits are new and improved.
Yeah, I don't know.
You know what I always say.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
No, you don't.
You always say, if you can't find quinoa, chia seeds are a good substitute.
Well, it is true.
Ooh, check this out.
This one out.
The tag here says it uses liquid armor technology.
Liquid armor?
Yeah, I was just reading about this.
So remember that space dust we were talking about earlier?
Yeah, the micrometeorites.
Right.
So those micrometeorites can sometimes puncture or put holes in an astronaut's suit.
Kind of like when your bike tire goes flat?
Yeah, but only like a thousand times worse, because the air that escapes the suit is the same air that the astronaut needs to breathe.
And so this liquid armor makes these suits unpuncturable?
Yeah, looking at the tag here, It says this new suit is made with a new kind of liquid armor technology.
It was invented by scientists over at the University of Delaware.
So what do you know about this unpuncturable technology?
Well, from what I understand, the scientists start with a special kind of gloop.
Ugh, yuck.
Which is made up of a mixture of a chemical compound called silica and another chemical called polyethylene nitrate.
Which would make a pretty rubbery type of liquid, right?
You know it.
But the researchers found out that this gloop had a very interesting power.
Huh.
What's that?
Well, when they hit this gloop with a fast-moving object, it immediately hardened.
Wow.
Then, after it was all over, the gloop softened and went back to being liquid.
That's incredible, Mindy, but what does all this have to do with this swanky new space suit?
Well, the space fabric that this suit is made of has been soaked in that gloop.
It's just gloop, Kairos.
The researchers soaked and smothered the fabric in this gloop and let it suck it all in.
And then they let it set in.
That's it?
And then the material suddenly becomes...
Like, you couldn't even poke a pencil through it?
Well, sort of.
So when the suit gets hit by a fast-moving object Like that micrometeorite space dust you were telling me about,
Yeah, exactly.
So when it's hit by something like space dust or a micrometeorite, it immediately hardens.
And then, once it's over, it turns back into a liquid so that the material can be flexible again.
That's amazing.
And I suppose this sort of Coke-proof fabric could be used on all sorts of space-related gadgets, like future inflatable off-world habitats.
You mean space tents, Skyroz?
Exactly.
The kind of tents that will make up the labs and the living quarters for the astronauts that may one day live on Mars.
That is literally some out-of-this-world camping.
So how far off is this technology, Mindy?
Well, it might be a little while before we see a poke-proof moon bounce, but...
The results should be in pretty soon.
In fact, last November, NASA sent a sample of this fabric and put it on the outside of the space station.
And they're just going to leave it there?
Yeah, they're going to go back in a year to see how it's been able to handle all of the space dust and the micrometeorites coming at it.
That is thorough.
Okay, let's see what else we've got here.
Looks like they've only got an extra large in this one.
Purple?
Really?
Dior?
I didn't even know they did spacesuits.
Oh, what about this one, Mindy?
What?
Oh, let me see that tag.
Shrink-wrapping spacesuit.
Huh?
Oh, yeah, I've heard about this one.
This is from the folks at MIT, right?
Yeah, but what is it?
Well, Mindy, it's essentially a spacesuit that shrinks to fit to your body.
You simply put it on, press a button... and the suit literally shrink-wraps to your body.
Whoa, it's like one of those vacuum-sucking space bags, only for your body and for actual space.
Well, sort of, but not really.
So how does it work?
Well, the fabric that this suit is made out of is interwoven with metal coils, like springs, and they get when they heat up and then they get looser when they cool down.
Right.
So once you suit up, you press a button which heats up these metal coils, which makes the suit tighten to your body, and then, when you want to take it off again, You just cool them off.
The coils loosen, and you're able to take the suit off.
Well, how do you cool them off?
I mean, do you have to step into a giant refrigerator?
Well, I'm guessing there's a reason this suit's still on the Yeah might need a little more time to work out the kinks.
You know, Guy Raz, I think I'm going to just go with the extra vehicular mobility unit, just a standard old emu.
Yeah.
It's a great spacesuit, and it gets the job done.
Yeah, me too.
You can't go wrong with a classic.
Okay, I'm going to grab these suits for us, and I'll meet you at the register.
Wait, what size do you wear?
Let's see.
You're up 48, but generally 36R and US size is Canadian.
Not so sure.
Got it.
I'll just grab the smallest one they've got.
Man, these suits are so heavy.
Ma'am, do you want help with that?
What?
No.
Nope.
Nope.
I got it.
Okay.
Hi.
Hi.
Excuse me.
Yes, just the two extra vehicular mobility units.
Okay.
Let's see here.
That one and that one.
Now, did anyone help you out with your purchase today?
Uh, no.
Have you heard about our out-of-this-world Christmas sale?
Christmas...
What?
It's March.
When you purchase two or more NASA-certified spacesuits, you can purchase a lunar rover at 25% off.
I think we're fine with just the... Would you care to donate $5 towards SETI?
That's the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
Every dollar makes a difference.
Uh...
Sure.
Thank you very much, sir.
Now, if I could just get your email address.
What?
What for?
Okay, no email address.
Your total comes to $24 million and 32 cents.
$24 million?
And 32 cents.
And space travel is surprisingly expensive.
I'll say.
How will you be paying, sir?
Cash, credit, or fact?
Fact?
Yes, fact.
It's a promotion we're running this month.
You can pay with fun out of this world facts.
Uh, okay.
Well, I guess I'll take that.
I got this one, Guy Raz.
What?
It's my treat.
Excuse me, sir.
I'd like to pay with a fact.
Okay.
Did you know that there are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on all of the beaches on Earth?
Whoa.
Whoa.
Whoa.
Really?
Huh.
All of a sudden.
That is a really fun fact.
Do you want a receipt?
No, thanks.
Save the paper.
Guy Raz, hold my bag while I suit up.
What?
I'm just going to squeeze into this thing.
Maybe I don't.
Excuse me, sir.
Is it okay if we wear these out of the store or yes?
Yeah, of course.
Come on.
Suit up, Guy Raz.
Next stop, space.
Okay, let me just get this.
Can you zip me up, please?
Of course I can, little buddy.
Now hold your breath.
Thanks.
Okay, are we good to go?
Good to go.
Now let's go deliver that letter to your pen pal on the International Space Station.
Did you hear the motor pickle, Reggie?
I know.
I want a space suit.
I mean, I want an extravehicular mobility unit, too.
Let's go to the mall and get some.
All right.
We got to wrap up the show.
Thanks to all you listeners out there for tuning in to Wee Wow on the Weekend.
If you have a question for me, call and leave me a message at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW.
That's 1-888-7-WOW-WOW.
I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the weekend.
Okay, should we do the goodbye song?
All right, let's do it.
That's the end of the show.
I need to go and buy a space suit and some jeans and a cinnamon pretzel.
But I'll do another show tomorrow.
But for now, that's the end of the show.
Bye.
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