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Oh, I'm so excited to be here at the Zoo Reg.
So where do you think we should go first?
We could visit the Lion Den that's over there.
Or let's see. Oh there's a giraffe zone.
Maybe Tigerland? Avean World?
Reggie we were just there last time!
Oh, I think I know why you want to go to Avean World.
You just want to see that colorful toucan you've been texting with lately.
Ok, Reg. Come on. Avean World it is.
Isn't this fun, guy Ross?
Uh huh. Is that guy Ross and Dennis?
Just you and me having a day at the zoo together.
Dennis, you followed me here.
Hey guy Rossy. Dennis.
Over here. Oh hey Mindy.
Hey Reggie. What are you two doing at the zoo?
Are you two having a side adventure without me?
Yep. What? No, no. We're not having a side adventure.
Because for a second there I thought.
I wanna go on a side adventure.
No, I told you Dennis.
You followed me here.
I'm just here to get a photo of the African elephant in the safari zone.
Oh right. For your photo challenge thing or whatever.
Wait. Photo challenge?
Yeah. I got this new camera last week and I've been putting it to use with this online photo challenge.
Ooh. A new camera. Fancy.
Show me, show me, show me, show me, show me, show me.
Stop. I'll show you.
I'll show you. Let me just get out of the case here.
So shiny. Yeah, so shiny.
So have you taken any pictures yet?
What's on it? Well, let me show you what I've photographed so far.
So this is a photo of our street.
Here's one of a cloud that looks like a manatee.
Wow. It really does.
Oh, and here's, wait a minute.
Dennis? What? Did you use my camera to take a selfie?
No. I mean, yeah. What?
You said you needed to photograph something beautiful and majestic.
And you thought that thing would be you?
Of course I did. Oh boy.
Well, that's actually the reason why we're here Mindy.
The last photo I need to take for my photo challenge is to get a photo of something beautiful and majestic.
And so you came to find me?
Guy Ross? What? No.
No, Mindy. I'm here to take a photo of the elephants.
Remember? Oh yeah. Well Guy Ross, I don't know how to break this to you but...
What? What is it Mindy?
Well, the safari zone where the elephants live is closed today.
Safari zone is closed?
Yeah. I think they're building a new water slide for the hippos or something.
I don't know. Oh man.
What am I gonna do now Mindy?
I've got an idea Guy Ross.
Mindy, I can't take a photo of you.
I'm not talking about me Guy Ross.
I know where we can find some elephants.
You do? Yeah. Where?
Greenland. Oh, Greenland.
What's Greenland? Like an amusement park or something?
What? No, Dennis, it's a country.
Oh. A country that's only 500 miles from the North Pole.
That's the one. A country full of lush forests, sandy beaches, and most importantly incredible wildlife, including elephants.
Uh, hang on. Are we thinking about the same Greenland, Mindy?
The one owned by Denmark?
Yeah. The country that is two -thirds above the Arctic Circle.
Huh. So, not an amusement park then.
I thought we were gonna go see elephants, Mindy.
Oh yeah, we are. Well, Greenland definitely doesn't sound like the kind of place an elephant would live or even want to live.
Oh yeah. There are no elephants in Greenland now.
But... But there used to be.
What do you mean? Well, I was just reading about these scientists who were able to take some DNA from permafrost in Greenland.
What? DNA extracted from some permafrost in Greenland?
Yeah. And it turns out, about 200 million years ago, Greenland was bursting with life.
Deer, crabs, trees, and most importantly, elephants.
Wow. Really? Really.
Oh, come on, Red. You can see that toucan whenever you want.
Guy Ros needs our help for his photo challenge.
Yeah, Reggie. Wait.
What toucan? What do you say, Guy Rosie?
Quick trip back in time to two million years ago?
Uh... Anything for a photo challenge?
Uh... Anything for a photo challenge.
Hooray! Anything for a photo challenge!
Oh, no. Jed, it's not you.
I'll be Guy Rosie's chief assistant camera carrier.
Now, if you could just please gift me...
Dennis, don't touch my camera.
Don't worry, Guy. Mother says I'm a very good carrier.
I have the steadiest hands.
This side of the...
It's okay. It's okay.
Dennis, nothing to worry about.
Let's just go with it, Guy Ros.
Come on, everyone. I've got the wow machine parked right outside.
And these... All right.
Come on, everyone. Hop inside.
All right. Oh, buttons!
What's this do? What's this do?
What's this do? Dennis, stop touching everything.
See here? Got to plug in some coordinates here.
Greenland, cap -covin -haven two million years ago.
Cap -covin -haven? Oh, yeah.
That's where the scientists got their permafrost DNA samples from.
Mindy, you keep saying that word.
What word? Permafrost.
What is permafrost?
Oh, well, it's basically frozen dirt.
Yeah. The technical definition is that it's Earth that's been completely frozen for more than two years.
Yeah. So permafrost means permanent frost.
Well, whatever it is, it sounds delicious.
Think we could stop for one on the way?
What? A permafrosty or whatever.
I want one. Dennis, were you listening to a word we just said?
Yes. I mean, no. No, I wasn't.
Let it go, Guy Ros.
Come on, everyone. Let's get going.
Everyone's strapped in?
Well, I'm trying, Mindy, but I don't see any buckles for this licorice -strapped seatbelt, and I ate mine.
Oh, yeah. Right. Seatbelts.
That's what I was supposed to put in last week.
Uh, let's see. Well, just hold on tight to something in here.
What? Because here we go.
Another smooth landing.
Mindy, where do you keep your barf bags again?
Oh, sorry, but I turned them all into paper hats months ago.
Here, Guy. Just barf in here.
Oh, wait. No. That's the camera bag.
That was close. Uh, look, everyone.
I think we're here.
Come on. Guy Ros, get your camera ready and let's go find you a...
Frozen tundra? Uh, Mindy, the lush forest full of wildlife you promised?
Yeah, it just looks like a desert.
Oh, fair. A really cold, snowy desert.
I'm going back inside.
I don't understand.
I mean, I put in the right location.
Oh, good idea, Reg.
Let me just check the plex capacitor again.
You and Guy Ros wait here.
Okay. It sure is chilly out here, Regie.
Look at all that snow as far as the eye can see.
Okay, everyone. Problem solved.
Well, what was the problem, Mindy?
Well, it turns out we only traveled through space, not time.
Meaning? Meaning that we made it to Greenland, but this is modern day Greenland and not the Greenland of 2 million years ago.
I see. So you mean to tell me that this frozen tundra that we're looking at is going to somehow transform into a lush animal -filled utopia if we just go back 2 million years?
That's exactly what I'm saying, Guy Ros.
Come on, hop back in.
There's no time to lose.
Okay, Mindy, but it's hard to imagine a place like this ever being warm.
Don't underestimate the power of geological time, Guy Ros.
A lot can happen in 2 million years.
We'll see about that.
Okay, everyone strapped in?
No! Once again, no seat belts.
Okay, plugging in the coordinates here 2 million years ago.
I hate my straps! In Greenland, and here we...
That was a little rougher than last time, Mindy.
Yeah, probably because there's less snow.
Here's hoping. Alright, let me just check to make sure that everything is A -OK.
Yup. And yup. 2 million years in the past and a balmy 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Or 10 degrees Celsius.
That's still pretty chilly, Mindy.
Not exactly balmy. Yeah, but remember how cold it was just a few minutes ago when we were in present day Greenland?
It was like negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
So by comparison, this place is positively boiling.
And remember, Greenland is only about 500 miles from the North Pole, and look at this.
It's like jacket weather outside.
Good thing I brought my bikini!
I don't know if it's that warm, Dennis, but it is pretty amazing what a difference in temperature 2 million years can make.
And you think that's amazing?
Check this out. Oh, wow!
Now that's what I'm talking about.
Mindy, are you sure we're still in Greenland?
Yup. The same Greenland we were in before with that baron tundra?
Yeah, I told you. 2 million years is a long time.
I know, but this is incredible, Mindy.
It's so green. Yeah.
Greenland. And you're sure there's elephants here?
Uh, well... Mindy? Okay, it's time to come clean.
Mindy, there are elephants here, right?
Technically no. What?
Mindy, that was the whole point of us coming all the way out here for me to get a photo of an elephant.
Okay, okay. I can explain.
Now, while there are no elephants here, there are mastodons.
Good question, Reggie.
Hey, Mindy, what exactly is a mastodon?
A mastodon is a very close relative of the African elephant that used to live in North America thousands of years ago.
Wow! Okay, and they're still beautiful?
Oh, yeah. So beautiful.
And majestic? So majestic.
Hmm... They're basically exactly the same as elephants, Gyros.
Just a little hairier.
Okay, Mindy, I'm sold.
Great. Now let's go find you a mastodon.
Follow me, everyone!
Wow, this place really is bursting with life, Mindy.
Yeah, told you it would be.
Does anyone have any mosquito spray?
I keep getting... Sorry, Dennis.
I left all the mosquito spray at home.
So Mindy, you said you found out about this place from some ice sample?
Close. A group of researchers found some DNA samples in a permafrost sample.
Which is sort of like an ice sample, but also has dirt and other things mixed in there, right?
Exactly. And they were able to tell from that block of permafrost that all of this was here, all of these trees and birds and stuff?
Yeah, even the mastodons that we're looking for right now.
All of that information was located inside that permafrost.
Even though the permafrost was two million years old?
Yeah, pretty bonker balls, huh?
Turns out that permafrost sample was jam -packed full of a bunch of DNA.
And DNA is sort of like the instruction manual that lives inside every living thing.
Exactoritos. Now, if I were to get a DNA sample from you and run it through the same machines that these researchers used, it would tell me that you were a human being.
Right. But if they took DNA from Reggie, it would say that he was a pigeon.
And what if they took a DNA sample from me?
I'm not exactly certain what species you are, Dennis.
Yeah, my money's on dog.
So they found DNA in that two million -year -old permafrost sample?
You know it. In fact, they found DNA from 135 different species.
And I would imagine that they then put that DNA through their machines to figure out who each DNA sample belonged to.
Yeah. That's incredible, Mindy.
I didn't think DNA could last for that long.
Yeah, and you're not the only one.
It even surprised the scientists.
The last oldest DNA sample collected was from a mammoth bone, but it was only about one million years old.
So this DNA is pretty much twice as old as the previous record holder?
Yeah. Pretty nuts, huh?
I'll say. Oh, you're right, Reggie.
Now I want nuts too.
Did anyone bring any trail mix?
Nobody has trail mix, Dennis.
Ah, nuts. Hey, Mindy.
Check it out. It looks like Reggie's made a friend.
Oh, yeah. Look at that guy, Roz.
He's so cute with his big floppy ears.
I just want to eat him up, just going to squish his little face and poop his nose.
Is that a rabbit, Mindy?
That bunny is actually an arctic hare, which is basically a big rabbit.
How do you know? Well, it was one of the animals they identified in those DNA samples that they found in the permafrost.
Wow. What else was in there?
Well, there was a lot of birch tree DNA.
Which, I'm guessing, was the result of this forest we're standing in right now.
You know it. And there was some caribou DNA in there.
Which I believe is just another name for reindeer.
And of course, there was the one and only...
Uh, Mindy? Mastodon.
Eh, hey, Guy Rosie?
I can't wait to snap a photo of one, Mindy, and complete my photo challenge.
I'm excited for you too, buddy.
Mindy! So, what are we looking for?
Well, the Mastodon was about the same size as an African elephant.
And it had a great big hairy trunk that goes...
Yeah, that was a pretty great impression of a Mastodon, Guy Ros.
Uh, Mindy? That wasn't me.
Uh, so that was Reggie?
Dennis? Uh, no. It wasn't me.
Uh -oh. Mastodon! Oh, thunderbirds!
Dennis, give me Guy Ros's camera!
What? Trust me! Okay, fine.
There! Thank you. Okay, everyone.
Quick, look at the camera.
Mindy, this is not the time.
Yeah, Mindy. This is not the time.
But make sure you get my gut side.
Hi! Everyone, say Greenland!
Greenland! Got it! Yes!
Thanks, Mindy. Yeah, no problem, Guy Rosy.
Oh wait, Dennis blinked.
Sorry! Ah! That's okay.
That's fine. No, no, no, no!
Gotta take it again.
Come on, everyone! Mindy!
Everyone, say, oh no, Mastodon's about to catch us!
Mindy! Oh no, Mastodon's about to catch us!
And clicked again! One more time!
Wow in the world? We'll be right back.
Grownups, this message is for you.
That's it. Back to the show.
Wow in the world. Hi, thanks for calling Wow in the World.
After the beeps, get ready to record.
Hi, I'm Janne Guy Rosy.
My name is Darcy. I live in Georgia, and my Wow in the World is at Arctic Fox's house where that changes color to help them blend in with their surroundings in different seasons.
Say hi to Grandma G -Force.
Did somebody call my name?
Thomas Bingerling and Dennis.
Who? Me? Hi there. Bye!
My name's Ben. I live in Ohio.
My Well in the World is that cows eat their food and then they spit it up and eat it again.
Say hi to Ready for Me.
Bye. Hello, my name is Piauma.
I live in Washington, D .C.
and my Wow in the World is that adults have 206 bones and kids have 300 bones.
Say hi to Reggie, Guy Ros, and Minnie for me.
Bye! Hi, Ninny and Guy Ros.
My name is Annabelle, and I'm from Seattle.
My Well in the World is that Emperor Penguins have 100 feathers per square inch on their bodies.
Say hi to Dennis. I know your static man, Dennis.
What? No! I'm not a static man.
Bye! Hello, I'm Mindy and Guy Ros.
My name is Cormac, and I live in Boise, Idaho, and my Well in the World is that there is a new species of peacock spider in South Australia.
And the name of the species is Sparkle Muffin, and can Grandma do you say hi to my mom?
Bonjourno! Hi, Ninny and Guy Ros.
My name is Ellie. I live in Jeppertown, West Virginia.
My Well in the World is that some plants don't have roots.
Hi, Ninny and Guy Ros.
I'm Gigi. I live in New York, and I am seven years old.
My Well in the World is that sharks have been around longer than dinosaurs.
Love your show. Say hi to Dennis for me.
Hi, Ninny and Guy Ros.
My name is Edie, and I'm from Lewiston, Maine.
My Well in the World is that Toronto has taste with their feet.
And, Mindy, if we tasted with our feet, thank you.
Say hi to Grandma D -Force for me, Molye!
Thomas Singling, Marley, Dennis, Howdy, Reggie, and static me.
Dun -dun -dun! Bye! End of Messages Grown -ups, if you like Wow in the World, you can listen early and ad -free right now on Wondery Plus.
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And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short survey at wondery .com slash survey.
Wow in the World is written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Calken with help from me, Guy Ros.
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 you hear on our show.
Jessica Bodie 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 Popups.
Find them at thepopups .com.
Special thanks to Steph Sosa, Henry Moskle, Ruth Morrison, Rebecca Kaban, Kit Ballinger, Sana Ali -Mohamed, Anna Zegorski, and all of the other Tinkerers at Tinkercast HQ.
To keep the Wow's rolling, visit us at Tinkercast .com.
There you can learn more about becoming an official member of the World Organization of Wowsers.
Learn about upcoming events, shop our WoW Shop, find our best -selling books, and learn about all of our other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast.
Grownups, you can follow WoW in the world on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at WoW in the world, 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 -7 -WOW -WOW for a chance to be featured at the end of our show or an upcoming episode of 2 What's in a WoW.
Thanks again for listening, and until next time, be fun WoWing!
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