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Hey, Wowzer fans, Mindy here.
And before we start the show, I got to 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!
Thank you.
But I don't want to go to school today.
Reggie, hand me that bottle of water.
Thank you.
Wakey, wakey.
Eggs and bakey.
Tyrazi, you're awake.
Good thing, too.
Look, the video game store is about to open.
Mindy, why'd you dump water on my face?
We didn't camp outside the store all night just to miss out on those new VR headsets, because you wanted to sleep in.
You could have just shaken me awake, Mindy.
Eh, shoulda, coulda, woulda, Guy Raz.
Now, come on.
Roll up that sleeping bag and get out your wallet.
Today is the day we enter a new reality.
A virtual reality.
All right.
Here, got you a coffee.
Thanks, Mindy.
Ugh!
Mindy, this is ice cold.
Oh, that's probably why that guy left it on the side of the road.
You got this off the side of the road?
No.
Mindy?
Hello, everyone.
Yes, yes, we're all very excited.
Okay.
Ahem.
Welcome to Shane and Dwayne's Game Emporium.
My name is Dwayne and today is the launch of the exciting new Foresight Plus Virtual Reality Headset.
Okay, okay.
Now we are going to open the store, so everyone please form a neat and orderly line from shortest to tallest.
Oh, no. your cold coffee later, Guy Raz.
Come on, you too, Reg.
Okay, lead the way, Mindy.
Reg, what happened to the line?
They wouldn't listen, Shane.
They wouldn't listen.
Whoa, look at all these virtual reality headsets, Mindy.
The whole store is filled with them.
Wait, where'd Reggie go?
Hmm.
Hello and good morning!
Welcome to Shane and Dwayne's Game Emporium, where you can level up your gaming gear and get in the game of savings with our incredible deals.
How can I help you today?
Oh, good morning to you, too.
We would like to try out one of your finest virtual reality headsets, please.
Shove!
Of course.
I assume you're interested in the new Foresight Plus virtual reality headset?
Yeah.
That's right.
Awesome.
Let's get you to a demonstration.
I'm just going to grab a couple of Foresight Plus virtual reality headsets for you to put on.
Okay.
Here you go.
Ooh, shiny.
And here's one for you, sir.
Thank you very much.
Okay.
Now put them on like you would any regular pair of goggles.
Oh, she don't?
Let's see here.
Great.
Now, don't move.
I'm going to start up the demo here.
All right.
Here we go.
Wow.
Hello.
Can you two hear me?
Who said that?
It's just me, a salesperson.
Don't be scared.
Don't worry.
I'm just going to set up the game demo, okay?
That sounds great.
You don't need to yell, sir.
I know it sounds like I'm talking to you from a distant control room, but in reality I'm standing next to you and when you shout it hurts my ears.
Oh, right.
Sorry.
Okay, welcome to Foresight Plus Virtual Reality.
You are standing in the loading construct.
Today's video game demo is called Algaray to the Rescue.
Algaray to the Rescue?
That's right.
You got it.
Mindy, I think I've heard about this game before.
Wait, you know what a video game is, Guy Raz?
Of course I do, Mindy, and this isn't any old video game.
This video game is based on real-life scientific research.
It is?
Yeah, the Algaray is the name of a robot that's currently being built by a company in Scotland called Seaweed Generation.
Why are they called Seaweed Generation?
Well, Mindy, I could tell you.
But you'd rather show me?
Exactly.
By playing this video game.
Are you ready?
I was born ready.
Load it up, disembodied voice.
Ma'am, remember, you don't need to yell.
I'm standing right next to you.
Oops.
Okay, starting up.
Algaray to the rescue.
See you two on the other side.
Here we go.
Wow, this is wild, Mindy.
It actually feels like we're floating in the middle of the ocean.
Yeah, with a mouthful of seaweed.
Calm down, Mindy.
It's not real.
Remember, it's all just in the VR headset.
Oh, right.
Sorry.
I have an active imagination.
Yes, I know.
What even is all this stuff?
It's called sargassum, Mindy.
It's a type of seaweed sure is a lot of it.
Oh yeah, it's a real problem too.
In 2023, there was a clump of sargassum that stretched all the way from africa to the gulf of mexico over 5 500 miles and it weighed over 10 million tons whoa that's like 27 empire state buildings worth of seaweed, i know.
And these Clumps of seaweed are growing every year and no one knows why.
Ooh, spooky.
Spooky and stinky.
What?
Yeah.
Well, when all of this seaweed washes onto our beaches and starts to decompose, it releases hydrogen sulfide, which has a striking resemblance to the smell of Rotten eggs clapping hydrogen sulfide.
Yup, and that's why those scientists have built this Algaray robot to try and clean up some of the seaweed.
Speaking of which, how do we get this game started?
I'm tired of hanging around in this virtual ocean waiting for something to happen.
Look, look over there, Mindy.
There's a text box floating above us.
Okay, let's see what this says.
Uh, start new game.
Hmm, don't mind if I do.
Hey!
There, Mindy, it's the Algoray robot.
Oh, cool.
It looks like a tiny little submarine with little pinchers on the front.
I wonder how you control it.
Oh, wait, maybe it's voice controlled.
Well, Mindy, I'm not sure that they'd make it.
Algoray, down!
Hey, look, it worked.
Look, another floating text box.
Your mission is to sink as much of the sargassum as possible in the given time limit.
What given time limit?
Oh, up there, Guy Raz.
Look, it's a countdown clock.
Five minutes and counting.
What do we do, Guy Raz?
Well, the game just told us Mindy, we have to collect as much sargassum as possible and sink it to the ocean floor.
Ah!
Mindy, remember, it's just a video game.
I'm sorry, Guy Raz.
Countdown clocks make me anxious.
It's all gonna be okay.
First, I think we need to bring Algaray Robot to the surface.
Oh, great idea.
Okay.
Algaray.
Oh, Algaray.
Come here, buddy.
There he is.
Who's a good little video game robot?
Yes, you are.
What?
Okay, what do we do now?
Well, now we have to make it use its little claws that it has on the front to grab as much sarcasm as possible.
You heard the man, Algaray.
Be a good robot and go grab that sarcasm.
Look up there, Mindy, next to the countdown clock.
Algaray carrying capacity?
Yeah, look, it's going up.
30%, 35%.
40%?
It looks like it's filling up as it collects the seaweed.
And once it reaches 100%?
That's when we need to sink it.
Exact Doritos.
90%?
Wait for it.
95%?
Wait for it.
100?
What now?
Well, now we need to let the Algaray robot dive to around 500 feet.
Oh, look up there, Guy Raz, next to the countdown clock.
Now it's telling us the Algaray's depth.
Great!
Wait, why do we need it to dive to 500 feet?
Well, because the only reason this seaweed is able to float on the water's surface is because its leaves are filled with little air bubbles.
Okay.
And when the algoryte drags that piece of seaweed down to 500 feet, those air bubbles pop.
And then when the bubbles pop, the seaweed sinks to the ocean floor.
Exactly.
Got it.
Look, Mindy, the algoryte is almost at 500 feet or around 150 meters.
480, 490, 500.
500.
Did it work?
Let's see here.
Well, it looks like the algorithm robot is coming to the surface again.
Hey, no more seaweed.
Amazing.
I guess we were successful in sinking it to the bottom of the ocean.
Yes.
OK, how much time do we have left?
It doesn't seem like we have much.
Look.
Five, four, three, two, one.
How do we do?
Well, looks like that's our score up there.
What does it say?
300, 400, 500.
Hey, 556.
That's pretty great, Mindy.
Still a lot of seaweed left, though, Guy Raz.
Look at this place.
Well, those scientists from Scotland that are developing the algorithm for the real world are hoping to have many of these robots autonomously roaming around the ocean running.
Huh.
And when you say autonomously, you mean they won't have humans controlling them?
That's right.
They'll be able to just release these robots into the ocean and let them get to work.
Kind of like that robot vacuum cleaner I got for you last year.
But instead of cleaning your micro house, they'll be cleaning the ocean.
Exactly.
They've said that just one of these robots, working 12 hours a day for three months of the year, could sink about 80000 metric tons of sargassum seaweed every year.
Whoa, that's like 500 blue whales worth of seaweed that won't stink up our beaches.
That's right.
Game over.
Returning to main menu. high scoreboard!
Yes!
High five, Guy Raz!
Second place!
Not too shabby.
Wait, who's that in first place?
With a score of 6,400?
R-E-G?
It couldn't be.
Reggie?
Virtual reality experience concluded.
Powering down.
Whew, gotta take out this headset.
Yeah, me too.
Sorry wait, all right.
So how'd you two like the new foresight plus virtual reality headset and alga ray to the rescue?
Absolutely bonker balls.
And i don't say that about everything.
Yeah, what in the is that?
Oh, you know that giant pigeon over there.
He's unstoppable.
Yeah, he's an incredible player.
Who would have guessed?
Well, he does have the high score at the Monkey Pong at the local pizza shop, so this sort of tracks.
All right, so what do you two think?
Can I pack up these new Foresight Plus virtual reality headsets for you?
Oh, sure.
I'll be paying for these with chewed gum and coat buttons, if that's okay.
Oh, buttons.
Uh, well, let me go check with my manager.
Thanks.
Hey, Dwayne, do we still take buttons in class?
So, Guy Raz, that virtual reality game was just an example of what those scientists from Scotland want to happen, right?
Right.
They eventually want a whole fleet of these robots swimming around the ocean, collecting up this stinky seaweed and sinking it to the bottom of the ocean.
So when do they actually expect to start sending these robots out to clean up all that seaweed in the real world?
Well, Seaweed Generation says that they're hoping to launch the first of these robots as soon as next year.
Maybe I can get one for you for your birthday next year, Guy Raz.
Well, I think they'd probably do more good out in the ocean than in my micro house, Mindy.
Yeah, I guess you're right.
Besides, I can just play with one whenever I want with my brand new virtual reality headset.
Okay, so I just checked with my manager and turns out we only take cash or card.
So?
So, no buttons.
Or gum.
Just normal money.
Sorry.
Oh, bunker balls.
And I forgot all my real money.
Guy Raz, we're going to need your wallet.
Okay, I'll get it.
Yay!
Guy Raz to the rescue!
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 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.
Hi, thanks for calling Wow in the World.
After the beep, get ready to record.
Hi, my name is Annika.
And my name is Clara.
I'm nine.
And I am two.
Our Wow in the World is about... Pandas.
Did you know that pandas eat 20 to 40 pounds of bamboo every season? single day?
Your burritos.
Bye.
Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz.
My name is Dakota, and I'm from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.
My wow in the world is that the average car has 30,000 parts.
Oh, and say hi to Dennis for me.
Hi.
Hi, this is George.
I live in Portland Oregon, and my wow in the world is that the garden bumblebees Has a tongue as long as its body.
Thank you, Mindy and Guy Raz.
I love your show.
Hi, my name is June, and I live in Seattle, Washington.
My wow in the world is that some chickens lay green or blue eggs.
Hi, Thomas Fingerling.
Sup?
Hi, Grandma G-Force.
Oh, snap.
Hi, Dennis.
Huzzah!
Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. and I'm from Bellingham, Washington.
My wow in the world is that the she-sloth can hold their pee for 156 hours.
Hey, Reggie, I've got something to say to you.
Bye, Mindy and Guy Raz.
Hi, my name is Kate.
I am nine years old, and I'm calling from San Francisco.
Bye.
I love your show.
My name is Kian, and I'm seven years old, and I live in Baltimore, Maryland.
My wow in the world is that crabs have teeth in their stomachs.
Hi, Grandma Jufors, Thomas Fingerling, and Reggie.
Bye.
Hi, my name is Eleanor, and I live in Boston, Massachusetts.
My wow is that tiger skin is also streaked, not only its fur.
Bye.
Love your shows.
Say hi to Reggie for me.
Wow in the World is written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Kalken with help from me, Guy Raz.
Original sound design and music editing is done by Tyler Thole with help from our supervising producer, Jed Anderson.
You can also hear Jed Anderson in the voices of Dennis Thomas Fingerling, Reggie and many of the other silly characters that you hear on our show.
And Lizzie Freilich can also be heard as some of the silly characters on our show.
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... And to keep the wow rolling...
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 1-888-7WOW-WOW for a chance to be featured at the end of our show or an upcoming episode of Two.
What's in a Wow?
Thanks again for listening.
We're here every Monday or you can check out Two What's in a Wow every Friday right here in the Wow in the World podcast feed.
And don't forget, we wow on the weekend with Dennis, Saturday and Sunday.
Keep on wowing! in the world was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.
