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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!
So I stopped trying to get the banana bread to not explode and started calling it exploding banana bread.
Mindy, have you considered other hobbies besides baking?
Oh, hey, Reg, what's up?
Dennis locked himself in his trailer and won't come out?
Wait, Dennis doesn't have a trailer?
Yes, I bought one so I could lock myself in it.
Well, what do you know?
A trailer.
And a truck.
Dennis, what's wrong?
Oh, nothing.
Except my least favorite thing in the whole world is just outside this door.
Lima beans?
No.
Humidity?
No.
People not talking to or about you?
No.
It's worse than all those things put together.
It's bugs.
Bugs.
You made today's show all about bugs.
Oh, sorry, Dennis.
There were just too many wows about insects that we wanted to share.
And there aren't any actual bugs out here.
I promise.
I don't believe you.
Well, I guess you can produce the show from in there if you want.
Fine.
I'll come out and yell at everyone through the megaphone.
But I've wrapped myself in mosquito netting.
Ah!
And if I see one single proboscis, I'm out of here.
Fair enough, Dennis.
You there, water the colors.
And you, square the roots.
And Reggie, eye the glasses.
We're on in three, two, one.
And now, for everyone's favorite game show, it's Two What's and a What?
The scientific game show that separates the wows from the what's.
And the category or theme for today is bugs.
Mindy, why don't you refresh our contestants on how the game works?
You know it.
Wowsers in each of our three rounds.
Today, Guy Raz and I will present you with three scientific statements about bugs.
But, and this is a big but.
Only one of those statements will be a true wow.
The other two, just a couple of made-up what's.
Now, in each round, if you guess correctly, congratulations, you win a point.
But if you guess incorrectly, you must stop, drop, and do a ridonkulous physical challenge.
Okay, everyone ready to start the game?
Great, then let's do it.
Okay, round one.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, nocturnal insects are attracted to light?
Or is it B, butterflies and moths are the only animals that make chrysalises and cocoons?
Or is it C, water striders are insects, but water bugs are not?
When you think you have the correct answer, yell...
Psst, Reg, let's cue some thinking music.
And time is up.
Let's now reveal the winning wow.
And to do just that, it's Luke from Georgia.
Hey, Luke, tell us, what's the winning wow?
Hi, my name is Luke, my wow in my world is that nocturnal insects are attracted to light.
A response that is called phototaxis.
Winner, winner, moths for dinner.
Thank you, Luke.
Contestants.
If you guessed the answer A that nocturnal insects are attracted to light well congratulations, you found the winning, wow.
You may have seen a moth fly right towards a light bulb, and that's because nocturnal insects or bugs that are awake at night are attracted to light.
This attraction is called phototaxis.
No one knows exactly why, but some scientists think that staying in lit areas helps nocturnal insects avoid predators sneaking around in the dark.
Others think that light sources like the moon help insects navigate and they get confused when they see electric lights.
Now, if you did not get this answer correct, you must stop, drop, and fly towards the sun.
Okay, buzz, buzz, buzz.
Closer.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
Closer.
Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz.
Okay, too close.
Okay, round two.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, termites don't actually eat wood?
Or is it B, Ladybugs mate for life.
Or is it C, only female mosquitoes drink blood while the males drink flower nectar?
When you think you have the correct answer, yell, I'm bugging out!
Hey, Reg, thinking is up.
And joining us by phone is Lily from Arizona.
Lily, what's the winning wow?
Hi, guys.
I'm Mindy.
My wow in the world is that only a certain type of female mosquitoes drink blood.
The males only drink flower nectar.
Winner, winner, nectar for dinner.
That's right, Lily.
Wowzers, if you guessed C, that only flowers.
Female mosquitoes drink blood, while the males drink flower nectar.
Well, congratulations!
You found the winning wow!
Male mosquitoes drink nectar, and so do females.
But females also need to drink blood in order to make eggs.
However, that doesn't mean that males avoid humans altogether.
Male mosquitoes actually spend a lot of time near humans when they're trying to attract a mate.
In that way, we make a great place for mosquitoes to meet each other.
Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop, and crawl up the walls.
Okay, round three.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, cockroaches have been around for millions of years?
Or is it B, stink bugs can blow bubbles with their stink spray?
Or is it C, there is no scientific difference between butterflies and moths?
And before we reveal the winning wow, let's take a moment to thank our sponsors.
Today's show is brought to you by Mindy's Bug Cafe.
Bugs eat all kinds of things from leaves and grass to pollen and nectar.
But some bugs even eat other bugs.
At Mindy's Bug Cafe, patrons are served only the highest quality of foods, expertly selected to fit their palate.
Now, let's hear from some satisfied customers.
That's right.
Mindy's Bug Cafe.
Every kind of... Excuse me.
Excuse me.
What? was promised not ten minutes ago that there were no bugs in or around this studio.
Sorry, Dennis.
I just needed these bugs for my commercial.
They won't hurt you.
Well, Brenda might, but I have specifically asked her not to.
Right, Brenda?
See?
She's very docile.
I don't care if she won the Nobel Peace Prize for acts of service to producers named Dennis.
I'm taking my trailer and leaving.
What?
Dennis!
Oh, what is this?
Uh-oh.
Wow, he drove right out of the studio.
Can we do the rest of the show without a producer?
What do producers do anyway?
Honestly, I have no idea.
Well, let's take a quick break to fix this wall and hear some other important messages for grown-ups.
Hey, grownups, 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.
Now back to the show.
Welcome back to Two What's and a Wow.
Two What's and a Wow.
The scientific game show that separates the wows from the what's.
So we've patched up the wall and we're ready to answer that dangling question for round three.
And that question was, which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it... have been around for millions of years?
Or is it B, stink bugs can blow bubbles with their stink spray?
Or is it C, there is no scientific difference between butterflies and moths?
And joining us by phone, it's Corrine from Minnesota.
Corrine, please reveal the winning wow. have been around for millions of years.
They were even here during the time of the dinosaurs.
Isn't that wild?
Winner, winner, roach traps for dinner.
That's right, Corrine.
Wowzers, if you guessed the answer A, that cockroaches have been around for millions of years well, congratulations.
You found the winning wow.
Cockroaches, as we know them today, are believed to have originated at least 127 million years ago.
Prehistoric cockroaches would have lived in the Cretaceous period, which is the last period when non-avian dinosaurs were still alive.
In fact, during the mass extinction that wiped out two-thirds of all plant and animal life on Earth, certain members of the cockroach family would have been some of the only cave-dwelling animals to survive.
Now, if you did not get this answer correct, you must stop drop and scuttle around a prehistoric cave.
Oh, that sound can mean only one thing.
Nothing.
Please say it just means nothing.
Nope.
It's time for today's Bunker Balls bonus round.
And the question for this round is, why are we rockifying babies on treetops?
I mean, the bow breaks every time and then the babies fall out and it's raining babies, and No one's actually putting babies in trees, Mindy.
It's just a lullaby.
Well, sure, that's how it starts.
But then you turn around and we're buying infants, mockingbirds and diamond rings and who knows what else.
It's pandemonium, Guy Raz.
Just let babies be babies.
Uh, we'll do that.
Anyway, congratulations to all of our winning wowsers.
Mindy...
What's today's prize?
Guy Raz, all of our winning wowsers today will be receiving their very own invisible bread scorcher.
A bread scorcher?
You know, for when you have a slice of bread but you want it to be warm and crunchy, so you can put it in this slot and then shove down the lever and scorch it.
Okay, you mean a toaster?
No, a scorcher.
See?
Perfectly scorched and hard as a hockey puck.
Here, you want some?
Uh, no thank you.
Okay, we're free.
Well, that's all the time we have for today.
But before we go, we have a little scientific challenge for you.
We call it Operation Free the Bugs.
For this challenge.
We want you to catch and release the bugs you find in your house, instead of squishing them.
The next time you see an ant or a spider crawling on the floor, take a paper cup and put it over the bug.
Then take a piece of paper and slide it under the cup.
Then take the bug outside and set it free.
And don't forget to take a photo or a video.
Grown-ups, you can upload pictures and videos to us at Tinkercast.com slash share.
And be sure to come back on Monday for a brand new episode of Wow in the World Podcast.
And again on Friday for a new episode of Two What's in a Wow.
Until then, keep on wowing.
Two What's in a Wow is executive produced by Meredith Halpern-Ranzer, Mindy Thomas, and me, Guy Raz.
Our writers are Ruth Morrison and Anna Zagorski.
Sound production and design is by Marion Lozano, with help from Jed Anderson and Tyler Thull.
Special thanks to Steph Sosa, Henry Moskal, Rebecca Caban, Sana Elamohamed and all of the other tinkerers at Tinkercast HQ.
Our theme song was written and composed by The Pop-Ups.
For more on their three-time Grammy-nominated all-ages music, find them at thepopupscom.
To keep the wows rolling, visit us at tinkercastcom, where you can become an official member of the World Organization of Wowsers.
Find our two What's in a Wow Think and Tinker playbook and learn about all of our other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast.
Grownups.
You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at.
Finally, if you're a kid with a big wow to share, it could be used on an upcoming episode of Two What's in a Wow.
Call us at 1-888-7WOW-WOW.
Thanks again for listening and playing along.
Meet us back here on Monday for Wow in the World.
Made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.
