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That's theweekjunior.com slash smartkid.
Hello and welcome back to your favorite secret podcast.
Did you miss me?
I missed you.
I am so excited to get into some more time-sealed mysteries together.
And today's is a doozy.
It's about a very famous event that radically reshaped the very history of life on planet Earth.
Also, there will be teeth.
Lots of teeth.
So don't you go anywhere.
I am still Carly Q, and this is still Who, When, Wow!
Mystery Edition.
Our past is vast and wild.
Many things have brought us to this day.
As history has been compiled, some important details have slipped away.
In our spectacular shared existence, we consider it our business to recognize a few folks you may not know.
Made important inventions.
Asked all the right questions.
History will never be the same.
My day started out like usual, coming into the office and saying hi to my work buddies.
As you may recall, this podcast that you're listening to is top secret, so none of these work friends know about it, or at least I hope they don't.
The thing is, I've been having this strange feeling recently, a sense almost that I'm being watched, which means that even a little thing like
Uh, Linda?
Linda, weirdly ignoring me this morning, has me wondering if something's up.
Alright, that's weird.
Linda?
I definitely know your name is Linda.
Is she ignoring me?
Okay, well, I will see you guys later.
I work here at Butthead, the Bureau of Universal Time Travel Historical Exploration Division.
Maybe Linda's just...
I'm a junior temporal analyst, which means I get sent files with random historical events and it's my job to catalog them in our database and file them away.
And I do it all from the cozy comfort of my lonely desk down in the basement.
It's not all bad, though.
Being down here means I am right next to the Bureau's time-traveling elevator, which I secretly use on my lunch breaks to explore time-sealed files.
Little historical mysteries where the details have been all sealed up.
And I share my mystery-solving adventures with you on this secret podcast.
That's why this sense that I'm being watched has me so rattled.
I cannot have Butthead knowing what I'm up to, or they might shut me down.
Good morning.
That's my rat friend, Nibbles.
She's pretty incredible.
When we go back in time, she can talk.
I've also gotten pretty good at deciphering her squeaks, even when we're here at the office.
Once we'd finished discussing dessert dreams, I told Nibbles about my sense that something's been off here at the office.
No, it's not just Linda.
My key card hasn't been opening the door on the first swipe like it used to, and they've been stocking the fridge down here with my least favorite flavor of fizzy water.
Celery.
Disgusting.
I know.
Me too.
Oh, and worst of all, I have been scheduled for a performance review later this month.
What is that about?
Do they know we've been secretly using the time travel elevator?
What if the jig is up?
Exactly.
Not good at all.
But just then, someone paid us a visit.
My upstairs co-worker, Louis.
He used to be my arch nemesis.
And listen, we are definitely not besties or anything like that.
But he is kind of my partner in crime since he sometimes comes with me on my trips back in time.
So I told him that someone might be on to us.
Someone is on to us.
Oh, we're fine.
The only person here I've ever seen care about somebody else's business is...
Me?
And I already know.
Trust me, no one else is paying attention to you.
Now, do we have another mystery to solve today, or what?
And just then... A new time-sealed file!
A new time-sealed file?
Event.
66 million years ago.
Decontra... Mass extinction...
66 million years?
Wow, that is a long time ago.
Not just your regular historical mystery, a pre-historical mystery.
I pulled out my handheld digital assistance device that's HDAD for short and plugged in the clues from the file to get some more info.
66 million years, Deccan Traps, mass extinction.
This file most likely refers to the death of a dinosaur.
Whoa!
Dinosaurs ruled the Earth for millions of years before something drove them to extinction.
What do you think it was?
Maybe they were all abducted by aliens.
Or maybe they were the aliens, so they abducted themselves.
Another day, another alien theory.
Okay, but what about these deck and trap things?
Maybe they were like rat traps, but for dinosaurs.
Sorry, you're right.
Rodent traps.
H-Dad, what are the Deccan Traps?
A region in modern-day India with considerable volcanic activity during the Cretaceous period.
Massive volcanic explosions are one of the leading theories for what caused the dinosaurs' extinction.
And the other leading theories?
Analyzing.
Analyzing.
Typical.
Analyzing.
Well, I guess we should get some work done before lunch, huh?
Guess so.
See you soon, Carly cute.
Lewis went back upstairs.
I got down to cataloging some files.
And a few hours later, I grabbed Nibbles and H-Dad, and we all took off for the elevator.
Wait for me.
Basement companion, Louis.
Hello, Odie.
How is the elevator today?
Oh, just fine.
How about you two?
Another time-sealed mystery?
You betcha.
This one is all about what happened to the dinosaurs.
This is an excellent mystery.
And unique, too.
Normally, I send you back in time to after the time-sealed event.
But for this, I'll have to send you before the event.
Otherwise, you might go extinct, too.
Ooh, that's a very good catch, Odie.
Thank you.
You will still need to be careful, though, since, you know, dinosaurs.
Also a good catch.
Wait, do you mean actual dinosaurs?
Okay, let's remember our time travel rules.
When you go to the past, you cannot change anything.
You can observe and ask questions, but that's it.
No meddling or it will throw off the whole timeline.
Got it.
When you arrive back in time, a card reader will remain where you came in.
Use this keycard and the elevator will reappear.
You can also use it to travel to other locations on the file.
So if you can't find enough information at the Deccan Traps, try another spot.
Sounds good.
And last but not least, remember that you must be back here before the end of your lunch break.
Otherwise... Someone might find out.
Don't worry about that one, Odie.
I'm on it.
I'm already paranoid someone's on to us.
Oh, really?
Really think she's imagining things, and i think he's dismissing my keen sense of observation, and i think it's time for you to to leave.
Just remember though, life finds a way.
Okay, here you go and say hi, Wow.
I think we may have made it to the prehistoric past.
Ugh, smells like rotten eggs.
Smells like 66 million years ago to me.
Lewis?
No, ew.
I'm guessing that would be the sulfur coming out of the volcano.
Sure enough, on all sides, we were surrounded by towering mountains.
And directly in front of us?
I can't do without all the ash in the air.
An absolutely ginormous volcano.
Yeah, pretty sure that's it.
Also the volcano.
Look at the bird.
Lewis, that's not a bird.
It's a pterodactyl.
Lewis, can you believe it?
We might be the first people to ever see an actual living dinosaur.
Ah, correction.
Pterodactyls are technically flying reptiles, not dinosaurs.
Well, still, look at all those teeth.
Do you think it thinks it could eat us?
No.
Oh, maybe.
Not exactly reassuring, Carly Q. Okay, okay, enough chit-chat.
We need to find out if these volcanoes caused the extinction.
Come on, let's get a better view.
There was a peak nearby with a better view, so we started climbing up the mountain.
Wish I would have known we were going hiking today.
I already got all my steps in.
How about all this ash and soot in the air?
I can barely see the sun.
Maybe that's what causes the dinos to die out.
I'd say so.
Look at all the plants.
They're all so wilted.
Right, because if the plants all die, then the plant-eating dinosaurs wouldn't have any food.
Yeah, the sun getting blocked out wouldn't have been good for anyone.
Let's keep moving.
A few minutes later, we reached the top of the peak with the full majesty of the volcano before us.
Brilliant streaks of red lava poured down the mountainside, glowing so bright at the top it was almost hard to look at.
And in the sky above, a huge plume of smoke poured out from the mouth of the volcano.
I know it's a deadly natural phenomenon that maybe wiped out all the dinosaurs, but wow, was it stunning to look at.
You can say that again.
No matter what it did to the dinosaurs, I bet the others... Help!
The dinosaurs got me!
What do we do?
What do we do?
What do we do?
Liz, get the emergency snack pie from my backpack.
Emergency snack pie?
What in the world would you have... Not the time!
Just get the pie!
I grabbed on to Nibbles just in time, but the pterodactyl still had her in its claws.
Okay, I'm sipping your backpack.
Got it!
Lewis threw it at the pterodactyl and just like that it let go of Nibbles and absolutely tore into the pie.
I got you, Nibbles.
So pterodactyls like pie, too?
Come on, Lewis, you're surprised?
Everybody likes pie.
Um, can we maybe skedaddle, please, before someone else tries to eat us?
Good plan, Nibbles.
Nibbles hopped on my shoulder as we raced back down the mountainside.
Maybe we should try Odie's idea to check out another spot, somewhere with less teeth.
Oh, I think you mean fewer teeth.
I pulled out HDAD and checked the info on the file.
The secondary location on this file is Chicxulub, located on the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.
I hear it's lovely this time of year.
Two minutes later, we were back at the elevator.
I punched in the coordinates and I hope it's sunnier in the Yucatan!
We stepped out into a lush jungle, teeming with beautiful flowers and leafy trees.
In the distance, we could see the ocean.
Oh, no.
What now?
Oh!
More dinosaurs.
Triceratops, right?
I think so.
A small group of them was passing through the jungle.
They looked like bigger, beefier rhinoceroses, except with three horns instead of one.
This is so cool and all, but I'm not really seeing anything that's giving you know impending extinction vibes.
Maybe there's another volcano nearby.
Or maybe... Look up!
We looked up where Nibbles was pointing and saw it right away.
High up in the sky was a big red spot getting bigger by the moment.
Please don't tell me Carly's right about aliens.
I truly don't think I can handle it.
Ugh, I wish.
No, it's an asteroid.
What, like a meteor?
Kind of.
A meteor is usually just a streak of light in the sky.
If it breaks into the atmosphere, then it's a meteorite.
But those tend to be smaller space rocks.
This looks bigger.
A lot bigger.
Which means it's probably an asteroid.
Well done, Carly.
Applause emoji.
High five emoji.
I know a couple things.
Party hat emoji.
Why, thank you, H-Dad.
No problem emoji.
So it turns out being obsessed with aliens in outer space does actually come in handy sometimes.
I am going to take that as a compliment, Lewis.
But wait, does that mean it's going to, like, land here?
In my personal and admittedly limited experience with asteroids, I find that they don't tend to land so much as land.
Crash.
Crash?
This is the other theory for what happened to the dinosaurs.
Yeah.
Once that asteroid hits, the impact is going to be huge.
Remember all that ash and soot back at the volcano?
That's going to look like a clear, sunny day compared to this.
Analysis complete.
Oh, yes.
What's the deal with this asteroid, H-Dad?
And what about the volcanoes?
Both theories for the extinction of the dinosaurs are still considered valid.
While the asteroid theory has generally found greater recognition, a study in 2022 at Dartmouth reinvigorated the volcano hypothesis.
Volcano emoji.
Research paper emoji.
There's an emoji for that?
Some scientists also believe both theories may be correct.
The asteroid impact could have worsened the volcano eruptions, and both elements would have contributed to worsening air quality and blocking out loose sun.
Just like we said.
Okay, well, we should probably get going before this asteroid hits, right?
Let's stay just another minute.
I just can't get enough of these Triceratops.
So majestic.
So peaceful.
So growly.
I don't think that was one of the Triceratops.
That was a... T-Rex!
We watched in shock as a Tyrannosaurus Rex came out of nowhere and attacked the Triceratops.
You were!
Not now, Carly Q!
We started running back for the elevator, but we must have caught the T-Rex's eye, because it left the Triceratops to start following us.
We're a terrible snack.
No, you don't want us.
We're too chewy.
I barely have any feet on my bones.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
He's just, he's all bones.
Just a sack of bones.
Incoming message from Blood Headquarters.
It's time to head back.
We know!
Someone needs to tell the T-Rex!
There's the elevator!
Hurry!
We made it!
I'm changed forever!
Farewell!
Welcome back.
Oh, no.
Are you two okay?
Or at least Carly?
Yep.
100%.
Totally great.
Almost just got torn to pieces by a T-Rex before getting burned up by an asteroid.
One of today's work, right?
You know.
Well, I'm glad you made it back safe and sound.
Any progress on what happened to the dinosaurs?
Seems like there are two leading theories.
Volcanic activity and the impact of that asteroid.
Or both.
In both cases there would have been a lot of ash and soot in the air that would have blocked out the sun.
And without sunlight, all the plant and animal life would have struggled to survive.
Sure goes to show how precious and fragile life on Earth really is.
Yes, except we are here, 66 million years later.
Wait a minute.
Odie, that's what you meant with your riddle.
Life.
To be fair, I can't take full credit for this riddle.
Lewis isn't wrong that life is precious and fragile, but also it's still found a way to keep on going.
Even with the dinosaurs, come to think of it, since some of them actually did survive.
What?
Which ones?
Where?
Birds...
I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure some land-dwelling dinos did somehow survive and then evolved wings and became the birds we know today.
Indeed they did, basement companion.
Oh, pretty cool.
And you know what else finds a way?
What?
Us?
Remember earlier you were so worried about your performance review and this wild idea that someone's onto us, which is just like totally ridiculous.
Uh, I'm still worried about the performance review, and I do still think someone's onto us.
And yet, we didn't let that stop us.
And we're not going to.
No matter what, life finds a way, and we will too.
I like that attitude.
Good pep talk.
Anytime, Carly Q, But right now I think I should probably go wash all this soot off my face before going back to work.
You might want to do the same, basement companion.
Another good catch.
Thank you, Odie.
And with that, it was back to work.
But wow, oh wow, what a day.
Pretty cool to learn that, even if it wasn't aliens per se that took the dinosaurs, it was still something related to outer space.
And if you know me, which you do, I obviously found that thrilling.
Anyway, I gotta keep my eyes and ears peeled for other signs that someone might be onto us.
But like Lewis said, no matter what, we're gonna find a way.
So tune in next week for another mystery.
Until then, this is Carly Q signing off.
And remember...
Definitely never heard this.
H-DAD initiating end credits mode.
Who Went Wow Mystery Edition is an original Tinkercast production with help from GZM Shows.
Handshake emoji, high five emoji.
For Tinkercast, the executive producers are Guy Raz, Mindy Thomas, and Meredith Halpern-Ranzer.
The shows are written by Aaron Weissman, Susan Mawady-Dirage, and Tom Van Kalken.
The head writer for Tinkercast is Kenny Curtis, and Carly Shiraki is a producing consultant.
Big shout-outs to the rest of the Tinkercast team, including Jed Anderson, Jessica Bode, Rebecca Caban, Natasha Crandall, Lizzie Freilich, Kristen Jang Thuy Mac, Erica Medina, Henry Moskal, Jodi Nussbaum, Ali Paksima, Linda Rothenberg.
Steph Sosa, Tyler Tholl, Joanna Weber, and Anna Zagorski.
Megaphone emoji.
Applause emoji.
The Who Went Wow theme song was composed and performed by The Pop-Ups.
For more information on their three-time Grammy-nominated All Ages music, find them at thepopupscom.
Producers for GCM shows are David Kreisman, Ben Strauss, Chris Terry, Amy Servini and Claire McClanahan.
The production manager is Sharon Michaels.
Sound design and editing for Who Went Wild Mystery Edition is done by Chris Terry and Oded Levari.
Headphones emoji, microphone emoji, thumbs up emoji.
Original music was created by Jennifer Rogamp.
Voice editing is by Yoni Reckham.
And voice direction is handled by David Kreisman and Amy Servini.
Could you give me another one on that, please?
And voice direction is handled by David Kreisman and Amy Cervini.
Our main cast features Carly Shiraki as Carly Q, Brandon Salerno as Louis, Melissa Vanderschiff as Nibbles the Rat, Kenny Curtis as H-Dad and Angel Desai as Odie.
Help support Who Went Wow by becoming a member of the World Organization of Wowzers and discover wows all year long.
Sign up today at tigercast.com slash membership.
You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel at Tinkercastcom.
Slash YouTube for full-length episodes of Who Went Wow, Mystery Edition.
And reach out to us at hello at Tinkercastcom if you have a mystery you'd like Butthead to investigate.
H-Tag, powering up.
Who went wow?
Made important inventions.
Who went wow?
Asked all the right questions.
History will never be the same.
Who, When, Why was made by Tinkercast?
Shh, it's starting.
GCN shows Imagination Amplified.
