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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 7pm 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 really, really big, full of planets and stars and asteroids and stuff like that, where some people but not that many have boldly gone before.
This is to we wow on the weekend in space.
I'm astro dennis and this is my co-host, reggie the giant space pigeon.
This is the show where we hang out in the spacement and talk about whatever we want, and today i want to talk about how they don't actually sell space suits at the mall.
I know okay, For those of you who missed yesterday's episode, we played Wow in the World Spaced Out Pen Pal Part 1, in which Guy Raz and Mindy go to the mall and buy spacesuits.
And I don't know what mall they went to, but the one near me didn't have oxygen tanks or jumpsuits or helmets that look like gumball machines.
And now my first segment is ruined.
Ruined!
Well, the first segment was going to be me showing off my new spacesuit.
And now what am I gonna do?
Reggie, you're right!
We could make our own spacesuits!
You're a genius!
Oh, how hard could it be?
All we have to do is make a highly engineered, multi-million dollar suit that can withstand the cold, unrelenting void of space.
It's easy!
Plus, you know what this means!
That's right, Reggie!
It's a crafternoon!
Ahem, ahem, ahem!
Pancakes are for eating.
And rivers are for rafting.
And Broadway is for my one-man show.
But afternoons are for crafting.
Crafternoon.
OK.
Today's crafternoon is making our own spacesuits.
First, we need the suit part of the spacesuit.
Let's see what could we use that would be totally impenetrable by freezing, cold temperatures and flying space debris.
Oh, how about my onesie pajammy jams with the feedies?
Yeah, they're just in the dryer.
Let me grab them.
Found them.
Okay, Reggie, do you want race cars or lightning bolts?
What?
No, that's the one I wanted.
Okay fine, you have this one.
I'll take this one.
Just slip it on here.
Yes reggie, i'm putting it on over my clothes.
Space is chilly.
I need layers there.
Okay, now we need oxygen.
Uh oxygen, oxygen.
That's a good point.
There's a lot of oxygen down here in the spaceman.
What are we going to put it in so we can take it to outer space?
Um, oh, how about a cardboard box?
We have lots of those.
We can just stuff them full of oxygen and bring them to space.
Okay, here's a box right here.
There we go.
Let's see what's in it.
Hi, Big Dennis.
Baby Dennis, you scared me.
Oh, hey, are you wearing a space suit?
Yeah.
Baby Dennis is ready for blast off.
What?
Where'd you get that?
At the mall.
What mall?
Baby Dennis will never tell.
Oh, whatever.
We're making our own spacesuits now, Baby Dennis.
And I need this box.
I'm just going to unceremoniously dump you on the floor here.
There we go.
Okay, now we just got to fill this box with oxygen.
I don't know, Reggie.
Just grab oxygen and stuff it in there.
Okay, I think it's full.
Quick, tape up the box.
A box of oxygen.
Baby Dennis doesn't think that will work, Big Dennis.
Well, fine then, Mr. Smarty Dummy.
Tell me where the secret space mall is.
Yes, the mall.
I beat Dennis all along.
Okay, you're no help.
Tee hee.
Reggie, how we doing?
What's next for our spacesuit?
All right, how do we get the oxygen out of the box and into our lungs?
Okay, I got it.
We use these silly straws.
Yeah, we just poke the straws in like a juice box and sip the oxygen through the straws.
Like this.
Good oxygen.
Okay, last thing, helmets.
I think bike helmets will do, don't you?
Here, here's one for you.
And I'll put this one on.
There we go.
Ta-da!
Perfect spacesuits.
Uh, baby Dennis does not think those were... Ahem, I said perfect spacesuits.
Ah!
Okay.
Oh, boy.
Now that me and Reggie are all suited up, let's move on to a little segment I like to call Inside Tinkercast Studios in Space.
Inside Tinkercast Studios in Space.
This is the part where we revisit an episode of one of my favorite Tinkercast shows.
And today, we're listening to season two, Episode 13 called Spaced Out Pen Pal, Part 2.
Hooray for space!
Now we'll finally find out how Mindy and Guy Raz get to space.
And meet Guy Raz's pen pal.
Exactly.
Everyone ready?
Baby Dennis is ready.
No, you're not, Baby Dennis.
You need to close your helmet.
Oh, right.
Baby Dennis is ready now.
OK, here we go.
And play. 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.
Grownups.
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.
Previously on Wow and the World.
Well, I was just about to deliver this letter to my pen pal.
What?
You have other friends besides me and Reggie?
This pen pal happens to be on the International Space Station.
Well, if you're going to deliver your snail mail to the International Space Station, Guy Raz, then I'm going with you.
I think you're going to need something a little more um substantial to protect you from the elements.
I never thought I'd say this, Mindy, but I think I might need a new suit.
A spacesuit.
A motor pickle.
Okay, we good to go?
Good to go.
Now let's go deliver that letter to your pen pal on the International Space Station.
And now, the... Mindy?
Yeah?
Yeah?
Uh, it says here that there's a thrilling conclusion.
Just read the cue cards, Jed.
No, no, no, no.
I will, I will, I will.
It just seems really dramatic and I wanted to make sure we were going to deliver the thrilling conclusion at the end.
Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay.
And now the thrilling conclusion of Wow in the World.
Okay, all gussied up in our brand new space suits.
Which are surprisingly comfy.
I know, right?
Comfy and stylish.
Hey, why is everybody in this mall staring at us like we're from another planet?
Hey, take a picture.
It'll last longer.
No, don't really take a pic... Anywho, you got that letter for your pen pal, Guy Raz?
Checked.
Okay.
Well then, I guess all we need now is a way up to the International Space Station so we can deliver this cosmic communication of yours.
Well, I thought we might be able to take those jetpacks that you've got.
Oh, right, my jetpacks.
Uh, I guess I should have said something earlier.
They're in the shop.
What?
Yeah, I'm getting these sweet flame decals airbrushed down the sides of them.
They're going to look awesome, but it's going to take a little more time.
Aww.
Hmm. minute.
Yeah?
I think I know someone who could help.
Oh.
Hand me your phone, Guy Raz.
Okay.
Hello, SpaceX?
Yeah, it's me, Mindy.
Yeah, no, I'm calling in my favor.
Because you owe me for the thing, remember?
Yeah, the rocket.
You got one ready today?
Great.
Be there soon.
Bye!
Uh... Fear not, Guy Raz.
I scored us a sweet ride.
Okay?
A little called SpaceX owes me a favor.
They build rockets, that's right, reusable rockets.
So you have heard of them.
SpaceX is a private space company that plans to send people like us into space as early as this year.
You got it.
But let me tell you, Guy Raz, these reusable rockets SpaceX is developing are great.
I had no idea how expensive and wasteful space travel can be.
It's really true.
I mean, the space shuttle program had a budget of around $1.5 billion. billion for every launch.
And that was with a crew of three, so that's about $500 million per person.
What?
You could buy like a million $500 tacos for that much money.
And the main reason why space travel is so expensive is because traditional rockets are a one-use machine, meaning that once the rocket has launched the astronauts into space, it just falls back down to Earth and usually lands in the ocean or something and never gets used again.
So it's like filling your car up with gas and then, once it runs out, you just throw the whole car in the trash.
Exactly.
What?
But what companies like SpaceX are trying to do is to make a rocket that can be refueled and reused many, many times.
And that would make space travel much more affordable.
Whoa, so people like us could just go to space whenever we want?
Well, I don't know about people like us Mindy, but some scientists are saying that within 10 years, it might cost as little as 10000 a person to travel into space, which means that some people might be able to go.
Wow.
Only that's still a lot of money.
Truce.
I mean, compared to Five hundred million dollars?
That's like a trip on a budget airline.
Well... Space line?
Well... And I bet it's a lot easier than becoming an actual astronaut.
That's true.
Speaking of real astronauts, Mindy, we should really get going.
My pen pal is going to get really angsty if we don't get there soon.
Oh, right.
Come on, let's kick it.
So where exactly is the SpaceX launch pad anyway, Mindy?
Oh, it's in Cape Canaveral.
Cape Canaveral in Florida?
Yeah.
We're never going to make it there on time.
Don't you worry your little head about it, Guy Raz.
Reggie will take us.
Reggie!
Reggie!
Oh, he's over there.
He's all the way down in the food court standing in line at the seed shack.
Reggie!
Mindy, Mindy, don't scream.
You'll draw attention to us.
Let's just walk down and get him like normal people.
Oh, yeah, like normal people.
Normal people wearing space suits at the mall.
Well...
You can't just fly away from us like that, Reg.
You gotta tell us where you're going.
Oh, what, this whole thing?
Well, it's just an extra vehicular mobility suit.
Well, that's very flattering, Reggie.
Gotta say, you don't look so bad yourself.
Did you get a feather cut or yes?
Mindy!
Oh, right, sorry.
So, um, Reggie, we need a quick trip to Florida.
You think you could fly us there?
But we're inside the mall.
I mean, how's Reggie gonna fly us out of here?
Look, there's a set of automatic doors right over there by the Cinnabon.
Okay, I hope you know what you're doing.
Of course I don't know what I'm doing, Guy Raz.
What?
Hop on to Reggie here and... Hold on tight.
Okay.
Because here...
Look, Mindy, there it is, Cape Canaveral.
Let's land right there, right there, Reggie.
Thanks for the ride, Reg.
Ladies and gentlemen, one minute to launch.
One minute to launch.
Come on, we gotta run.
Run, run.
Run, run, run.
Quickly, Mindy, quick, quick.
We don't want to miss the takeoff.
Man, these suits make it hard to run.
Okay, Guy Raz, up the stairs as fast as we can.
We can board the rocket at the top.
Oh, wait, look, Mindy, an elevator.
Hurry.
Oh, good call, Guy Raz.
Okay, pressing the up button a million times, even though you already just did.
Mindy!
Oh, quick.
30 seconds to...
We're going to miss it.
Excuse me.
Sorry.
Pardon me.
Excuse me.
Pardon me.
Excuse me.
Sorry.
Excuse me.
Thank you.
Stop.
Sorry, ma'am.
This is a restricted area.
Oh, it's okay.
SpaceX said we could hitch a ride.
Then move along.
Wow, that worked.
Come on, Guy Raz.
Strap in.
I hope this doesn't get us into trouble.
Psst.
Any of my ideas ever gotten us into trouble?
Well, for one, there was that one time when you got us into trouble by Not to change the subject.
But why is this rocket capsule filled with food and medicine?
Well, that's what these reusable rockets are being used for at the moment, Mindy.
What?
Resupply missions.
They're going to bring new supplies to the astronauts that are on board the International Space Station.
I'll say, there must be like 6,400 pounds of this stuff in here.
Mindy...
You want some of this dehydrated beef jerky?
Mindy, this food is for the astronauts.
Oops.
By the way, you mentioned there are 6,400 pounds of stuff in here.
That's a pretty specific guess.
Yeah, it's a weird talent I have.
Shoot.
I was once the three-time reigning champ of the Nebraska State.
Fair's Guess the Jelly Beans in the Jar competition.
Huh, well, you happen to be...
Exactly right, Mindy.
There's about 6,400 pounds or 2,900 kilograms worth of supplies in here.
6,400 pounds?
That's like as heavy as seven grand pianos.
Right, and this rocket will supply the station with all kinds of things like... Let's see.
What have we got here?
What are you finding?
We have some medicine...
There's some stuff for all the experiments they're doing up there on the space station.
There's lots of food, including... Ice cream!
Come to mama!
Easy, easy, easy, Mindy.
Vanilla?
Nobody wants vanilla.
Well, what were you expecting?
I don't know.
Something exciting, like cosmic cranberry or something.
Launch in 10... 9... 8... Ignition sequence...
Oh, boy.
Oh, here we go, Guy Raz.
Wow, Guy Raz, check it out.
All of the food is floating around the cabin.
Whoa.
Does this mean we're in zero gravity right now?
Well.
I mean, I would think we were still close enough to the Earth to feel its gravitational pull.
You know Mindy, I think we might be experiencing microgravity, which is actually what the astronauts on board the International Space Station experience as well.
Oh, yeah.
Astronauts are doing experiments in microgravity all the time.
So that must be what some of this stuff is for, right?
Oh, watch out!
There's a beaker floating past your head!
Whoa!
Quick!
Get in my armpit for cover!
Phew!
That was a close one.
Yeah.
Well, imagine what it would be like if it was a thorny rose flying at you.
A rose?
Yep.
So one of the coolest experiments I've ever heard conducted was when these astronauts tried growing a rose in microgravity.
Why would they do that?
Well, they wanted to see how it would react and even how it would smell.
Uh-huh.
So it turns out, a plant's smell is already affected by things like temperature and humidity, and even what time of day they pollinate.
So these astronaut scientists wanted to find out how gravity might affect the way a plant smells.
So did they have an expert sniffer on board?
What?
No, they couldn't get the funding.
But they did have something else.
So when you smell a rose... Yeah?
What you're actually smelling are the oils in the rose.
And the rose makes those oils to attract energy. insects to it like a secret luring potion.
Of course, so that the insects move from rows to rows and spread the pollen.
Exactoritos.
So scientists were able to see how these oils changed in microgravity?
Yeah.
So using a tiny measuring device, smaller than a pinhead, scientists were able to collect microscopic drops of oil off the flower's petals, And then, when they got back down to Earth, they carefully studied how they changed.
So what did they find?
So they found that these flowers actually make less oil in microgravity than they do back down on Earth.
Interesting.
But, and this is a big lie.
But the oils that the flower created in microgravity smelled way stronger than any they've ever created on Earth.
That's incredible.
Yeah.
And the best part is that NASA was able to capture this scent.
And then later, when the astronauts got back to Earth, that scent was turned into a perfume.
Wow.
A scent sent from the stars.
Prepare for arrival at the International Space Station.
Initiating docking sequence.
Oh, hold on tight, Guy Raz.
Okay.
Lock engaged.
Yes, I think that means we're good to go.
We're on the International Space Station.
Wow, okay, let me just undo my seatbelt here.
Here goes nothing.
Oh!
Stay there, Mindy.
Easy.
And technically, we're actually floating.
Whatever.
I'm going inside the International Space Station, Guy Raz.
See you there.
Mindy, Mindy, be careful.
Watch out for all the scientific equipment.
Help.
Stay there, Mindy.
I'm coming to give you a hand.
Snacks.
Think I'm going to live, Guy Raz.
I see you found the kitchen.
Hello?
Whoa, what was that?
Oh, hi, Lulu.
It's me.
It's Guy.
I decided to take you up on your offer to visit.
Hello, Guy, Roz.
Welcome to the International Space Station.
What in the... Wow, look at that.
What an amazing view you have here, Lulu.
I can see the whole planet from here.
Wait a minute, Guy, Roz.
This is your pen pal?
Yeah.
A robot named Lulu who lives on the International Space Station?
Yeah. giving me a heads up.
That's right.
Actually, my smart fridge put me in contact with her.
You know, robots need friends too.
Wait a minute, Lulu.
You know Guy Raz's smart fridge?
Affirmative.
They're actually related.
Huh.
But Lulu here doesn't look anything like your smart fridge, Guy Raz.
I mean, she looks almost, almost human.
Well, that makes sense because Lulu is what's known as a humanoid robot.
A humanoid robot?
Yeah, a humanoid robot is a robot that's designed to have the same sort of body shape as a human.
Well, I guess that would explain the arms.
Actually, they're climbing manipulators.
And the hands?
Tendon controllers.
And those suspicious-looking eyes.
Wait, are those cameras?
And those are its image recognition systems.
Whew.
Well, I gotta admit, Lulu, you look like one impressive piece of tech.
Compliment processing?
Well, you'd expect her to be Mindy, because she was designed by some of the smartest minds in robotics back down on Earth.
And she was designed to perform a lot of the basic tasks here on the space station.
Or I'm guessing some of the more dangerous tasks.
Exactly.
And the idea being that say, the International Space Station needed some repair work done on like the outside, they could send Lulu out there instead of putting a human astronaut in danger.
Oh, which reminds me, you know what?
What?
So that's actually not the only repair work that Lulu over here can do.
Oh, yeah?
What do you mean?
So Lulu here also happens to be a qualified astronaut.
A qualified surgeon?
Yeah, I looked her up online while you were talking.
Mindy, wait a minute.
How did you get on the internet up here?
Oh, Lulu gave me the Wi-Fi password.
Right.
Anywho, so as I was saying, Lulu over here is a surgeon, but also an expert in telemedicine.
Telemedicine?
What?
What's that?
Well, it's when an actual human on Earth takes remote control of a machine or a robot like Lulu on the International Space Station and then helps it to perform certain medical tasks like giving shots or even surgery.
So kind of like when a puppeteer takes control of a puppet.
Yeah, exactly like that.
Only with this kind of medical technological puppetry, you don't even have to be in the same room as your patients.
You don't even have to be in the same country as your patient.
You don't even have to be on the same planet as your patient.
Wow, and I guess the idea is that a surgeon down on Earth could take control of Lulu up here on the space station.
Yeah, and by using her robotic hands and cameras, both Lulu and the doctor on Earth can work together to give medical care to the astronauts aboard the space station.
That's incredible.
A robot doctor on call.
It's pretty bonker balls, isn't it?
Yeah.
I mean, even though the astronauts that go to the space station know how to do some pretty basic medical tricks, it's good to know that robots like Lulu here have got their back, just in case things get crazy.
Yeah, it sure is.
And speaking of having their back, we should probably start heading back ourselves.
Nice segue, Guy Raz.
What's the fastest way out of here, Lulu?
Reusable rocket returning to Earth in ten.
What?
Nine.
Uh-oh.
Eight.
Hurry up, Guy Raz.
We're going to miss it.
Six.
Bye, Lulu.
It was lovely finally meeting you.
Three.
Get in the rocket.
We've got to strap in.
Quick.
Got it.
One.
Here we would buy.
Get ready for the reusable rocket boosters to start off.
Okay.
The scary part's over.
You can stop screaming now.
Can you believe it, Guy Raz?
We made it.
Attention, fugitives.
We have you surrounded.
Uh, Mindy?
Everything's fine.
You have ten seconds to exit the rocket.
Ten.
Oh, no.
Nine.
Again with the countdowns.
Yeesh.
Six and a half.
Six and a quarter.
All right.
All right.
I'm coming out.
Whoa.
Look at all these serious faces.
It's like somebody could use a little pick-me-up.
Hey, do you guys like ice cream?
Mindy, take it easy.
Ma'am, you are in serious trouble.
This is no time for ice cream.
Did I mention that we have six things?
1,400 pounds of it?
I know it's a lot, Dennis.
Uh, is it vanilla?
Why, yes it is.
Wait, is vanilla your favorite too?
Because... All units stand down.
I repeat, stand down.
It's vanilla.
Ah, ice cream.
Is there... you can't fix?
I can't believe this still works.
This is the fourth time you've gotten us out of a jam using ice cream.
I can't believe we went through all that and forgot to give your pen pal her letter.
Uh, what?
What?
Mmm, that is good.
I know, Dennis.
I brought a lactaid.
Yay!
That was awesome! believe Guy Raz was friends with a robot surgeon in space.
And was that Big Dennis at the end?
Yeah, I ate so many astronaut ice creams that day.
Baby, Dennis wants astronaut ice cream.
Okay, okay, let's wrap up the show and then go get astronaut ice cream.
Yay!
Thanks to all you listeners out there for tuning in to Wee Wow on the Weekend.
If you have a question for me, or 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.
Or maybe baby Dennis will.
Uh, we'll see about that.
Okay, let's go get some freeze-dried ice cream.
Oh, boy.
But wait.
What?
Freeze-dried ice cream?
Baby Dennis thought it was astronaut ice cream.
Well technically, freeze-dried ice cream wasn't a popular food for the astronauts and probably never made it to space.
Oh, that is so interesting.
Yeah, and I always wondered to get freeze-dried ice cream, do they freeze it and then dry it, or dry it and then freeze it?
Because I think that...
Grownups, if you like Wow in the World, you can listen early and ad-free right now on Wondery Plus.
Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Wondery Kids Plus on Apple Podcasts.
Prime members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music.
And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short survey at wonderycom slash survey, with contributions from Jed Anderson and Tyler Tholl.
Original music for WeWow is composed and performed by Tyler Tholl.
Special thanks to... And all of the other Tinkerers at Tinkercast HQ.
Be sure to visit Tinkercastcom, where you can become an official member of the World Organization of Wowzers.
Learn about upcoming events, shop our wow shop, find our best-selling books and learn about all the other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast.
Thanks again for hanging out in the basement this weekend.
Be sure to check out episodes of Wow in the World every Monday.
And remember, who wows?
I wow!
No, baby Dennis, we wow!
The world was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.
