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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!
Have you heard about the floods in Texas?
Oh, yeah.
And there's been so much rain because of that hurricane that began earlier this week.
And in the city of Houston.
So much water all over the city has damaged homes and schools and hospitals.
And it's affected almost all of the people who live there.
And Mindy, they need our help.
Yeah, I was just saying the same thing, Guy Raz.
And it's so super important that, when times are tough like this, that we all pull together and help our human family out wherever they are.
And there are a few simple but important ways we can all do our part.
Yeah, like maybe starting by making a contribution to the American Red Cross.
That's what I did.
Mindy, the Red Cross has thousands of volunteers in Texas already.
And they're working to provide safe places for people to stay... while the city dries out.
And I saw that some companies like Airbnb are asking people who have room in their homes to sign up and offer up space in their homes for someone affected by the flooding and the rain.
And Mindy.
We've posted a list of ways we can all help out our friends in Texas at our website, wowintheworldcom.
Hey, Guy Raz.
Yeah?
Maybe this is a good time to explain how hurricanes start.
That's a great idea.
Okay, so to start, a hurricane is a tropical cyclone.
And in Asia, Africa, and Australia, they're sometimes called by other names like typhoons.
And all tropical cyclones form near the Earth's equator.
So at the midpoint of our planet.
Where the ocean is generally warmer because the weather around the equator is always warm.
And when the wind starts to whip up warm water, the water evaporates and forms teeny, tiny water particles called water vapor.
And that water vapor rises up into the air.
Now this happens a lot.
And sometimes a lot of water vapor starts to form clouds, and that's pretty normal.
But sometimes, depending on how much wind is in the area, the water vapor forms a big cloud.
And when that big cloud connects to another big cloud.
And another one.
And more and more clouds.
It can form a tropical depression.
And a tropical depression is sort of like crazy, windy thunder and lightning storm.
And if that tropical depression continues to move over warm water, that water acts almost like energy for the storm and it can make it stronger and stronger.
And as those winds get stronger and stronger and stronger, that storm becomes A hurricane.
And that's a storm with intense rain and wind, lightning, thunder, and even sometimes tornadoes.
And most hurricanes affect cities close to water.
And Houston isn't just close to water, but it's very flat.
And it was built on land that isn't much higher than the level of the ocean.
Which is why, when there's heavy rain in Houston, you sometimes get floods.
Now, while hurricanes sound a little bit scary, The good news Mindy, is that meteorologists the people who study the weather well, they usually know when a hurricane is coming about, four or five days before it hits land.
Which means there are a bunch of things that we can do to prepare.
But most importantly...
The aftermath of a hurricane or a flood is a time when we all need to pull together and help each other out.
Help people clean up from the water damage and find places to live while they're fixing their homes.
And get things working again quickly so people can get back to doing the things that they normally do.
So if anyone is looking for more ways to help out, we've got some great resources for grown-ups and kids posted to our website, wowintheworldcom.
Guy Raz?
Just a few more spits.
What?
You got it on me.
Why are you spitting, Guy Raz?
Oh, hey, Mindy.
Yeah, just a few more spits of the old saliva.
Oh, this is disgusting.
Guy Raz, what has gotten into you?
Where are your manners?
Oh, yeah, sorry.
It's not what it looks like.
Don't spray it, man.
This is gross.
No, no, I'm not trying to be gross.
Nope, it's super gross, and we need to cut this out right now, Guy Raz.
Look at that giant loogie on your shirt.
I'm not spitting for the sake of spitting.
I'm actually spitting for science.
Wait, spitting for science?
Why didn't you just say so?
Guy Raz, stand back while I make my contribution to science.
No...
Yeah, that's the stuff.
No, Mindy, that's not what I'm trying to communicate here.
But you specifically said you were spitting for science and I was just trying to help.
Yeah, but I'm spitting into this specifically designed test tube.
Spitting into a test tube?
I can do that.
This is a small plastic test tube that will collect a sample of my spit so I can send it off to a lab.
Man, those scientists are going to be so psyched to get a package of your spit in the mail.
Well, this little plastic tube now contains my entire family history.
What?
Your entire family history is in that tube?
Yep.
Okay, this is getting weird.
First, you spit into this tube.
And now you're telling me that I can find out about the time your great-great-grandma Myrtle, met President George Washington.
Oh, President Washington, what an honor.
And what nice teeth you have.
Are those things real?
No, madam, these are false teeth.
I have a very good dentist.
I could recommend you if you'd like some of your own.
Her entire family history.
What else could it tell us?
Well, not my personal family history, Mindy.
This plastic tube filled with my spit won't Won't tell you that kind of story.
So then what will it tell you?
Well, I'm going to send this sample of my saliva off to a lab where they will analyze my DNA.
Oh, you mean the nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions for the development and function of living things.
What?
Who am I?
Where'd that come from?
Yes, you can think of DNA as the map of each and every single living thing, the code that makes us who we are.
And from that DNA, we get our genes.
And when I say genes, I'm not talking about Levi's, Mindy.
I am.
No, I'm not.
I'm talking about the teeny tiny little parts of the DNA that we inherit or get from our parents.
And those genes are what gives us our traits.
So some of us have brown eyes or red hair or, like me, big ears.
Oh, so that's why so many of us look like our parents.
Right.
And so by sending this sample to the lab, they can figure out where my DNA comes from.
Whoa.
So by studying what's inside this spit tube, They might be able to tell you who your ancestors were?
Well, not the exact people, but when scientists look at my spit, they can figure out the general areas of the Earth where my ancestors lived.
Man, this is so crazy.
So how long is this thing going to take to come back?
Well, let's see.
If I pop it in the mail today...
I should have it within five or six days.
Five or six days?
Man, that's going to take a million years to get here.
Wait a minute.
Why don't we just hop into my dad's time machine to go five or six days into the future and get the answers now?
Well, I suppose we could, but every time we use that thing Mindy, you end up barfing all over the place.
Yep.
Barfing all over the place is just the price I pay for being a scientific explorer.
Uh, well, oh, by the way, where is that rickety old time machine anyway?
Oh, it's in my airplane hanger.
Sometimes I'll let Reggie use it as a karate studio.
Now I'm just going to open the door.
Man, this button's not working.
This thing's jammed.
Hey, Reggie, the door's jammed.
I'm going to let him come over here and karate kick it open.
Reggie, take down this door, you karate old bird.
Nice work, karate bird.
Come on, Guy Raz.
Let's get inside.
Are you sure Reggie didn't mess with any of the sensitive equipment in there?
Yeah, nothing a little spit and elbow grease can't fix.
I'm just going to climb on in this thing.
Oop.
Let me just close the hatch.
Okay, there we go.
So, Kairos, can you just scooch over this tiny bit?
It's crammed in here.
Okay, thanks.
That's better.
All right, now, where was that button?
Let me see here.
Mindy, maybe we should consult the instruction manual.
Instruction manual?
I don't need an instruction manual.
Kairos, I know how to work this baby like the back of my hand.
Are you sure?
Plus, I lost it.
Watch as I crank this thing up.
Are you sure about this?
Of course I am.
What could possibly go wrong?
I think it's working.
Is it working?
I don't know.
Where are we?
Mindy, did you have scrambled eggs for breakfast?
Much better.
They look the same coming out as they did going in.
We got to get you some anti-barfing serum for our next trip this hatch and see if we've arrived five days in the future.
I think it's jammed.
Got it!
Looks like your same old... Come on, let's get out of here.
We gotta check the mailbox to see if your results were delivered.
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run.
Here, open it up.
It's the moment of truth.
Easy does it.
Just open it!
It's here, Mandy.
Look, my DNA lab results have arrived.
Okay, give me the envelope.
Okay, but just... but just be gentle, okay?
Garaz, gentle is my middle name.
Got it open, and the results are?
Let's see here.
What does it say?
Okay, according to my DNA analysis, I am 52% Mediterranean.
So that means about half of my ancestors lived around the Mediterranean Sea.
So Southern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Oh, and look here.
It says that you're 22% Southwest Asian.
So that means that some of your ancestors lived in places near the countries of Iran and Afghanistan.
And I'm also 21% Northern European.
So that means some of my ancestors lived in places like Germany.
Wow.
And I'm 2% Sub-Saharan African, which means a few of my ancestors lived in Africa.
Wait a minute.
Don't all of us humans have roots in Africa?
I mean, that is where our earliest ancestors were born.
Yes, every single human on Earth is a member of the Homo sapiens species.
And species means a similar group of living things that create more of that same species.
That's right.
So cats are a species.
So are horses and tigers, but...
So are plants and flowers like the water hyacinth, and even things like garlic and fruit flies, Mindy.
And of course, our nearest living relatives, chimpanzees.
Whoa, hold the phone, Guy Raz.
Check out this line right here on your DNA results.
What?
Right here at the top.
It says that 2.7% of your DNA comes from Neanderthals.
Let me see that.
Guy Raz, that probably explains why you grunt when you get hungry.
You're right, but That, of course, would mean that I'm not 100% Homo sapien.
I wonder what my DNA ancestry guide would say about that.
Let's see here.
Yes, okay, got it.
Here's what it says, Mindy.
It says, ancient Homo sapiens came into contact with Neanderthals starting about 270000 years ago and interbred with them.
Wait a minute.
So our ancient Homo sapien ancestors had families with Neanderthals?
Mindy.
This book explains that at one time there were at least three other human-like species in addition to ours roaming the Earth all at the same time.
And Neanderthals were one of them.
So who were the Neanderthals?
Well, this book says that they were another hominid or human-like species that lived on Earth.
And they looked a little different from us Homo sapiens.
Yeah, check this out.
It's a drawing of a Neanderthal in this book here.
They look super hairy with really big heads.
And from what I've read, Neanderthal bones have been found in parts of Europe and the Middle East.
And they died out as a species about 30 or 40,000 years ago.
Well, do we know why?
Well, scientists don't exactly know why.
But we do know that there were at least two other types of human species who lived on Earth at the same time as we Homo sapiens did.
But scientists also don't exactly know why those others Other species went extinct.
Well, here's what I'm curious about.
If all of us human-like species have our origins and our roots in Africa, then how did we spread out all over the world?
Well, that's a question I've also been wondering Mindy, and maybe it's time to get back into the time machine and head to the Paleolithic era to find out.
Back to the time machine!
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run!
Okay!
Now stand back, I'm gonna open the hatch.
It's jammed.
It's jammed.
Got it.
Now hurry up, climb inside before history catches up with us.
Let me just type in the code here.
You sure you have the right code?
No, I'm not sure I have the right code.
Paleolithic.
Now, I know it lasted for more than two million years, so... 70,000 years.
How does that sound to you?
That works.
But just make sure you type in... This one?
East Africa!
I think I'm really starting to master the art of the smooth landing.
That was a smooth landing?
Ugh, my aching back.
No time for whining, Guy Raz.
We gotta figure out how we homo sapiens and our other hominin relatives, like Neanderthals, spread out around the world from their birthplace in Africa.
Come on, let's get out of this hunk of junk.
What?
Whoa.
If my calculations are right Mindy, we've landed in a of the world.
That is probably where the country of Ethiopia is located.
Whoa, Guy Raz, look over there.
Whoa.
Those people over there look like us Homo sapiens.
Wow.
That's a pretty big group of them.
And it looks like they're walking somewhere.
Let's follow them.
Mindy, I think we're witnessing an example of how our human ancestors started to speak Right out around the world.
By walking?
By walking?
Yeah.
They literally walked from East Africa into the Middle East.
And then some went west to Europe and some went east to Asia.
So that means that all of us humans are from one single extended family?
Yes.
It's so cool, isn't it?
It's why humans, no matter where they're from or who their moms or dads are, are 99 genetically identical.
Wait, even you and me?
Yes, because we are part of the same species, even though me and you look different.
Wait, we do?
Where's my mirror?
Our DNA is pretty much identical, Mindy, with very small variations.
Hey, whoa, look over there.
More Homo sapiens, and it looks like they're also walking.
Walking towards...
The Middle East!
Mindy, isn't this amazing?
I mean, this is how our earliest ancestors came to spread out.
And we're witnessing this magical event.
Okay, slow down.
There is no way that this happened in one trip.
Well, that's probably true.
Paleontologists and other scientists who study ancient creatures believe that our Homo sapien ancestors probably spread out from Africa over a period of 80000 years.
Well, what were they searching for?
Well, it's kind of a mystery.
We don't know for sure, because these ancient Homo sapiens that we're looking at now didn't have a language.
They didn't write things down.
So scientists don't exactly know for sure, but they have lots of theories.
So, for example, food, right?
That's right.
Humans need a few basic things to survive. food and water, sleep and shelter.
And don't forget belonging and love and esteem and self-actualization.
That came a little later.
Haslow's hierarchy of human needs.
Well, back in Paleolithic times, the time we're witnessing right now, Homo sapiens just needed to survive.
And so it's likely that They moved from one place to another place for these very reasons.
So like searching for caves to live in or places where there was lots of food to eat.
Probably, yeah.
But here's what I don't get.
So there were other human-like species around this time.
There were Neanderthals and Denisovans.
That's right.
So, if I'm using my powers of deductive reasoning correctly, I'd say that these other species, or maybe their ancestors, also walked from Africa to other parts of the world.
Well, that's probably right, because all of the evidence we have from fossils and the ancient bones we found is that the origin of our family of creatures known as hominidae is here in Africa.
This is all starting to make sense.
Yep.
Hey, why don't we head back to the lab to see if we can do some more research about how our Homo sapien ancestors came into contact with Neanderthals and Denisovans?
All right, then.
To the time machine!
I call driver's seat!
This thing is a tight squeeze.
Get over.
All right.
Now batten the hatches, Guy Raz, because we're going to warp speed all the way to 2,000
Mindy?
I'm here, just stuffed into this cup holder.
We gotta get bigger cup holders.
32 ounces just doesn't mean the same thing anymore.
Can I get a hand here?
Oh, sorry.
Here.
So Mindy, you know how you were asking about these other human-like species, the Denisovans and the Neanderthals.
Yeah?
Well, I just got the latest issue of the journal Science Advances, and look at the cover!
Let me see that.
Whoa!
A whole article about Denisovan baby teeth!
I bet those are worth a lot of money.
Mindy.
This article by a group of paleoanthropologists, including Vivian Slahn from the Max Planck Institute in Germany, describes how they just tested a little teeny, tiny baby tooth that was found in a cave in a part of Russia known as Siberia.
Man, talk about losing the tooth you lost.
Well, what did they find out from the test?
Well, let's see here.
Flip through.
Whoa, here it is.
It seems like this little baby tooth...
And, if my memory is correct, Denisovans were another human-like species, but they were not Homo sapiens like us, and they were also not Neanderthals either.
Right.
Which were another human-like species that once lived mostly in Europe.
Right.
And the cool thing about Denisovans is that scientists only really confirmed or proved their existence in the past 10 years.
Well, if there were Denisovans living in Russia and Neanderthals living in Europe and Homo sapiens walking through the Middle East and spreading out all around the world, then Then our Homo sapien ancestors must have met some Denisovans and Neanderthals along the way.
And maybe they even had families together.
Which explains why most Homo sapiens on Earth today have a little bit of Neanderthal or a little bit of Denisovan DNA inside their bodies.
That's so cool!
And now that DNA testing has become so much easier and cheaper than ever before, almost anyone who wants to take a test can take one.
Mindy, I actually did mine with National Geographic's Genographic Project.
That's pretty cool.
But what I'm wondering right now is why Homo sapiens are the only Homo species left on planet Earth today.
Well, from what paleontologists have found, there were at least 16 other Homo species.
So besides Homo sapiens there were the Homo naledi and Homo habilis and Homo heidelbergensis and others.
So what happened to them?
Well, many of these species lived for millions of years.
And over time, like other species, well...
They went extinct.
And I guess we homo sapiens are still pretty young.
Yeah, I mean, we've only been around for 300000 years Mindy, so that kind of makes us like babies in the hominin family.
Aww, just a bunch of little babies we humans are.
Well, we certainly are. like babies sometimes, at least as a species.
Oh, and you haven't seen anything until you've seen a homo sapien tantrum.
Humans?
Humans, calm down.
Use your words.
Nope, the other word.
Hey, grownups, 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 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 That's Tinkercast.com slash toys.
That's Tinkercast.com slash toys.
That's it.
Back to the show.
Wow in the World.
Hi, thanks for calling Wow in the World.
After the beep, get ready to record.
Hi, Mindy and Tyron.
I'm Grace from New York. and I'm Jacqueline from Michigan.
We are both 10 years old and going into fifth grade.
Our wow in the world is that chickens eat yogurt.
When they do, they get it all over them.
We love your shows.
Bye.
My name is Sadie, and I'm from Washington, D.C., and I'm five.
My wow in the world is seashells are made by sand.
Hi, my name is Vincent.
And my wow in the world is that bats have really bad eyesight, but they have really good hearing.
Bye-bye.
I love your show.
Hi, Guy Raz and Mindy.
My name's James.
I'm from Sacramento, and my wow in the world is space, time, and life itself.
Thank you.
Hello, Mindy and Guy Raz.
My name is Mira Lindsey, and I live in Atlanta, Georgia, and I'm eight years old.
My wow in the world is that the Grand Canyon was made by the Colorado River.
It's so deep.
It must have taken millions of years.
Bye.
Hi, my name is Paloma and I'm eight years old, about to be nine, and I live in Alhambra California, in South Pasadena, and my wow in the wow in my world is that fruit flies.
Can buzz the note F, Thank you.
My name is Henry.
I'm six and a half years old.
I live in Portland, Oregon.
And my wower in the world is that I saw an insect that had four legs in the front and four legs in the back, and it walked like a slinky.
Love your show.
Hi, my name is Alex.
I'm eight years old.
I live in Newcastle, Australia.
My wower is I went to the Great Barrier Reef and saw tons of fishing corals.
You can see the Great Barrier Reef from outer space.
Love your show.
Bye.
End of messages.
Hey guys, thank you so much for checking out this Thursday edition of Wow in the World.
Grown-ups.
To keep the conversation going, we've posted some fun questions on our website, wowintheworldcom.
And there you can also find the results of Guy Raz's personal DNA test.
And we love hearing from you.
Grownups, you can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at WowInTheWorld.
And our email address is hello at WowInTheWorld.com.
Today's show was written by me and Guy Raz and produced by Jed Anderson.
Say hello, Jed.
Our theme song is written and performed by The Pop-Ups.
You can find more of their awesome music at ThePopUps.com.
Special thanks to Meredith Halpern-Ranzer, Jessica Boddy, Chelsea Erson and Alex Curley for helping to make this show possible.
Finally, we've loved hearing what's been wowing you.
Thanks so much for sending in your voicemails.
We listen to each and every one of them.
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Have your grown-ups help you share something that's recently wowed you by dialing 1-888-7WOW-WOW.
Thanks again for subscribing and telling your friends about our show.
We'll be back on Monday with a brand new episode.
Until then, go forth and find your own Wow in the World.
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