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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!
Wow, it's really pouring out there.
Ah, Guy Raz, don't walk in here with your wet feet.
You're dripping all over the set.
Oh, sorry, Dennis.
I'll just go dry off over there.
Reggie, bring a mop over here, please.
Wow, it's raining cats and dogs and lions and wolves and slugs and orangutans out there.
Mindy, stop.
Don't take another step.
What?
Why?
You're dripping water everywhere.
Just stay right where you are, and we'll get some towels, and... All right, don't worry, Dennis.
I won't take any more steps.
Okay, good.
I'm just going to slide on over to the snack table and get some hot chocolate.
What?
Randy, no!
Don't slide across the floor on your slippy wet... And... Yay!
Hot chocolate!
Reggie!
Where's that mop?
Oh, Reggie, why are you all wet now?
The mop was outside?
Well, who in the world would be so irresponsible to leave the mop outside during a thunder?
Oh wait, it was me.
I left the mop outside.
Ah!
Reggie!
Ew!
Now everything smells like wet pigeon.
Let's just do the show.
You there!
Paper the mache!
And you!
Ginger the Snaps!
And Reggie!
Monkey the Wrenches!
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 rain.
Mindy, why don't you refresh our contestants on how the game works?
You know it.
Wowzers in each of our three rounds.
Today, Guy Raz and I will present you with three scientific statements about rain.
But... And this is a big one.
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 redonkulous physical challenge.
Okay, everyone ready to start the game?
Great, let's do it.
Okay, round one.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, raindrops are shaped like hamburgers?
Or is it B, rainwater is the purest water on Earth?
Or is it C, the higher a cloud in the atmosphere, the more rain it produces?
When you think you have the correct answer, say it with a splash.
Cue the thinking music.
And time is up.
Let's now reveal the winning wow.
And to do just that, it's Megan from Wisconsin.
Megan, tell us, what's the winning wow? like hamburgers.
Winner, winner, rainburgers for dinner.
Thank you, Megan.
Contestants.
If you guessed the answer A, that raindrops are kind of shaped like hamburgers, well congratulations.
You found the winning wow.
Rain doesn't actually fall in the teardrop shapes you might think of.
Raindrops start off in a round, roughly spherical shape when they form, but they don't stay that way.
Air pushes up on the raindrop as it falls.
This flattens out the bottom, making it look kind of like a hamburger bun.
Now, if you did not get the answer correct, you must stop, drop, and ride an invisible water slide.
Okay, round two.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, It takes about two minutes for a raindrop to hit the ground.
Or is it B. The rainiest place on Earth is in the forests of Madagascar.
Or is it C. The largest raindrops ever recorded were about one inch wide.
When you think you have the correct answer, use your tongue to write it on the roof of your mouth.
Hey, Reggie, cue the thinking music.
And time is up.
To reveal the winning wow, joining us by phone, it's Judah.
Judah, what's the wow?
Hello, my name is Judah.
My wow is that it takes about two minutes for a raindrop to hit the ground.
Winner, winner, raindrops for dinner.
That's right, Judah.
Wowzers, if you guessed A that it takes about two minutes for a raindrop to hit the ground well congratulations, you found the winning wow.
The average raindrop falls at a speed of around 14 miles per hour.
When it falls from a cloud that is 2500 feet in the air, it takes about two minutes to splash onto your noggin.
But not all raindrops fall at the same speed.
Larger raindrops fall faster, and the Rainiest raindrops can take up to seven minutes to hit the ground.
Now, if you did not get the correct answer, you must stop, drop and play an invisible piano with your toes.
Okay, round three.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, ducks do a special dance when it rains?
Or is it B, There is a species of ladybug that only drinks rainwater.
Or is it sea?
If a tornado picks up seawater with fish in it, it can rain fish.
Now, before we reveal the winning wow, let's take a moment to thank our sponsors.
Today's show is brought to you in part by my new line of Holy Moly umbrellas.
These stylish umbrellas come with no less than 25 fashionable holes.
Uh, umbrellas aren't supposed to have holes in them.
Yeah, i know that, guy ross, but i thought i would make them extra fancy, like swiss cheese.
But won't people get wet when water falls through the holes?
Uh, great point, guy ross.
Um, starting now we're having a two for one sale.
Waste the coverage for half the price.
I don't think that's how that works.
Let's take a quick break and hear some other important messages for grown-ups.
To What's in a Wow, we'll be right back.
Grown-ups, this message is for you.
Hey, grown-ups.
It's Mindy and Guy Raz here from Wow in the World.
Mindy and I have some We'll be right back.
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.
Now before the break, we left you with a dangling question for round three.
And that question was which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
Is it A, ducks do a special dance when it rains?
Or is it B, there's a species of ladybug that only drinks rainwater?
Or is it C, if a tornado picks up seawater with fish in it, it can rain fish?
And joining us by phone to reveal the answer, it's Simone and Tristan from Louisiana.
Simone and Tristan?
Let's hear the winning wow.
I'm Indian Guy Raz.
My name's Simone.
And I'm Tristan.
And our vow in the world is that if a tornado picks up seawater with fish in it, later it will rain fish.
Isn't that amazing?
Winner, winner, flying fish for dinner.
Thank you, Simone and Tristan.
Contestants if you guessed the answer C, that if a tornado picks up seawater with fish in it, it can rain fish.
Well, congratulations.
You found the winning wow.
Animal rain is incredibly rare, but it can happen if a tornado moves over a body of water.
The tornado pulls water upwards, creating a water spout.
Fish are pulled up the water spout and into the tornado.
The water spout can only maintain its energy for so long.
And when it loses momentum, the fish fall and become, well, fish rain.
Amazingly, fish can survive the water spout and their fall to the ground.
Now, if you did not get the answer correct, you must stop, drop, and spin around like a fishnado.
Ah!
What was that?
Oh, Guy Raz, that sound can mean only one thing.
Winter is coming?
No, it's time for today's Bonker Balls The question for this round is, what number am I thinking of?
Uh, 3?
No.
15?
No.
Mindy, there are literally an infinite number of numbers.
Can you at least give me a hint?
Okay.
It's between 1 and 88 million.
Is it 88 million?
Close.
It's 87,999,999 and a half.
Ugh.
Well, congratulations to all of our winning contestants.
Mindy, what's today's prize?
Guy Raz, today's winning wowsers will all receive their very own invisible brass toot tooter.
Uh, what, what?
You know, an instrument where you blow air in and toot toots come out.
I'm sorry, I have no idea what you're talking about.
I'll just have to show you.
Reggie, my toot tooter.
Thank you.
A trumpet?
Yeah, man.
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 Measure the Weather.
For this challenge, we want you to ask a grown-up to cut the top off a clear plastic water bottle.
Then take a ruler and a permanent marker and make one mark for every five centimeters on the side.
Put the bottle outside the next time it rains and make sure it's secure so it doesn't fall over.
Then when the storm is over, you can measure how much it rained.
And don't forget to take a photo or a video.
Grownups, 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 and again on Friday for a new episode of Two.
What's in a Wow?
Until then, keep on wowing!
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.
Grown-ups.
You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at Two What's and a Wow, and our email address is hello at Tinkercastcom.
Finally, if you're a kid with a big wow to share, it could be used on an upcoming episode of Two What's and a Wow.
Call us at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW.
Thanks again for listening and playing along.
Meet us back here on Monday...
Wow in the World.
Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.