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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!
It's really, really big, full of planets and stars and asteroids and stuff like that.
Where some people, but not that many, have boldly gone before.
This is Wee Wow on the Weekend.
Welcome to WeWow on the Weekend in Space!
I'm Astro Dennis, and this is my co-host, Reggie the Giant Space Pigeon.
This is the show where we hang out in my mother's basement, which this weekend I'm calling the Spacement.
And today, we have a very special guest.
It's me, Mindy!
No, Mindy, not yet!
I need to sing the guest segment song.
Oh, whoops, sorry.
Okay, ahem, ahem.
Guest segment, the segment with the guest.
A guest comes on the show, and just like the title suggests, we bring them out.
Dennis, Dennis, Dennis.
Mindy, what?
That song doesn't sound very space-themed.
Oh, you're right.
I should do it again with a little bit more space added in.
A two, three, four, space guest segment.
The segment with the space guest.
The space guest comes on the show.
No, no, no, no.
Oh!
Well, it's just that the song also kind of makes me wish that my ears had an off switch.
Good day!
Can we just get on to the part where I tell you all about our new book Wow in Space a galactic guide to the universe and beyond.
Yeah, I guess.
What do you mean you guess?
Dennis, that's why I'm here in your basement.
You mean the spacement.
Yeah, the spacement, whatever.
Okay, fine.
Let's get into the interview with some hard-hitting interview questions.
Ah!
Thank you, finally.
So, Mindy, you've been to space, yes?
Yeah, sure, lots of times.
Super duper.
What's it like in space?
Oh, Dennis, it's amazing.
There's so much to discover out there and there's nothing like spinning around in zero Gs like a little rotisserie chicken.
Okay, next question.
You never take me with you to space!
Never!
Take space right this minute, mindy.
I want to go to space.
Uh, we need to pause the show and go into the wow machine and blast off and zoom around and oh, good point, reg.
I bet dennis's devoted listeners have some questions about space.
I know what you're doing mindy, and you're right.
Let's answer space questions from listeners with a QA segment.
Good save, Reg.
What was that?
Nothing.
Okay.
The Q&A segment in space.
All right.
Let's just get the old answering machine pulled up here.
Okay.
Here we go.
Hi.
You've reached Dennis from WeWow on the weekend in space.
That's me.
Yep.
Do you have a space question about outer space?
Great.
Let's hear it.
Leave me a message.
In space.
Hi, my name's Lily and I live in Portland, Maine.
Hi, Lily.
Hi, Lily.
And my question is, why do planets live in space?
Why do planets live in space?
Oh, this is a great question, Lily.
I agree.
Why do planets live in space?
It's so empty.
And cold.
And dark.
Yeah, planets should live somewhere better.
Yeah.
Like Machu Picchu.
Yeah.
Or the Great Barrier Reef.
Yeah.
Or Orlando.
Yeah, the planets should live in Orlando.
Hmm.
Except if a planet lived anywhere on Earth, it would have to be really, really small.
And it would also have to be inside of our atmosphere, in which case it might not be a planet anymore after all.
Oh, right.
You know, I actually really like where the planets live in our solar system.
I like to think like it's a little neighborhood or something.
Oh, yeah.
And then do you think one of the neighborhood planets is like really good at snooping on all the other planets?
Oh, yeah.
Earth is big.
Dolphinately a snoop.
We're always using our telescopes and probes and rovers to spy on other planets.
Earth, you little snoop.
Next question.
Hi, Dennis.
My name is Dahlia and I'm from Olympia, Washington.
Oh, Olympia.
Sounds fancy.
My question for you today is if telescopes use a series of mirrors to show us what's in space and vampires don't have a reflection.
Then does that mean there are space vampires?
Oh, no!
Space vampires?
Don't worry, Dennis.
I'll take this one.
Oh, phew.
Well Dahlia, I once spent eight months in Transylvania looking for vampires and I couldn't find a single one.
But, Mindy, those are Earth vampires.
We're talking about space vampires.
What, Dennis?
You mean the creatures of the Everlasting Night turning into space bats?
Well, first of all, space vampires, like Earth vampires, don't want to be found.
And, second of all, if they do exist, we should be able to see them with our modern telescope mirrors.
Oh right, because old mirrors from a long time ago were made with silver and everyone knows vampires don't like silver.
Right.
And mirrors now are mostly made with aluminum.
Wait, how do you know that?
Because I like mirrors.
Oh.
Okay.
Anywho, yes, mirrors these days are made with metals like aluminum.
In fact, you know the James Webb Space Telescope that was launched back in 2021?
No.
I mean, yes.
Well, its mirrors are made out of something called gold-plated beryllium.
Ooh, beryllium!
So it's possible that if we keep looking for space vampires and space bats, we might find some?
Um, maybe?
I guess?
Oh, wait.
I just remembered there was a bat that hitched a ride on the outside of a space shuttle in 2009.
Really?
Yeah.
I don't think it got very far, but it happened.
Hooray!
Space bats!
They do exist!
No, Dennis, that's not what I'm saying.
Next question for our special space cadet Mindy, author of Wow in Space A Galactic Guide to the Universe and Beyond.
Thanks a lot, Dennis.
Hi, Dennis.
I'm Eloise, and I'm from San Francisco, California.
My question is, What's your favorite planet?
Oh, favorite planet.
Mindy, what's your favorite planet?
Well, Eloise, I am a big fan of a little-known planet called Hat P1.
Oh, what a horrible name.
Yeah, I know.
But this planet is bigger than Jupiter and only about as dense as a cork, and we really don't know why.
Scientists call it a puffy planet.
A puffy planet?
Cute.
I know.
What's your favorite planet, Dennis?
Hmm, uh, what's the one that has all the apes?
That's from a movie, Dennis.
It's not real.
Oh, whew.
In that case, I'd have to say Earth, because it's where all my stuff is.
Yeah, that sounds about right for you.
Hmm, hmm.
Well, thanks for all your calls, everyone.
If you've got a question for me, call and leave me a message.
The number is 1-888-7-WOW-WOW.
I just might answer your question on WeWOW on the weekend.
And don't forget to check out our new book Wow in Space a galactic guide to the universe and beyond.
Find it anywhere in the galaxy.
Wait, check out what?
The book, Dennis.
The new book, remember?
Oh!
The new Wow in the World space book.
I almost forgot.
Did you bring a copy for me?
You know it.
Here you go, Dennis.
Yay!
Did you sign it?
Oh, no, I didn't sign it.
Did you want me to?
Yes.
Okay.
Writing, writing, writing.
Here you go.
What?
Eddie, this says your name.
Yeah, I know.
That's how you sign a book.
Your name is already on the front.
I want you to sign my name.
Okay, uh...
D-E-N-N-I-S.
Dennis, there.
And I want an inspirational, encouraging note.
Okay, Dennis, keep reaching for the stars.
There.
Hooray!
It's all in this book anyhow.
Oh, all kinds of stuff.
We've got space pranks.
Cool.
What life is like on the International Space Station.
Super cool.
And we even give you a recipe for how to make your own galaxy.
What?
I want to do that.
I want my own galaxy.
I'll call it Dennis's Galaxy.
Oh, good call, Reggie.
We better move on.
So, what happens next?
Well, next is a little segment I like to call... Inside Tinkercast Studios!
In space!
Inside Tinkercast Studios!
In space!
This is the part where we revisit an episode from one of my favorite Tinkercast shows.
And today...
In honor of Space Weekend, we've got another space-themed episode of Wow in the World.
Let me just grab it here.
Wait, Dennis, where'd you get all these tapes of Wow in the World episodes?
Uh, I found them.
You found them?
Where?
I found them at your house when you had that potluck and everyone was trying to put out the chili fire and I snuck away and opened all your cabinets.
Dennis!
What?
I need these!
Is this all of them?
I think so.
There's a lot.
So which one are we going to listen to?
This one.
Season two, episode 11 called Hey Mars, Put a Ring on It.
Oh, I love that one.
Guy Raz and I go to Death Valley.
Andy, no, no, no, no, no, no.
No spoilsies.
Sorry.
Okay, here we go.
And play.
Wee Wow will be right back.
Grownups, this message is for you.
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 That's Tinkercast.com slash toys.
That's Tinkercast.com slash toys.
That's it.
Now back to the show.
Okay, let's see.
Tripod deployed.
Lens mounted.
Now, just to align this telescope to true north, let's see, adjust its elevation, and there, got it.
What a beautiful night for stargazing.
It's so nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city right here out in the open desert and get some peace and quiet.
Hey, Guy Raz.
Hi, Mindy.
Okay, I got both tents set up.
I got the fire ablazing.
And all we need now are some marshmallows and some campfire sing-along songs.
Mindy, I'm not really in the mood for campfire songs right now.
Sure you are, little buddy.
It's raining tacos.
Mindy, that's not a campfire song.
Just open your mouth and sing along with me, Guy Raz.
It's not a sing-along.
Well, anyway, speaking of sky, check out my brand new telescope here.
You check out your brand new... With its Newtonian reflector optics.
Solid oak equatorial mount.
And velvet-rimmed eyepiece.
Fancy!
Let me feel that thing on my eye socket.
We're going to be up all night exploring the mysteries of our universe, and what better place to do it than right here?
Yeah, I was kind of wondering why you dragged me out here in the middle of the desert.
I was sound asleep when you called.
Mindy, it was 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
Oh, yeah, about that.
So I've been trying out the sleeping patterns of different marsupials.
You've been doing what?
And this week, I'm actually on koalas time, and I've got to tell you, Guy Raz, I am asleep.
Loving it.
What?
So when you called at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, I was dead asleep.
But now that it's the middle of the night, I'm wide awake and ready to see some stars.
So where exactly are we anyway?
Oh, we're in Death Valley National Park, Mindy, on the border of California and Nevada.
Ah, the old Death Valley, huh?
America's record-breaking national park.
That's right.
Death Valley is the lowest, driest, and hottest place in the United States.
Oh, not just the U.S., Guy Raz.
I once read that back in 1913, they recorded a temperature of 57 degrees Celsius.
That's 134 degrees Fahrenheit right here in Death Valley.
Wow.
And...
More than 100 years later, it still hasn't been beaten as the hottest ever recorded air temperature on Earth.
Wow, you could practically fry an egg at that temperature.
Right?
Oh, in fact... Um, hang on.
Oh, here we go.
There's one and two.
Oh.
Eat up, Guy Raz.
Mindy, did you just...
Pull those eggs out of your pocket?
Oh, yeah.
I cooked them on the hood of the car while you were asking that cactus for directions earlier.
Uh, excuse me.
Uh, yeah, I'm just wondering if you could give us directions to our campsite?
Hey, Guy Ross!
How do you like your eggs?
What?
Wait, that was a cactus I was talking to?
Yeah, and one with a pretty prickly personality, if you ask me.
Now eat your eggs.
It was hot enough outside to cook these eggs on the hood of the car?
I mean, it wasn't quite 134 degrees outside, but still seemed to do the trick.
Mindy, there's sand all over these eggs.
I can't eat these.
Also, they've been sitting in your pants pocket for who knows how many hours.
Nine hours, nine hours.
It might have been hot enough to fry an egg on the car earlier, but i don't know.
Now that it's the middle of the night it's really starting to get cold out here and dark man.
I've never seen a place so dark before Exactly.
Exactly what?
The dark, Mindy!
You can add another record to this park's resume, because Death Valley also happens to have one of the darkest night skies in the country, which makes it perfect for stargazing.
Did you just say stargazing?
Oh my goodness!
Look!
Look over there!
There's Antonio Bandanas!
Antonio!
Antonio!
Over here!
What the... False alarm.
It was just a treat.
Mindy, I'm talking about stargazing in the night sky.
Okay, I'm with you, Guy Raz.
So darker skies equal brighter stars, but what makes it so much darker here than everywhere else?
Well, Mindy, it's mainly because we're so far away from any major cities.
Yeah, now that you mention it, this place does kind of have a middle of nowhere sort of vibe to it.
And because it's so far away from street lamps or headlights from cars and lit up buildings in the big city, it's less affected by light pollution.
Oh yeah, light pollution.
It's when artificial light from things like buildings and street lights and cars affect the night sky.
Right, and it becomes really noticeable when you look at a big city and the night sky around it seems to glow.
Speaking of which, I just read this study where scientists from the Light Pollution Science and Technology Institute in Italy they've predicted that 99 of people who live in Europe or the US have a night sky that is affected by light pollution.
Yeah, so when these bright lights from cities create an artificial glow in the night sky, it washes out the less intense light of the stars.
So you're saying that starlight really isn't Isn't that bright?
I mean, apart from the sun?
Well, up close, of course it's bright.
I mean, those stars would burn your eyes out.
But from here on Earth, the stars look a lot dimmer, Mindy, because, you know, they're so far away.
So if you really want to do some quality stargazing...
You have to head out of the big cities and into places far away from all of that artificial light.
Places like here in Death Valley.
Exactamundo, Mindy.
Now, if I can just finish calibrating my telescope here.
Mindy?
Yep.
Did you just?
Nope.
Okay.
Just a few more degrees and there.
Okay, Mindy, why don't you take a look through this eyepiece?
Aye, aye, Captain.
What?
You get it?
Aye, aye.
Wow, a lot of crickets out here tonight, am I right?
Okay, let me have a look through this thing.
Okay, I see a whitish blur.
Let me just bring it into focus.
Huh, it says eyestaroptics?
Mindy, you forgot to take the lens cap off.
Oh, yeah.
Oops.
Ah, much better.
Okay, let me see here.
I see a large reddish orb.
Wait a minute.
I know what this is, Guy Raz.
That's Mars.
Oh.
And wait, that's not all.
I can see a couple of black dots in front of it, too.
Ah, yes.
Those would be Deimos and Phobos.
Uh.
Hubos and Demi-who?
Deimos and Phobos, Mindy.
They're Mars' two moons.
Wait a minute, Guy Raz.
You're telling me that Mars has a moon, too?
Yes, two of them.
In fact, most of the planets in our solar system have moons.
It's only the two planets closest to the sun, Mercury and Venus, that do not have a cosmic companion.
Aw, that's so sad.
And, Mindy, planets like Uranus have comets.
27 moons, and Jupiter has 69.
69 moons?
What does it think?
The whole solar system revolves around it?
What a moon hog.
What?
You hear that, Jupiter?
You need to learn how to share.
You know why?
Uh, because sharing is caring.
That's right.
Mindy, did you just... Don't worry about it, Guy Raz.
So you were talking about Mars' moons?
Right, Soap.
Out of all of the 186 moons in our solar system Deimos, and particularly Phobos, are among the most special.
Why is that?
Well, for starters, both of these moons are some of the least reflective objects in our solar system.
And that means that we can only really see them when they pass directly in front of the planet.
Like they are right now.
Look at them go.
And on top of that...
Phobos floats just 3700 miles above Mars' surface, which is about the same distance as a flight from New York to London, making it also the closest orbiting moon to any planet in our solar system.
Wow, that's crazy salad, Guy Raz, especially when you compare it to our moon, which orbits the Earth at a comfortable 238000 miles.
Oh, wow.
You know, if you were to cover that distance from New York to London, you would have to make that flight 64 times.
Imagine the jet lag.
You're telling me.
Even though it looks close, Mindy, the moon is still pretty far away from us here on Earth.
Huh.
In fact, you could fit every single planet in our solar system between here on Earth and our moon.
That's a lot of space even for space.
So...
What makes this Martian moon so special?
Well, its orbit is constantly changing.
Well, that's not that weird, Guy Raz.
I mean, moons are always changing their orbit, even our moon.
Really?
Really.
According to scientists over at NASA, our moon is drifting away from Earth at a rate of an inch and a half Every single year.
Oh no, was this something I said?
Don't worry, Guy Raz.
Cosmically speaking, it's completely normal.
Whew, that's a relief.
However, the moon's orbit has a huge effect on the Earth's rotation.
Which is how fast the Earth spins around.
You know it.
And with the moon slowly drifting further away, this new orbit is going to gradually slow down how fast the Earth spins.
Wait a minute, Mindy.
If one full spin of Earth is equal to one day, and Earth's rotation is slowing down, Yeah?
Does that mean we're slowly getting longer and longer days?
Exactoritos, Guy Raz.
In about a hundred years, our days will be about two milliseconds longer than they are right now.
Wow, what am I going to do with all that spare time?
Let's see, Esperanto lessons, maybe ballroom dance, I'll possibly get into urban beekeeping.
Anywho, you were saying that Phobos' orbit is also changing?
That's right, Mindy.
Phobos is slowly creeping towards Mars at a rate of six and a half feet every 100 years.
So does this mean that Phobos is eventually going to crash into Mars?
Not exactly, Mindy.
Here, look, I'll show you.
If you just...
Press this button here.
Okay, uh, this one?
And zoom in a little further.
Zooming in slowly.
You'll be able to spot one of Phobos' most impressive features.
Oh, wow.
Look at that guy, Roz.
It looks like someone's taken a big old bite out of the side of Phobos.
That, Mindy, is the Stickney Crater, and it's about five and a half miles wide.
What?
That's like 98 football fields back to back.
And since...
Craters are formed when planets or moons are struck by asteroids or other large pieces of space rock.
Well, scientists think that something massive must have hit Phobos at some point.
Huh.
Hold on.
There's something else there.
Oh.
Um, hang on.
What button was it to zoom in again?
Oh, never mind.
I'm just going to press them all.
Mindy, take it easy.
It's this one right here.
Right.
If I look a little closer, I can see there are these walls.
Weird lines running along the side of the moon.
Well... What's up with all those rocky wrinkles?
Well Mindy, a scientist named Terry Hereford from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center has suggested that these lines along the moon's surface may actually be the first signs of Mars' gravity, literally tearing Phobos apart.
Wait a minute, Guy Raz.
Tearing Phobos apart?
What?
I thought that gravity was supposed to be the force that kept us glued to the planet.
Well, that's partially true, Mindy.
But for objects as big as say, a moon, it can also tear them apart as they drift closer and closer towards the surface of another planet.
Oh.
That must be the Roche Limit.
The what?
The Roche Limit, Guy Raz.
It's the planetary point of no return.
Think of it as like one of those laser beam alarm systems that you see in spy movies.
Oh, I love spy movies.
I know you do.
And when someone goes past the laser beam...
The alarm goes off.
Yep.
And so the Roche limit is kind of like that for planets, except instead of an alarm going off, the moon is just turned into dust.
Space dust, to be exact.
Torn apart by the planet's own gravity.
Guess what?
What?
We've seen a moon cross this line before.
Really?
When?
Where?
Um, hang on a sec.
Hey, Jed!
Yo!
Can I get some dramatic music, please?
Sure.
Good.
4.4 billion years ago, on the sixth planet from the sun.
Saturn?
The planet with the redonkulous rings.
Wait a minute, Mindy.
Are you suggesting there's a connection between Saturn's rings and the Roche limit?
That somehow those rings were formed when a moon got a little too close to Saturn?
This goes...
Gaseous planet got its celestial bling when one of the planet's moons got a little too close for comfort.
Uh, isn't that exactly what I just said?
And broke up around Saturn when the planet's strong gravity ripped it apart into icy dust.
That's exactly what I just said.
Then...
Over millions of years, those broken up pieces of the moon went on to orbit around Saturn to ultimately form its rings.
Wow, that's incredible, Mindy.
So does that mean that Mars is going to get its own ring system too one day, just like Saturn?
I mean, it's...
Possible, Guy Raz, but it probably wouldn't happen for another 20 million years or so.
20 million years?
Yep.
Imagine all the Esperanto classes you could take in that time.
Well, I could finally learn Esperanto well enough to converse with Reggie.
Wait, Reggie speaks Esperanto?
Oh, yeah.
He's a multi-talented bird.
Well, I wish he'd take some knitting classes because I could really use a blanket right now.
Man, it's freezing out here.
Can we go over there and sit by the fire?
Yeah, that's a great idea, Mindy.
Maybe we could sing some campfire songs as we walk back.
Mindy.
It's raining tacos from out of the sky.
Come on, Guy Ross.
Sing along.
Okay.
Tacos.
Don't even know why.
Just open your mouth and close your eyes.
What did you just hear that?
It's raining tacos.
Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum.
It's like a dream.
Yum, yum with your sour cream.
Wow, that was so cool.
I didn't know that saturn got its rings from a moon.
That got too close.
Yeah, and i forgot that i used to play the frying pan in a band.
Hey dennis, will you wait right here while i go get my old panty pan?
I want to see if i still got the skills.
Oh no, would you look at What?
Sorry, Mindy.
We have to wrap up the show.
Right, Reggie?
Oh, come on.
Thanks to all you listeners out there for tuning in to WeWow on the weekend in space.
Dennis, I want to play the frying pan on the show.
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.
Ah.
Got an old frying pan down here in one of these piles of junk.
Ah, no, Mindy, stay out of the junk piles.
Aha, found one.
Fine, you can play frying pan on the show, but first you have to take me to outer space in the Wow Machine.
Deal.
Hooray, let's go.
And for all you Wowzers out there, check out Wow in Space and see if you've got what it takes to be an astronaut.
Mindy, come on.
I'm coming.
Hooray.
Outer space.
Outer space.
Outer space.
Outer... Thanks for joining us for this edition of WeWow 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 Tholes.
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! the world was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.
