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Hey Grown Ups, Mindy here from Wow in the World and in case you haven't heard the big news, my friend Carly Q from Who Win Wow Mystery Edition will be hitting the road with me this fall and if you live in or around San Francisco or New York City, we are coming to you.
Introducing Make It Wow presented by our friends at Audible.
There's more to imagine when you listen.
Make It Wow is the Bonker Balls Competition Game Show where teams of kids from our live audience are challenged to turn their wildest and weirdest ideas into jaw -dropping adventures live on stage.
Featuring live music from the pop -ups and special appearances from Dennis, Grandma G -Force and Thomas Fingerling, plus at the San Francisco performance, our buddy Guy Ross will be stopping by too.
So come join the party.
Grown Ups, you can get your tickets now at Tinkercast .com slash events.
That's Tinkercast .com slash events.
We can't wait to make it wow with you this fall.
Hello and welcome to day four of We Wow Creepy Crawly Week.
I'm your host Dennis and that's my co -host Reggie.
This week we're bug -sitting Mindy's gross little pet cockroach Smokey McDougall.
Say hi Smokey. Is that all you can do Smokey?
Just scuttle around all scuttly?
Ah. The problem Reggie is that Smokey can't talk.
How are we supposed to interact?
I can't ask him questions about his favorite reality show or get the scoop on the hot cockroach gossip or figure out his bedtime routine because Mindy didn't leave me instructions today.
Reggie, you're right.
I could read him a story.
Just because he can't talk doesn't mean he can't listen.
You're so smart Reggie.
Okay, hold on. Where is it?
Where is it? Here it is.
Found it. It's my favorite issue of my favorite comic book about my favorite arachnid superhero, the amazing spider spider.
Reggie, no spiders aren't bugs.
They're arachnids. Yes, it's different.
Now quit interrupting.
I have to read Smokey a little story.
Are you ready Smokey?
Okay, here we go. The amazing spider spider.
A mild -mannered spider who fell into a big vat of radioactive chemicals and gave the abilities of every spider in the world.
Jumping spiders. Wolf spiders.
Long leg seller spiders.
The most amazing spider spider in the world.
On this particular day, spider spider was enjoying a relaxing day by the pond when suddenly dad zooks a cry for help.
Spider spider sprang into action.
Oh ho what's this? A baby spider in a pond trapped on a lily pad with a hungry frog closing in.
Help me. Spider spider wasn't a very good swimmer but he did have the water walking ability of the fishing spider.
Using tiny hairs on his body to repel water, spider spider ran over the surface of the pond.
Just in the nick of time, spider spider reached the lily pad and the baby spider.
I'm scared. Jump on my back cried spider spider.
Oh okay cried the baby spider.
Now with the baby spider on his back, spider spider ran over the pond back to the shore before the frog could eat them both for lunch.
Once again the day is saved by the amazing spider spider.
Spider spider spider spider he's got all the spider powers.
Every spider ability.
Super duper spidery.
Look out. Here comes the spider spider.
Hang on. What's that little tiny noise?
Smokey McDougall are those cockroach cheers for me?
He likes me. He really likes me.
Or at least he likes stories about spiders but who doesn't.
Good idea Rezzy. Let's listen to another spider story.
Here it is. Wow in the World season 5 episode 3 called Slingshot Spider.
Okay here we go and play.
We will be right back.
Grownups, this message is for you.
Hey Grownups! Mindy here from Wow in the World and let me tell you Karly Q and I are so excited to make it wow in New York City I mean New York and San Francisco with our new live show Make It Wow presented by Audible.
There's more to imagine would you listen.
And apparently you're excited too because our San Francisco performance is filling up and our New York City performance is almost sold out so we're adding even more wow with a second show for New York City.
Grownups get your tickets today at Tinkercast .com slash events.
That's Tinkercast .com slash events.
That's it. We'll see you there.
That's it. Now back to the show.
Wow in the World. Come on Guy Rossy.
I guess I could give him a call.
Hey Guy Ross put a little pimp in your step.
We got roller coasters to ride.
Hi Mindy. Hey Dennis.
What are you two doing?
Just waiting for Guy Ross to come outside and get in the ice cream truck.
We're all supposed to go to that new amusement park that just opened Biomimicry World.
Oh I love Biomimicry World.
Where it's nature's way or the highway.
Yeah that's the one.
Oh my gosh Mindy. This one time at Biomimicry World mother and I were waiting in line at the Gecko Wall Experience and you wouldn't believe it.
Mikey Moose. Yes Mikey Moose.
Walked right up to me and sang his famous song.
It's a biodiverse world after all.
It was incredible. I'm telling you Mindy.
The magic, the wonder, the all you can eat hot dog buffet.
Hey Ross. Hey Mindy.
Sorry I'm late. My Zoodle set my alarm for 8am Berlin time again.
Hey Guy. Hey Dennis.
Are you coming with us to Biomimicry World?
I'd love to but no.
Actually I was just telling Mindy about the time I went to Biomimicry World when I was, let's see.
How old was I yesterday?
Okay Dennis. Well we really should be heading off.
We're already late.
Okay have fun. If you see Douglas the Dolphin tell him I said, ah ah ah ah ah ah.
Oh boy Mindy I am so excited for this trip.
It's been so long since I've visited a theme park.
I know me too and I love parks.
Dog parks, national parks, neighborhood parks, parallel parks.
Uh. But I think theme parks are my favorite.
Really? Oh yeah. The rides, the games, the crowds, the vomit.
It's what days like today were made for.
Uh huh. Oh Bongo and the Big Toot are just about to come on.
We just turn on the radio here.
Whoa you tuned into Bongo and the Big Toot.
Good morning on 97 WOW.
I love this show. Hey Toot do you hear about this new theme park that's open just outside of town?
Of course I've heard of it.
We play their commercial like 17 times an hour.
Biomimicry World. It's nature's way over the highway.
Hey hey that's where we're going Mindy.
So Biomimicry, what even is that?
Actually in your case it's pronounced B -O -M -E -C -R -Y.
What? It is? Yeah because your B -O is making me cry.
I don't get it. Oh they were just joking around Reg.
That's right because Biomimicry is actually when we humans look to nature to get ideas for inventions that might be able to help us out.
Yeah like how scientists have studied how termites keep their mounds cool inside even when it's boiling hot outside and that's helped them to figure out how to cool down office buildings.
Yeah or how scientists have studied ants and how they move in and out and around their giant colonies.
Knowing this has helped to make traffic and roadways more efficient for us humans.
Right and all the rides at Biomimicry World are inspired by nature in the same way.
I can't wait to see this place for myself.
I'm so excited Mindy.
Are we almost there?
Yep in fact I see it now.
Look Guy Ross. Look Reggie.
Wow. Now I just need to find a place to park here.
There we go. Right at the front gates.
Perfect. Oh uh Mindy this sign says no stopping.
I'm not stopping. I'm walking.
Come on. Okay next.
Hello there. We would like one full price and one child price ticket please.
All right then. Quick Guy Ross act like you're 12 and under.
Mindy I'm not 12 years old.
Wow way to blow our cover.
Ah two full price tickets please.
Okey -doke that'll be $150.
We accept check, cash, chocolate, secondhand workout equipment and American doll hairs.
I have an antique button.
Oh wow big spender.
Okay here are your passes there.
Have fun and remember it's nature's way over the highway.
Yeah I've seen the ads.
Okay next please. All right Mindy why don't you grab a map from over there and we'll figure out where we want to go.
Okay here's a map for you.
Thanks let me just see here.
Whoa this place is huge.
You've got the float like an otter wave pool.
Whoa the sugar glider zip line.
Bison bunting bumper cars.
Look there it is Guy Ross right there on the map.
What Mindy? It's the ride I came here for.
The slingshot sheriff?
Yeah Grandma G -Force and Thomas Fingerling came here last week and they said that this ride was absolutely bonker balls or maybe it was barfy balls.
Anywho it's based on the slingshot spider from Peru.
Oh yeah? Yeah you want to check it out?
I don't know Mindy I'm usually more of a you know teacups and cotton candy kind of guy.
Oh come on Guy Rossi the whole thing is based on new research from a team of scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Really? Anything for science?
Anything for science.
Yes okay so how do we get there?
It looks like the ride is all the way on the other side of the park.
Oh man that's a long way to walk.
Oh but look there's a monorail stop right next to it.
Yeah and according to this map there's a monorail station just up this path.
We can hop on and take it to the slingshot sheriff ride on the other side of the park.
Perfect I love it when a plan comes together.
Come on let's go Mindy.
Right behind ya. Reggie are you coming?
Oh okay. What do you say Mindy?
Oh Reggie says he wants to go ride the sky voyager.
It's one of those virtual reality rides that lets you experience what it's like to fly like a bird.
But Reggie is a bird.
What can you do? The bird wants what he wants.
Okay have fun catch up with you later Reg.
All right monorail this way.
What what what. So tell me more about this slingshot spider.
Okay well first of all this spider is tiny.
How tiny? I'm talking only around a millimeter long.
One millimeter that's like five times smaller than a grain of rice.
Yeah and it's only a teeny tiny bit bigger than a grain of sand.
Wow I'm surprised those researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology were even able to find any of these little spiders.
Yeah and it's even more impressive when you find out that these teeny tiny spiders live in the super dense Amazonian rainforests in Peru.
Huh and what's so special about these spiders?
Well let's just say they have a very unique way of hunting.
Huh okay well I know lions usually chase down their prey and falcons dive and swoop in on their prey and don't most spiders just catch their prey in their sticky spiderwebs?
Well sometimes yes but this tiny spider does things a little bit uh differently.
Differently? Oh yeah.
Welcome to the Kingfisher monorail system.
The most aerodynamically efficient monorail system in North America.
Looks like we're here Mindy.
Hey there folks. Hey aren't you the same ticket taker from the park entrance?
Nope that was my brother Bjorn.
My name's Anders. Welcome to the Kingfisher monorail system.
Kingfisher monorail system?
I mean like the Kingfisher bird?
Yep that's right. We took the most aerodynamically shaped peak in the animal kingdom here and used it to model the nose of the monorailed air.
It cuts through the air like a hot knife through I can't believe it's not butter.
Ah like the Shinkansen.
Oh bless you. No I didn't sneeze.
Oh I'm talking about the Shinkansen the the Japanese bullet train.
What are you talking about Gyroz?
Well it's another classic example of biomimicry Mindy.
Back in the 1980s and 1990s the Japanese completely redesigned their high speed trains.
They were inspired by the beak of a kingfisher and then used it to reshape the nose of the train to make it faster and more efficient.
Oh and it looks like the monorail in this biomimicry world theme park has done the same thing?
Yep so if I could just take a look there at the passes here I can get you on your way there.
Sure thing. Here you go.
Okay thank you. Good day now.
And here is mine. Oh this one here is all sticky there.
Later tater. Okay bye then.
The next monorail will arrive precisely in 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1.
Nailed it. Haul aboard Mindy.
Haul aboard Gyrozy.
Okay let's see here uh looks like it's only a couple of stops.
I can't wait. I can't wait.
I can't wait. I can't wait.
I can't wait. So you were saying this slingshot spider has a different way of hunting its prey?
Oh yeah and it's all in the name.
Slingshot? You got it.
So it uses a tiny slingshot to hunt its prey?
Well not exactly. See the slingshot spider is the slingshot or at least its web is the slingshot.
Huh? Okay so using its webbing as a sort of elastic band the spider creates a comb -shaped web that it winds back and then sometimes hours later when a fly or a mosquito comes into range it launches itself at its target and the slingshot spider has captured its prey.
Whoa it must be pretty quick to catch a fly out of mid -air.
You have no idea Gyros.
This little spider is able to accelerate 100 times faster than a cheetah.
Yikes! Those mosquitoes don't stand a chance.
Not a chance. So those researchers from Georgia Tech are trying to figure out how something so small can travel so fast?
Well sort of. I mean they're definitely interested in how the spider is able to accelerate so fast but they're also interested in the spider's web that it uses for the sling.
I'm guessing it's pretty special then.
Oh yeah this web is super strong and able to hold incredible amounts of energy when the slingshot spider pulls it back into place.
Hup! Next stop, slideshow alley.
This is us Mindy. All aboard!
All aboard! Thank you for choosing the came fissure monorail system.
Check out all these rides Mindy!
Unbelievable! The gecko wall?
Oh yeah that's the one where they shove you in this suctioned puffy suit and you gotta shimmy up the wall like a gecko.
This is so fun! Oh right.
Check out this one.
It's the mantis shrimp punching bag.
The mantis shrimp punching bag?
Oh yeah! You know how the mantis shrimp has the fastest punch in the entire animal kingdom?
Yeah enough to knock out its prey and boil the water around its claw.
Right. Well this punching bag here tells you how fast your punch is.
And then it looks like it compares it to how fast the mantis shrimp punches.
You got it! Check it out!
Please! Okey dokey just let me scan your pass.
Oh hey! Andres from the train!
Train? Oh you mean Andres from the monorail?
Or wait are you Bjorn?
Nope I'm Henrik, their brother.
Oh well you all sound like the same person.
Oh yeah we get that a lot.
Okay now step up to the punching bag and make sure to wait for the...
Okay never mind then.
Sheesh people these days just hauling off and punching stuff before they even know what's what I tell ya.
Oh results are ready.
Okay who's next there?
See Guy Roz? I was able to punch this bag at a speed of 20 miles per hour.
Which is about nine meters per second.
That's pretty quick Mindy.
Well I have been working out so...
And the mantis shrimp punches about two and a half times as fast as that!
Oh bonker balls! Oh well good try anyway Mindy.
Hey let's go find that slingshot sheriff spider ride.
Oh already found it!
Look it's right over there!
Yeah! Mindy that thing is massive!
Okay so remember the slingshot spider is only about a millimeter long.
Yeah? But it's web!
Which is what it uses to launch itself at its prey like a rubber band.
Right its web is much much bigger so this ride has been scaled up to human size.
Wow! Wow is right! Come on!
I can't wait any longer!
Race ya! Howdy partner and welcome to the slingshot sheriff.
The world's fastest accelerating ride.
Inspired by the Peruvian slingshot spider.
Oh man! Line of people!
That's not very nature inspired.
Actually Mindy many insects like ants and termites form lines and cues when going out to get food and then returning to the nest.
Yeah but I bet those termites and ants didn't pay extra for a speedy pass!
Excuse me excuse me excuse me we have a speedy pass.
Yeah you and everyone else!
This is the speedy pass line.
Oh bonker balls! So what were those researchers from Georgia Tech trying to learn from the slingshot spider?
Well like I was saying the slingshot spider accelerates really really fast.
And acceleration and speed are different right Mindy?
Yes acceleration is a change in speed.
So from like zero to 100 miles per hour in three seconds?
Yes and that would be a very fast acceleration.
Whereas 100 miles per hour would be the speed.
Exactaritos! Okay I think I got it so how fast does this little spider accelerate?
Well let's see so the fastest human on the planet?
Usain Bolt. Yes so when he explodes off his starting block at the start of a race his acceleration is around 300 times slower than this little spider when it flings itself from its web.
And moving that fast that quickly subjects it to some rather intense g -forces if you know what I mean.
What does your grandma have to do with all this?
Not grandma g -force guy -roz!
The actual gravitational force applied to your body!
Oh right of course I remember a g -force is that heavy feeling you get when you're on a roller coaster.
Yeah so on a roller coaster you'll typically experience around three four maybe five g -forces even?
And a fighter pilot when doing all of those crazy twists and turns and their jets can actually get up to around 10 g -forces.
Right and so how many g -forces does this spider experience when it launches itself from its web?
130 g -forces. 130? Yep that's enough to make a fighter pilot blackout 10 times over!
But here's the thing unlike other high flyers in the animal kingdom like frogs crickets or even grasshoppers the slingshot spider does not rely only on its leg muscles to produce all of the power it needs to launch itself so quickly.
Right this spider instead uses its web to accelerate at such high speeds.
Exactoritos and what's blown these scientist brains is how this little teeny tiny spider is able to pull back and then hold this slingshot in place for hours at a time.
Because I imagine it has to wait a while for a fly or a mosquito to come near its web.
You know it and it takes a crazy amount of energy to pull this slingshot back and then even more energy to keep it in place for hours on end.
So how do they do it?
Well they're still studying it but...
But? They think that this spider might have some sort of locking mechanism in its legs that allow it to pull itself into place then cock itself ready to fire as soon as its prey comes into view.
Which is exactly how this ride seems to work.
Speaking of which, looks like we're up next Sky -Roz.
Uh yay. Okay who's next there?
Me! Me! Me! We're next!
We're next! All right you two just take a seat here and we'll get you launched there.
Don't mind if I do.
Comfy! And uh which popular Norwegian name do you have?
Sven? Oly? Thor? Oh don't you recognize me?
No. It's Bjorn from the front gate.
Of course it is. Okay strapping you in.
I'm not so sure about this Mindy.
And that'll do. Okay have fun now.
This is so exciting I'm gonna barf.
Please hold on barf until after the ride has come to a complete stop there.
Oh come on. Mindy are you sure these elastic ropes are safe?
Yes of course I'm not sure they're safe Sky -Roz.
But, and this is a big but, they are based directly off the slingshot spider silk that it uses for its web.
Which is another reason why the scientists were interested in researching the spider.
Why? Well because the silk that these spiders use is able to hold much much more energy than anything us humans have ever made.
Really? Yeah they're hoping to use the web's energy storing secrets to create a potential power supply for tiny robots and other little devices.
Well I guess that makes me feel a little better.
Come on Guy -Roz -y. Anything for science?
Anything for science.
Anything for science.
Anything for science.
Three. Two. One. And here.
Ahhhh! Grownups, if you like Wow in the World you can listen early and ad -free right now on Wondery Plus.
Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery App or on Wondery Kids Plus on Apple Podcasts.
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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 -Roz.
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 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 Pop -ups.
Find them at ThePopups .com.
Special thanks to the rest of our team of Tinkerers including Anna Zegorsky, Rebecca Kavan, Kit Ballinger, and Henry Moskal.
To keep the wows rolling, visit us at Tinkercast .com.
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 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, keep on wowing!
The world was made by Tinkercast and set to you by Wondery.
