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!
Hey grownups, if you're planning on taking a family trip to Orlando this summer to be transported to magical universes well, you should know there's one portal you don't want to miss.
Your portal to the original universe Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, where they have flying dragons too.
It's about science where no spells are required.
Walk beneath a towering Falcon 9 booster, touch a real moon rock and come face-to-face with Space Shuttle Atlantis plus.
Take a behind-the-gates bus tour for an exclusive look at NASA's legendary launch sites and the future of space exploration.
Visitors also have the chance to meet an astronaut.
Talk about a core memory in the making.
And get this, our friends at Kennedy Space Center have offered our listeners $7 off admission.
Just use code WOW at checkout.
With missions to Mars, rocket launches, and deep space exploration...
No trip to Orlando is complete without landing at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
Discover something real.
Ahem.
We wow on the leap day.
We wow on the leap day.
We wow on the leap day.
Because this is what we do on the leap day.
Oh wait, no, I said laughing twice.
Uh... Whatever!
Wee-wow on the Leap Day!
Yeah!
Wee-wow on the Leap Day!
Clap, clap!
Wee-wow on the Leap Day!
Cause this is what we do on the Leap Day!
Hello and welcome to Wee-wow on the Leap Day!
I'm your host, Dennis.
And this is my co-host, Reggie.
Now I know what you're thinking.
You're thinking Dennis, the weekend.
Why are we hearing your beautiful voice today?
Because devoted listeners.
This year is a leap year.
That's right, reggie.
On February 29th we get an extra day called Leap Day.
And Leap Day only happens once every four years.
Yeah, like the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, and New Sock Day.
What?
Change my socks every day?
Reggie, no!
I don't change my socks until they completely dissolve off my feet, which takes about four years.
Oh, how would you know?
You don't even wear socks.
Anyway, Leap Day means we have this whole extra day for podcasting.
And I call dibs, which is legally binding in 91 countries and Antarctica.
So let's say thank you to all the nice people who make the calendar for adding an extra day this year.
Thanks, calendar people.
Thanks for extra dentist time.
I mean, extra wee wow time.
Reggie, what do you mean the calendar people didn't add an extra day just for extra podcasts?
Well, then what did they add the extra day for?
Really?
Because it takes the Earth 365 and a quarter days to go around the sun?
Well, why can't they just add a quarter of a day at the calendar factory?
Oh, I suppose you're right.
Best to save up your quarters until you have a whole dollar.
I mean day.
Okay, let's get into our Leap Day celebrations.
Great question, Reggie.
How do we celebrate Leap Day?
Well, I'm pretty sure you spend the whole day leaping over everything.
Like that box.
Ready?
And leap day!
So close.
Okay, let me try again.
And leap day!
Ow!
Reggie, this box is too big.
Well, let me try to jump over my rolly chair.
Okay.
Okay.
And leap day.
Oh, no, Reggie, the microphone.
Reggie, fix it.
Thank you, Reggie.
Yeah, I think you're right.
That's probably enough leap day leaping for one leap day.
Let's do something else.
Oh, I know.
I found a voicemail from a wowser about leap day.
Let's play the Leap Day voicemail.
Ahem.
Leap Day voicemail.
A rare voicemail for a rare day.
Yeah.
All right.
Let's just get the old answering machine pulled up here.
Okay.
Here we go.
Hi.
My name is Jack.
I am from Macomb, Illinois.
Hi, Jack.
And I am nine years old.
And my wow in the world is the leap year, February 29th.
It comes around every four years.
And I was born on that leap year, so I'm legally two.
Thank you and goodbye.
End of messages.
It's Jack's birthday.
I know.
We have to sing him the birthday song.
Happy birthday to you.
Your age is just two.
You sound like you're nine.
So in leap years, that makes you 36.
Happy birthday, Jack.
And happy birthday to all the other Leap Year birthday party people.
You're all so special and rare, like a Dennis in the rough.
Okay, now is the part of the Leap Day celebration where we play a special Wow in the World episode about Leap Day.
But we don't have one.
I know!
Wow in the World has been going since 2017, and that's like two leap years!
Yeah, like Jack!
Okay, so we don't have any episodes about leap years, but I did find an episode about another rare event, a supernova.
That's right, Reggie.
The one I'm talking about is from Season 4, Episode 7, called Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice an Outer Space Supernova.
In this episode, Mindy and Guy... Yes, and you.
Mindy and Guy and you go to outer space to watch a rare galaxy event the supernova explosion of the star beetlejuice and you also mess with time travel, so it's kind of like leap day.
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.
What?
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 Tinkercastcom.
Slash toys shush, let's just play the episode.
Okay, here we go and play.
We wow, we'll be right back grown-ups.
This message is for you.
That's it.
Now back to the show.
Okay reg, here we go.
A pinch of pop rock, A sprinkle of sprinkles.
You know what?
Let's just throw in the whole thing.
A couple of sticks of dynamite.
Yes, of course I'm not sure this is a good idea, Reggie.
You know what?
Make it three.
And now, for the secret ingredient, a couple of gallons of the old burp water.
Ugh!
Now we wait.
That's not a good sound.
Take cover!
Okay, I think we're... I think we're good.
Coming!
Okay, Reg, take out the Pop Rocks and try adding in Tart Pops instead.
I thought we agreed.
No exploding ants after 7 p.m.
Okay, Roz.
That wasn't exploding ants you heard.
That was my latest taste sensation.
Your latest taste sensation?
Yep.
I'm trying to invent the world's craziest, most explode-iest, most poppin' candy.
Uh...
Right.
I've tried everything, Guy Raz.
Pop rocks, popcorn, popsicles.
Yeah, we even tried adding in some popcorn shrimp.
And I think we finally got the recipe down.
Well, almost.
But I still can't come up with a name for it.
Well, maybe you just need a little inspiration.
Yeah, but it's already dark outside.
Where am I going to find inspiration at this hour?
Well, how about your backyard?
My backyard?
What are you talking about, Guy Raz?
Well, I was just reading the other day that one of the biggest explosions in the galaxy could be taking place right now.
In my backyard?
Well, not exactly, Mindy.
It's actually happening about 642 light years away from your backyard.
Okay, can you tell me what in the wow you're talking about?
Well, I could tell you, but I'd rather show you.
Hey, that's my line!
Come on, follow me!
Okay, but hang on a second.
Gotta grab my How I Built a Bear suit.
It's freezing outside.
Your How I Built what?
My How I Built a Bear suit.
You know, that place in the mall where you can stuff a floppy bear?
Oh.
Uh, yeah.
So I bought the biggest one they had, and I stuff it with myself.
Oh, I see.
You know, Mindy, they also sell coats at the mall.
Yeah, I know, but it's hard to find any coats that make me look like a giant teddy bear in a sailor suit.
What do you think?
Uh... Huh?
Uh-huh.
Thanks, Reg.
Okay, let's just go.
Okay.
Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk, walk, walk.
Tyroz!
It's freezing out here!
Why are we doing this again?
We're going stargazing.
Stargazing?
I thought you said we're going explosion gazing.
Well, we are, Mindy.
So, uh... Well, do you see those things?
Three stars all lined up right there in the night sky.
What?
Oh, yeah.
That's Orion's belt, Guy Raz.
It's all part of this larger constellation known as Orion.
That's right.
Now just look a little bit northwest of Orion's belt, up towards what would be Orion's left shoulder.
And you're going to see another bright star with a bit of a reddish tinge on it.
And that star is called Betelgeuse.
What, Guy Raz?
You say that two more times and we can be in some serious trouble.
But Mindy, that's the name of the star.
The star is called Beetlejuice.
Guys, one more time and we're all going to Beetlejuice.
Okay, I guess we're fine.
Anyway, as I was saying, that star... You talking about Beetlejuice?
Yeah, Beetlejuice is showing signs that it might be a out to explode in a celestial event known as a supernova.
A supernova?
Yeah, and if it does start popping, we'd be able to see it right here from your backyard.
Oh, so this is the big galactic explosion you were talking about before.
The star Beetlejuice is going supernova?
Yeah.
Well, I think we can do a little better than standing out here in my backyard with our necks craned up to the sky.
What do you mean, Mindy?
I mean, I have a mostly functional wow machine in the garage with a fresh coat of butter.
So I say we take this thing for a quick hop, skip, and a 648 light year jump over to Beetlejuice.
See this thing up close and personal.
What do you say, little buddy?
Do I have much of a choice?
Yes, of course you don't.
Come on, let's go to the garage.
Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk, walk, walk.
And wait for it.
I'm waiting.
Wait for it.
Wait for it.
Indy!
Ta-da!
Come on, Guy Raz, follow me.
Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk.
Now be careful.
There's still some butter on the ground, so it might be a little... Slippery.
You okay, buddy?
All right, now just scooch and slide your buns on over to the door of the wow machine there.
Okay.
There you go.
Now give me your hand and I'll pull you up.
Hey, Reg!
We're going exploring.
Want to come?
Perfect.
What did he say, Mindy?
He says yes.
He hasn't been explosion gazing since his stunt bird days back in the 90s.
He's going to love it.
Uh-huh.
Great.
Let me just open the hatch here.
Ah, wow machine.
Sweet wow machine.
Uh, Mindy, why is the ceiling leaking?
Oh.
Man, that's probably the hot tub I installed on the second floor of this thing.
Hey, Reg, do you mind putting a bucket under that thing?
All right, let me see here.
Where are we going again?
Just set a course for the constellation of Orion.
Got it.
Orion.
Locked and loaded baked potato.
Oh, and make sure you set the date for 700 years in the past, okay?
Okay.
Uh, because why?
Well, because the light from Betelgeuse takes 700 years to get to Earth.
So if we want to see Betelgeuse up close, but in the same way that we see it back here on Earth Ah, so then we would have to also go back 700 years.
Got it.
Okay, Orion, 700 years ago...
Everyone ready?
Oh, let me just strap in here with these.
Wait a minute.
Are these my shoelaces?
Uh, no.
Mindy!
And here we go!
And away we stop!
Stop.
Stop.
Stop the thing.
Stop it, Wow Machine.
Stop.
Okay, Guy Raz.
Reg, I think we're here.
Let me just roll back the blinds so we can get a better look.
Bunker balls!
These things are always getting jammed.
Hang on a second.
Hey, Reg, can you pass me that squeegee?
Thanks, buddy.
Strawberry.
What?
The blinds were jammed.
Strawberry jammed?
Okay, let me just Too bright, too bright, too bright, too bright.
Okay, hang on, hang on, hang on.
I think I've got some sunglasses around here somewhere.
Quickly, Mindy, I can't see a thing.
Eye patch, no.
Sleeping mask, no.
Hey, hey, is that my spider silk mask?
I've been looking for that for months.
Oh, here they are, my blackout sunglasses.
Blackout sunglasses?
Yeah, I use them to help me sleep while I'm driving my motor pickle.
Uh...
Oh, wait, here, you can use this sunshade thing.
Thanks, let me just see here.
Mindy, are these welder's goggles?
Yeah, pretty cool, huh?
Well, I guess they'll do.
Whoa!
Oh, man, Guy Raz, I think we're staring at the wrong star!
What?
Well, this might surprise you, since this kind of thing never happens, but it, uh...
Seems like the old GPS here might have taken us to the wrong place.
The wrong place?
You did put in the constellation of Orion as our destination, right?
Yeah, but Orion is made up of at least ten stars, eight of which are visible to the naked eye from back on Earth.
And we went to the wrong star?
You see how this star is bluish-white?
Yeah.
That's because this is a type of star known as a blue giant.
Well, it is blue and pretty giant.
Yeah, but according to this star guide, Betelgeuse is not a blue giant star.
It's a different kind of star known as a red super giant.
Huh, well, that explains why it had that reddish tint to it when we looked at it from your backyard.
Exactoritos.
Then what are we looking at here?
Well...
According to this star guide, this is another star in the constellation known as Bellatrix.
Bellatrix?
Yeah.
But the good news is, according to my calculations here, we're really not too far from Betelgeuse.
We just need to turn to the left here.
And now we're just going to head in this direction for another few hundred light years.
Wait, Mindy.
Hold on to your buttons.
What?
Because here we go.
And stop.
Mindy, Mindy, look out the window.
Wow.
I guess now we know why they call them red super giants.
This thing is enormous.
Wow, isn't it?
Beetlejuice is actually 1,400 times bigger than our sun.
That is bonker balls!
And it's also up to 14,000 times as bright.
Bet you're glad you're wearing those welder's goggles now, huh?
Well, yes, but... Is this a big butt?
Huh?
Never mind.
Well, Mindy, this actually isn't as bright as it could be.
Beetlejuice has a tendency to brighten and then dim... over and over and over again.
Like when I take control of your dining room chandelier over Thanksgiving dinner.
Well yeah, even though that's a little bit annoying, but Beetlejuice goes through a similar process, this dimming and brightening cycle, every 14 months.
Huh.
In fact, why don't we take a look?
Where's the rewind button on this thing?
Rewind button.
Uh, I think I stuck it in the glove compartment last week.
Let me just check here.
Ow!
Okay, great.
Well, let's just put this thing in rewind and keep an eye on what happens to our red super giant, okay?
All right.
Three, two, one.
Be kind, rewind.
Whoa!
Look at it go, Guy Raz.
It's brightening.
And then fading.
And then brightening.
And then fading.
Okay, that's enough.
But this not-so-little twinkling star could soon be coming to an end.
What do you mean, coming to an end?
Well, astronomers from all over the world have noticed that in recent months, that dimming and brightening cycle that we just saw Yeah,
...has stopped.
Stopped?
Yes, and from Earth, scientists have observed that Betelgeuse has gotten a lot dimmer than usual...
And on top of that, it hasn't been brightening up again as it usually does.
And so what does that mean for this star named Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice?
Well, it means that this super giant could be going supernova any minute.
And when it does go supernova, there's going to be such a big explosion that it won't only be visible from Earth during the day.
It's going to shine as bright as the moon in the night sky.
Bonker balls.
And it looks like you, me, and Reggie have a front row seat to the biggest light show in the galaxy.
Alright, Guy Raz, you get the popcorn.
Reggie, you help me get the lawn chairs.
Come on, everyone.
We gotta hustle.
I'm on it, Mindy.
Hey, where do you keep the popcorn again?
It's all over the floor.
Oh, of course.
We're back.
Two lawn chairs and Guy Raz?
Guy Raz!
How's that popcorn coming along?
Almost done.
I hope you don't mind it's covered in hair and dirt.
Are you kidding?
That's my favorite flavor!
Mmm!
Not bad.
I think this bite has a cough drop stuck to it.
You want some?
I think I'm good.
Anyway, all we have to do now is just sit back, relax, and Wait for the show to begin.
Guy Raz?
Yeah?
When exactly is this supernova supposed to happen?
Oh, oh, any minute now, Mindy.
Astronomers believe that Betelgeuse could go supernova any time from now to 100,000 years from now.
What?
Well, in the grand cosmological scheme of things, it's actually not that long at all.
Okay well, I am not about to wait around here for 100000 years when I've got a perfectly good, mostly functional wow machine with a fast-forward button that I just installed.
That's a good point, Mindy.
But are you sure we're going to be safe in the WoW machine when this thing finally explodes?
I mean, we're kind of close.
Yes, of course I'm not sure it's safe, Guy Raz.
This thing is made out of corrugated cardboard.
You ready?
Uh... And... Fast forward!
Whoa, whoa, look at that.
Beetlejuice just keeps getting and dimmer.
Whoa, what's happening to it?
It seems like it's using up the last of its fuel and turning its core from helium into iron.
And when all that helium is gone warning, warning.
Catastrophic failure of the paper mache shield generator.
Mindy's terrible idea alarm activated.
Ah, these are.
They're so annoying.
Mindy's terrible idea.
Okay.
All right.
Everything's fine.
See?
I told you that duct tape was going to hold, Guy Raz.
Duct tape?
Maybe I spoke too soon.
Mindy, I think it's time we probably headed home, setting a course back to Earth, and here we Whoa like we made it back just in time.
The only part of the wow machine still in one piece is the steering wheel, and that's just because you're holding it.
Oh man, it's gonna take me hours to tape this whole thing back together, but at least you did get some inspiration for your exploding candy, right.
Well, i think i finally have a name for it.
Oh yeah, what's that?
I'll call it the supernova, like an exploding star in your mouth.
That sounds a little painful.
Hey, Reg!
I just cracked open a new idea!
Supernova candy.
Well, Reggie, I think that we'll just about do it for our super special Leap Day celebration.
What should we do with the rest of our Leap Day?
No, I don't want to do any more leaping.
In fact, I need an ice pack or some frozen peas or something from all my earlier leaping.
Yeah, let's go upstairs and check the freezer after we wrap this up.
Thanks to all you listeners out there for tuning in to Wee Wow on the Leap Day.
Make sure to look for us on the weekends for our normal old, regular episodes of Wee Wow on the Weekend.
If you have a question for me, call and leave me a message at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW.
That's 1-888-7-WOW-WOW.
I just might answer your question on WeWow on the weekend.
Or if you leave me a message about the leap year, I might answer it four years from now.
Okay, should we do the goodbye song?
That's the end of the show.
I need to go and live every day like it's leap day.
And I'll do another show, but not tomorrow.
Because tomorrow is not the weekend.
And leap!
Ow!
No one leap on Leap Day.
Thanks for joining us for this edition of Wee Wow on the Weekend.
Our show is written by Ruth Morrison and Jed Anderson.
Original sound design and production is done by Henry Moskal and Marion Lozano, with help from Jed Anderson and Tyler Thull.
Original music for WeWow on the Weekend is composed and performed by Tyler Thull.
Special thanks to Steph Sosa, Rebecca Caban, and all of the other tinkerers at Tinkercast HQ.
There's still time to share your WeWow Crafternoon challenges with us.
Grownups.
You can upload pictures and videos of your projects to us at Tinkercastcom slash, share or call us at 1-888-7WOW-WOW.
Our website is Tinkercast.com.
There you can learn more about becoming an official member of the World Organization of Wowzers.
Learn about upcoming events, shop our shop and pick up a copy of the latest edition of our number one New York Times bestselling book series.
Wow in the Wild.
Thanks again for thinking, tinkering, experimenting, and exploring with us this week.
Meet us back here on Monday for Wow in the World.
And remember, who wows?
We wow!
Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.
