Grownups, Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to Wow in the World early and ad-free right now.
Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids Plus on Apple Podcasts.
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!
You buckled back there?
Yes.
And can we get some music going on in here or something?
I'm starting to hear myself think.
Yeah, I think we're all so nervous about this skydiving adventure today.
Some music would be nice to get our mind off of our fear.
Can do.
Let me just get out my harmonica here.
Any requests?
I request that you don't play it.
Why?
Just because it's horrible?
Okay, everyone.
We're here.
Out of the ice cream truck.
Well, here we are, Guy Raz.
Big day, huh?
I know, Mindy.
I still can't believe we're actually going skydiving.
Well, it is what Grandma Jeep Horse wanted to do for her on birthday.
How old is she now, Mindy?
I don't know.
I never asked.
All right, everyone, right through these doors here.
Oh, Mindy, Mindy, can we play Rock'em Sock'em Gobots?
I love that game.
Oh, or Laser Dab.
Mindy, they have Laser Dab.
No, Dennis, for the millionth time, we're here to go somewhere.
Oh, fine.
Mindy, are you sure this is the right place?
This looks more like an arcade than a place to go skydiving.
Yes, of course I'm not sure, Guy Raz.
But look, it says it right there on the sign.
Skydiving this way.
I guess, Mindy.
But I didn't see a runway or any planes outside.
I'm just not sure how it could possibly be a... Hey there.
Welcome to Uncle Kenny's big old house of fun.
Let me guess, you're here for the axe throwing.
Ooh, throwing.
No, we're actually here for skydiving.
Well, huh.
Oh okay, let me see.
Here you must be Mindy.
Party of five, that's right great okay, make your way to the demo room at the far end of the arcade hall.
Look for Dave, he'll be doing your training.
Mike yeah, we got a number six in machine.
Number three.
Copy that.
Can someone please clean up the vomit and the twist and turn?
Over.
I guess we'll leave that to the two of you.
Right.
Enjoy your day.
Thank you.
Come on, everyone.
The demonstration room is over this way.
I'm coming.
I'm coming.
Oh, skee-ball.
Dennis.
This place is huge, Mindy.
Maybe they do have a runway with a plane on it in here somewhere.
Maybe.
I mean, I haven't been here since they introduced skydiving.
What do you mean?
Well, skydiving is a new addition to the Kenny's Big Old House of Fun activities list.
It is?
Yeah, in fact, the reason I wanted to come here was because this place got the idea from a new scientific study.
A scientific study?
Yeah, a scientific salamander study.
It came from these scientists at the University of South Florida.
Salamanders?
Yeah, salamanders.
You know, those little teeny amphibians that are sometimes mistaken for lizards.
Yes, Mindy, I know what a salamander is.
What I don't know is what it has to do with skydiving.
Well, according to this new research that was published in Current Biology, salamanders are expert skydivers.
Salamanders go skydiving?
Yeah.
Well, I guess it's a little bit more like sky falling.
Like out of trees?
Yeah, they're called wandering salamanders and they live high up in these trees on the west coast of the US called California redwoods.
California redwoods?
I know all about them, Mindy.
They're the tallest trees on the planet, with some growing up to 325 feet.
I know, that's almost 100 meters tall. right?
It sure is.
Well anywho, these little salamanders live in these trees and to get from branch to branch, or even sometimes down to the ground, guess what they do.
They skydive?
Exact Doritos, Guy Raz.
Hey there.
Are you Mindy?
Party of five?
That's us.
Okay, great.
I'm Dave.
I'm going to be your instructor for today.
Are you folks ready to go skydiving?
You know it, Dave.
Right.
Where is the, uh, rest of your group.
Oh, they're right behind us.
Uh, uh-oh.
It appears we've lost them.
Uh, no worries.
Happens a lot in this place.
Oh, there they are, playing skee-ball.
One hundred.
One hundred.
One hundred.
Grandma G-Force!
Fingerling Dennis, come on!
It's time for skydiving!
But Grandma G-Force is on a roll!
Oh, shucks.
We don't bother this game anyway.
Everyone, through here.
This is our instructor, Dave.
Everyone, say hello to Dave.
Hello.
Howdy.
And I think that's everyone.
OK, great.
If everyone could just grab a seat, we can get started with our training.
OK, I'll sit right here.
Is everyone settled?
We sure are.
We're ready to skydive.
Okay.
Hello, everyone.
My name is Dave, and I'll be your instructor today for your skydiving experience.
My what?
Um, your skydiving experience.
Oh, yeah.
That.
Right.
Anyway, this state-of-the-art facility is based on some of the latest and greatest scientific research and studies.
See that?
Told ya.
Uh-huh.
Shh.
Quiet.
Quiet.
We've studied some of the greatest skydivers on the planet and distilled their techniques down to a short four minute video so that anyone from a toddler to uh uh, how old are you two?
97 and three quarters.
32.
Right.
So anyone from a toddler to the elderly can skydive.
Elderly?
You should probably just put on the video, Dave.
This could go on for a while.
Right.
Okay.
Well, enjoy the video, everyone.
I'll be back in a minute with your flight suits.
Anyone bring any movie snacks?
Tommy, the movie's starting.
Hey there, and welcome to the Uncle Kenny's big old house of fun skydiving experience.
Before your big jump, you'll have to learn a couple of things about falling with grace.
Falling with what?
Grace.
Now, why would I want to fall on my face?
Why about G-Force?
Just watch the movie.
If you're a little worried, don't be.
We've got our friend Sally the salamander here to guide us through the whole thing.
Isn't that right, Sally?
Oh, Sally.
Mindy, isn't that one of those wandering salamanders you were talking about before?
The kind that skydives from branch to branch?
Yeah, sure looks like it, Kairos.
Oh, sure.
Sally here is a wandering salamander.
I told you.
And an expert at falling with grace.
And now, thanks to some new research from the University of South Florida, we know why.
Does anyone want to guess?
Oh, I know.
It's, uh, it's, it's, uh... It's her technique.
Oh, yeah, that's what I was going to say.
Let's head over to the wind tunnel for a demonstration.
Wind tunnel?
Oh, yeah.
So those scientists from the University of South Florida were really interested in learning how these salamanders drop from branch to branch, but they were having trouble catching them doing it in the wild.
So what did they do?
Well, they went out and caught a few of them before trying to replicate those drops in the lab.
But I'm guessing they didn't have 300-foot redwoods in their labs?
No.
So instead, they built a wind tunnel.
Sheesh!
Sorry, Dennis.
Unbelievable.
Here we are at the wind tunnel.
With this, Sally will be able to demonstrate how to fall or skydive in the correct way.
Whoa.
Is that the same sort of wind tunnel that they used in the study, Mindy?
Yep, sure is.
It kind of looks like a leaf blower pointed upwards with a plastic tube around the end of it.
Well, that's basically what it is, Guy Raz.
In the study, they'd turn on a wind machine below the salamander and then, because salamanders are so light, when they were dropped over it they would basically just hover in place.
Whoa, you mean the force of the wind kept them up?
Exactoritos.
Fascinating.
Okay, Sally, are you ready to give us a demonstration?
Great.
Let's turn on the wind machine.
Okay, three, two, one, drop.
Wow, look at that, Mindy.
It looks like that salamander is skydiving.
She's just floating there in the wind tunnel.
Yeah, this is how the researchers studied the way that these salamanders controlled their falls.
By literally making them skydive.
Yep.
Wow, did you see that?
I know I didn't.
Let's re-watch what happened in slow motion to get a better look.
Oh, they also used a slow-mo camera in the experiment.
Quiet!
As you can see, when Sally was dropped into the wind tunnel, she used her tail to immediately twist her body, so she's facing the right way up.
Facing the right way is very important when skydiving.
Face right way.
Got it.
Next, notice how she tucks in her back legs to control her movements as she falls.
You, too will be able to use your limbs to control your speed and direction, even if you don't have a tail.
Don't have tail?
You, uh, taking notes for all of us?
No, Tommy, get your own notes.
Teacher's pet.
Sally's body and the bodies of most wandering salamanders are rather flat.
This, as well as her big feet and long toes, create wind resistance that also helps slow her down as she falls, sort of like a parachute.
Long toes?
How about long toenails?
That help?
Oh, probably.
So remember, when falling, spread your body out to try and create as much wind resistance as possible to slow yourself down And fall with grace.
That's right.
This concludes the training.
Thanks for joining us at Uncle Kenny's big old house of fun.
Have a wonderful time skydiving and don't forget to smile on the way down.
Happy falling.
Happy falling.
That was a little creepy.
Wait, is that it?
Looks like it.
It's also the same conclusion that these scientists in the study came to.
To be good at skydiving number one, you gotta work your tail, and number two, you gotta spread your legs and your toes.
But Mindy, I don't have a tail.
Okay, let me just see if I've got a spare one in my adventure toolkit for you here.
All right, did everyone enjoy the video?
Wow!
Who is that?
Now, turns out we only have one size available for our flight suits.
Oh, well, what size is it?
I'm afraid it's going to be triple XL for everyone.
What?
Well, I suppose I can squeeze myself into it.
All right, everyone, go ahead and suit up.
Here you go.
All right, let's see here.
All right.
Thanks.
Minty, my zipper is stuck.
Oh, wait.
All right, if you're ready, follow me to the next room for your skydive.
Skydiving?
In a room?
Whoa!
Look at that!
Oh, nice.
Whoa, what is that, Mindy?
It looks just like that wind tunnel they used for the salamander's experiment.
Yeah, only human-sized.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Uncle Kenny's Big Ol' House of Fun...
Indoor skydiving arena.
Whoa, Mindy, it was an indoor skydiving center this whole time.
That makes so much more sense now.
I know, right?
This is going to be so much more fun than jumping out of an airplane.
Okay, let me just turn on the fan here.
Okay, so who wants to go first?
I want to go!
I want to go!
Marsh, wait!
Oh, you couldn't hear me.
Okay, everyone, settle down.
Why don't we just let the unbirthday girl go first?
Oh, yeah.
Let me at it.
All right.
Easy there, ma'am.
Just step right over here.
Get ready.
And... There she goes.
Whoa!
Heaven!
Wow!
Uh-oh.
Looks like she's tumbling a little there, Mindy.
Use your long toenails, Granny G. Those things are really long.
Go, Grandma Mindy of skydiving salamander and do a flip.
No, i'm the best at this.
Wow in the world, we'll 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 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, my name is Aiden.
I am 10 years old.
My wow in the world is that dogs can smell a human from a mile away.
Bye, Mindy and Dennis.
I love your show.
Plus, say hi to Dennis.
Hi there.
Reggie.
And Grandma G-Force for me.
Oh, isn't that nice?
Hi, my name is Jason.
I live in Houston, Texas.
And my wow in the world is that rhinoceros' horns are made out of the same material as your fingernail.
My vow is that a million earths could fit in the sun.
Say hi to Grandma G-Force.
Ah, hush puppies.
Thomas Fingerling.
Oop.
Reggie.
Daddy Man.
Ha ha ha ha ha!
And Dennis.
Yes?
Bye, love your show.
Hi, Mindy and Guy Laws.
My name is Simon, and I...
Portland, Oregon.
My wow in the world is that crocodiles open their mouths to cool off.
Isn't that so cool?
Say hi to Grandma G's floor.
Oh, snap!
And Reggie for me.
Hi, my name is Dana.
I live in Houston, Texas.
My wow in the world is that mercury is the only metal that is a liquid at room temperature.
Say hi to Dennis.
Grandma D-Force for me.
Excuse me?
Bye.
Hi, I'm Aria, and I'm from Amber, Pennsylvania.
And my law in the world is that Neptune was discovered in 1846 and didn't complete its orbit around the star until 2011.
Say hi to Dennis.
Howdy.
Reggie.
Grandma D-Force.
Oh, yeah.
Thomas Bingling.
Ha, ha, heavens.
And the Bee Family for me.
That's me.
Wait, I'm a bee?
Is the Papa Bee a handsome prince, maybe?
Bye.
How do I leave?
End of messages.
Wow in the World is written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Kalken with help from me.
Original sound design and music editing is done by our senior producer Jed Anderson and Tyler Thull.
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 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 the rest of our team of tinkerers, including Anna Zagorski.
To keep the wows rolling, visit us at Tinkercastcom.
There you can learn more about becoming an official member of the World Organization of Wowsers.
Learn more about upcoming events.
Shop our shop and pick up a copy of our new number one New York Times bestselling book, The How and Wow of the Human Body.
Grownups.
You can follow Wow in the World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at at wowintheworld, and our email address is hello at tinkercastcom.
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 Two What's and a Wow.
Thanks again for listening, and until next time, keep on wowing!
Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.
