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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!
Are you ready yet?
Whoa, Mindy, what are you wearing?
Oh, isn't it awesome?
It's my Red Hot Silly Peppers T-shirt, and I made it just for this occasion.
Uh... Oh, and here, I made one for you, too.
Only yours says... Ta-da!
Spice, spice, baby?
Mindy, I'm not, And I got us both a pair of shiny spandex tights that will make our legs look like a bunch of banana peppers.
Uh, no.
And last but not least, try this baby on for size.
A hat shaped like a giant chili pepper?
Come on, where's your spicy spirit, man?
Okay, but just be careful with my hair.
I had to wax it down extra tight this morning.
I'm just gonna shove your head into this here tight squeeze.
There.
That's never coming off, cause I glued it.
What?
Now you look like a party pepper.
I think it's squeezing my Oh, that's okay.
It'll bounce back.
Indy!
Reggie!
Reggie, we need you to take us to the Super Bowl of Spice Smackdown.
You know?
On second thought, why don't we just hang out here and organize my collection of Hold on to your hot tamales, Guy Raz?
Because here we go.
There were actual flames coming out of Reggie's talons.
Reggie bringing the heat.
Think that means he landed us in the right place.
Where are we?
Guy Raz, look over there.
Wow, what's that?
It looks like a giant stadium-sized bowl of chili with steam coming off the top.
Oh, that's because it is a giant stadium-sized bowl of chili with steam coming off the top.
What in the... Guy Raz...
Welcome to the Super Bowl of Spice Smackdown World Championship face-off.
You know, my grandma G-Force used to take me here when I was a baby.
In fact, she was once crowned world champion.
But then she burned her tongue, and she never competed again.
Oh, well, that's kind of sad, I guess.
So what exactly is this thing?
Oh, so it's when all of the hottest peppers from all over the world come together and try to spice out their human opponents.
So, kind of like a professional wrestling match, except with peppers?
Well, yeah, sort of.
I mean, peppers and people.
Come on, let's go inside so you can see for yourself.
Okay.
What?
Check it out.
Ladies and gentlemen, in this corner We have the 2013 Guinness World Record winner, the Carolina Reaper.
And in this corner, the self-proclaimed world's hottest Grandma G-Force!
Hot and spicy!
Whoa, is that?
Mindy, Mindy, that's your Grandma G-Force.
I guess her tongue must have finally healed after all these years.
Years?
Go, Grandma G4!
You show that Carolina Reaper who's boss!
Mindy, look, she's circling that pepper like she's about to go in for the kill.
Man, Guy Raz.
You know, just a few years ago the Carolina Reaper, a cross between a ghost pepper and a red Savina habanero, was the hottest chili pepper in the whole world, coming in at a peak of 22 million SHU.
Wait, SHU?
2.2 million?
What are you talking about?
Oh, so SHU stands for Scoville Heat Units.
Ah, of course.
Of course named after Wilbur Scoville, the American pharmacist who came up with the Scoville heat scale.
Wait, you know about the Scoville heat scale?
Well, would I be wearing a spice spice baby t-shirt with elbow patches if I didn't?
Elbow patches on your t-shirt?
Wait.
Mindy Wilbur Scoville created the Scoville scale as a way to measure the heat or spiciness of a hot chili pepper.
Right.
And speaking of hot peppers, did you know that peppers are actually a fruit?
Huh.
I've always thought of them as vegetables.
Well, not all fruits are sweet, Guy Raz.
There are a bunch of fruits that we normally think of as veggies, like tomatoes and eggplants, and even cucumbers.
Wait, cucumbers are fruits too?
Technically and botanically speaking, yes.
Ah, of course, it's the seeds.
Well, yeah, that and the fact that they all come from flowering plants.
Huh.
You know, as strange as it seems, Mindy...
Makes total sense.
I guess I just tend to think of fruits as more sweet than spicy.
So you're saying that you would not dump slices of jalapeno peppers on your oatmeal in the morning?
Uh, no.
You sure?
It'd give you a little kick to start your day.
I'm pretty sure, Mindy.
You were saying about the Scoville scale?
Oh, yeah.
So, as you were saying, the Scoville scale is a measure of the hotness of a pepper and other spicy foods.
And it ranges from zero to 16 million Scoville heat units.
But how exactly does it work?
Well, first I should start by saying that chili peppers contain something called capsaicin.
And capsaicin is this colorless, odorless... oil-like chemical compound.
Interesting.
I mean basically, capsaicin is the stuff in the pepper that makes your mouth feel like it's on fire after you eat a really hot one.
And so I'm guessing that to figure out where a pepper falls on the Scoville heat scale, a scientist would have to squeeze out some of that oil-like capsaicin from a pepper.
Yep.
And back in the day, scientists would mix that capsaicin with a little bit of sugar water and then they would hand it to a professional taste tester to take a sip to see if it still had its hotness.
And if it did, they would keep adding more and more sugar water until the taste tester could no longer taste the heat.
So they would water down the capsaicin, or the stuff that makes peppers hot, until it was no longer detectable.
Exactoritos, Guy Raz.
It's called diluting, which is a scientific term that means watering something down.
Kind of like what you do to my orange juice, when you pour me a tiny bit and fill the rest of the glass with water when you think I'm not looking.
Mindy, I dilute your orange juice with water because there's so much sugar in a 24-ounce glass of juice.
Just orange juice.
I know there is, Guy Raz.
That's what makes it so delicious.
OK, back to the Scoville scale.
Right.
So the amount of dilution or the amount of sugar water it takes to snuff out the heat of a pepper's capsaicin is what gives the pepper its rating or measure on the Scoville heat scale.
So, for example, if a taste tester could no longer taste the heat after one cup, it might be a pretty mild pepper.
But if it took say, 100 cups of sugar water to kill the heat, then you might be dealing with a crazy hot pepper.
Yeah, and about those professional taste testers you mentioned?
Yeah.
Well, it seems like what might be spicy to one person might not be so spicy to another.
I mean, how do you get an accurate rating if all human tongues taste things differently.
Yeah, so that was actually one problem with the original Scoville scale.
So ever since the 1980s, scientists have left the spice measuring to a fancy machine instead of relying on other people's tongues.
Okay, so...
Just to get an idea of where a pepper would fall on the Scoville scale, let's take a sweet pepper, for instance.
Okay, so a sweet pepper, hence the name contains almost no capsaicin at all, which means that it writes in at a big fat zero on the Scoville scale.
Here, watch me take a bite.
See?
No heat at all.
And what about a jalapeno pepper?
I mean, those are pretty hot.
Guerra's jalapeno peppers which I dump all over my nachos and pancakes, rates in at 2500 to 8000 Scoville heat units.
Blah!
Here, watch me take a bite.
Wait.
Hot!
Hand me the milk!
Hand me the milk!
I'm breathing fire!
Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh.
Okay.
So if a sweet pepper is a wimpy zero and a jalapeno pepper can reach up to 8000, what about something that's record-breaking hot like say, the Carolina Reaper that your grandma G-Force is about to take on in the wrestling ring?
Oh, man, look at her.
She's circling the pepper.
She's got her milk ready.
It's not going to be long now before she makes her move.
Mindy, you mentioned earlier that this pepper had a rating of up to 2.2 million Scoville heat units.
Yep.
Oh, man, it would take a lot of sugar water to dilute all of that capsaicin heat.
What we're looking at right now is one of the hottest peppers in the universe.
That's a menacing-looking pepper.
Bright red and wrinkly texture and pointy little stinger-like texture.
I know.
I'm getting kind of worried that maybe Grandma G-Force has finally met her match.
And now Grandma G-Force 1949 Super Bowl Spice Smackdown World Champion has pulled out her knife and fork.
I'm so nervous.
I'm so nervous.
I'm so nervous.
I'm so nervous.
I'm so nervous.
I'm so nervous.
Calm down.
The Carolina Reaper is a hot pepper, but Grandma G-Force, she's a tough cookie.
She's putting on her best.
She's going for it.
Her knife is hitting the pepper.
She's cutting its head off.
It has a head?
Shh, I think he means the stem.
She stabs it with her fork.
Poor little Carolina Reaper.
What?
It's food, Guy Raz.
You're supposed to stab it with a fork.
She brings the pepper out to her mouth.
Did your grandma have her teeth sharpened for this?
Nah, those vampire fangs run in our family.
See?
And it's in!
It's an out!
Okay!
I can't look!
I can't look!
Mindy, what's happening?
Yes!
Grandma's G-Force!
I knew you could do it!
The original Spice Girl!
Woo!
Is it over?
The referees are handing her antacids and she is refusing!
I've never seen anything like this!
Then I'll win a million dollars!
Oh, man, I am so spiced! right now, Guy Raz.
I can't believe she did it.
Wow, your Grandma G-Force is really incredible, Mindy.
I know, right?
Oh, man, that was intense.
Okay, you ready for round two?
Wait, there's more?
Yeah.
Is she going to shoot herself from a cannon or something?
What?
No.
Oh, phew.
They don't do that until they crown a new champion at the end.
Oh, right.
And the reigning world champion is up now.
His name is Peter Piper.
Why do I think I know that name?
Well, the rumor is that Peter Piper once picked a peck of pickles.
Pickled peppers?
Yeah, yeah, I know the backstory.
Wait, he's here?
In the flesh.
Oh, look, he's coming out to the ring now.
Wow, he's so much bigger than Mother Goose made him out to be.
Wait, shh, shh, listen, he's up.
Next up, reigning world champion Peter Butler will pick a peck of pepper X.
Wait, did he just say pepper X?
Yeah, it says right here on the program, a peck of pepper X pepper.
Peter Piper Pick... Guy Raz, do you know anything about Pepper X?
Uh, that it's a pepper looking for a name?
Pepper X is a brand new pepper developed by a guy named Smokin' Ed Curry.
Wait.
The same guy who developed the Carolina Reaper and took it to Guinness World Record stardom in 2013.
And I'm almost afraid to ask, but how hot is Pepper X?
Guy Raz...
Hold on to your habaneros, because this pepper is so hot and spicy it makes the Carolina Reaper look like baby food.
And just to be clear, you should never, ever, ever, ever, ever feed a hot pepper to a baby or to me.
Wait, are you a baby?
What?
Never mind.
Guy Raz, on the Scoville heat scale, the Carolina Reaper can reach up to 2.2 million units.
Yeah?
And another pepper called the Dragon's Breath Chili, which was accidentally invented earlier this year by a farmer in the country Wales.
That pepper came in at 25 million units.
Whoa.
And now Pepper X.
The latest, most blisteringly hot pepper known to man rates in at Uh, Wait for it.
Okay.
Wait for it.
Okay.
Wait for it.
Okay, I can't wait anymore.
Okay, 3.1 million. million Scoville heat units.
In the... Guy Ross, did you just eat one that I'm not aware of?
What is happening?
Guy Ross, are you sweating?
No, no, I'm just imagining what that would feel like on my tongue and sliding down my esophagus.
Well, pulling Mindy, I just don't understand how anyone would eat something that hot and spicy.
Okay, so here's the deal.
In our mouths and our throats and even our eyes.
We all have these teeny tiny capsaicin-detecting spice detectors right.
Yeah.
And when we eat something spicy, it's their job to send a message up to our brains, to let our brains know that we have just been properly spiced.
So this must be why our mouths feel that tingly burning sensation or our eyes start to water.
Exact Doritos.
And some people are born with more or less of these capsaicin receptors than others.
They're just born that way.
So people with less spice receptors may not experience the hot sensation in spicy foods the way that others like me would.
You got it.
In fact, Some researchers from the University of Helsinki in Finland conducted an experiment with a bunch of twins.
And from that experiment they were able to figure out that genes play a big role in how much spice we can handle.
So, Jeans, we were just talking about that, weren't we?
The teeny microscopic bits inside of us that were passed down from our parents and grandparents and great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents and great-great-great-great-great-grandparents and great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparents.
Yeah, I think you got it.
So basically if say, your mom likes spicy food, then you could be more likely to like it too as you get older.
Even if you don't now.
But if your mom is easily spiced out by even the wimpiest pepper in the world, Oh then there's probably no hope for you.
Pack your bags and don't let the door hit you on the way out of this spicy smackdown.
Ouch!
Hey, I didn't make up the genetic code, Guy Raz.
Well, but what about other countries and cultures?
Like I have a friend from Chile in South America, and even though the country is called Chile, they don't really eat spicy foods.
But then I have a friend from India who's been eating hot chilies since he was a little kid.
So liking spicy food It can't just be about our genes, can it?
Well, yeah, and that's not at all surprising.
I mean in some parts of the world like India and Mexico, people are used to eating spicy food as a regular part of their breakfast, lunch and dinner.
That's fascinating.
I mean that would suggest that people can develop or build a tolerance or the ability to handle very, very spicy food, depending on the kind of foods they ate in their countries.
You got it.
Oh, wow, look, it looks like Peter Piper is up.
Oh man, if he successfully crushes this Pepper X, he'll be crowned the world champion two years in a row.
And what happens if he doesn't?
And if he doesn't?
Well, it looks like Grandma G-Force might be toning up for a little victory dance.
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous!
I'm so nervous.
Peter Piper wearing his pickled tag circles the infamous Pepper X He's clearly got his eye on the prize.
Is it hot in here or is it just me?
Peter Piper, he picks up the pepper.
He places it into his mouth.
He bites down.
Man, look at him.
His hands are flapping.
His face is turning red.
He's sweating through his pickled peppered pants.
In order for Peter Piper to win this championship, he must hold on to this pepper for three more seconds.
Three, two, and he spits out the pepper.
Oh, G-Force is officially this year's Super Bowl of Spice World Champion.
She's won?
Your grandma G-Force won?
If you can't stand the heat, then give me the pepper.
Oh, no.
She's going to bite into the pepperette.
And what's this?
A turn of events, it seems.
Chief Force now attempting to take on the blisteringly hot Pepper Axe.
Mindy, this is crazy.
Oh my goodness, she's doing it.
She chews, she swallows, she breathes fire.
She's breathing fire?
Mindy, you know, knowing that your genes were passed down from Grandma G-Force...
You know, you might be just like her in the future, accepting the title one day soon.
Wow, I guess I never really even considered it.
You think I've really got it in me?
Oh, yes, I do.
But first, we have to get you on a strict training regime.
Start with a simple bell pepper, then work your way up to a... Oh, boy.
And not to be jalapeno business, but how do you like your chicken wings?
Mild, medium, or hot?
Because I 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 Tinkercast.com slash toys.
That's Tinkercast.com slash toys.
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After the beep, get ready to record.
Hi, my name is Adelaide and I am from Cleveland Ohio, and I'm seven years old and my Wow in the World is that if you don't love your grass, it can turn into tall grass and then it can turn into a whole forest.
Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz.
My name is Aisha, and I am eight years old, and I love your shows.
I live in Kenya, and my wow in the world is that the equator passes through Kenya.
Bye, Mindy and Guy Raz.
Hello, Mindy.
Hello, Guy Raz.
My name is Ruchia, and I live in Chicago. that I dug up a sweet potato in my Mimi's garden.
Hi, my name is Ellie.
I'm eight years old, and I live in Kekona, Wisconsin.
My wow in the world is cats.
No matter how high they jump from, they always land on their feet.
Thanks.
I love your show.
Discover new planets.
You never know what's out there.
Bye, i love your show.
Hi mendingerod, this is lily from from agoura hills in america, and my well in the world is that pandas eat a lot of bamboo in in a wall in one day.
Bye, mendingerod.
End of messages.
Hey everyone, Thank you so much for joining us this week on Wow in the World.
And if you want to keep the conversation going, check out some of the questions we posted on this episode at our website, wowintheworldcom.
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Say hello, Jed.
Hello.
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