A Star is Born - A Brief History of Nuclear Fusion (5/12/25)

Summary

Wow in the World: "A Star is Born - A Brief History of Nuclear Fusion" Release Date: May 12, 2025

Hosts: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz
Produced by: Tinkercast | Wondery
Description: The #1 science podcast for kids and their grown-ups. Hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz share stories about the latest news in science, technology, and innovation. Stories that give kids hope, agency and make us all say "WOW"!

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Episode Overview

In this exciting episode titled "A Star is Born - A Brief History of Nuclear Fusion," hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz embark on a whimsical yet educational adventure to demystify the complex world of nuclear fusion. Through a blend of storytelling, humor, and imaginative experiments, the duo explores the fundamentals of nuclear fusion, its potential as a clean energy source, and the challenges scientists face in harnessing its power.

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Setting the Stage: The Quest for Nuclear Fusion

[00:00 - 03:02]

The episode opens with Mindy and Guy promoting summer family tours in collaboration with Atlas Obscura, inviting listeners to explore ancient wonders like the Mayan temples in Mexico and the pyramids of Giza. Quickly transitioning from advertisements, they dive into their main mission: understanding and replicating nuclear fusion.

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The Laboratory of Bad Ideas

[03:02 - 07:05]

Mindy introduces listeners to her "Underground Laboratory of Bad Ideas," a whimsical space where unconventional inventions are born. Here, she unveils her latest creation—the "Ped o Matic 3000," an automatic dog petting machine intended to alleviate the arm fatigue of dog owners. However, powering such an invention requires an immense energy source, leading them to tackle nuclear fusion.

Notable Quote:
Mindy Thomas: "That's what I said."
[05:07]

Guy Raz expresses skepticism about their ability to achieve nuclear fusion, highlighting its complexity and the decades of research it has entailed.

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Embarking on an Atomic Adventure

[07:05 - 11:30]

Determined to understand nuclear fusion firsthand, Mindy proposes an imaginative solution: traveling to the sun's core to observe the process in action. Using a fictional "wow machine" equipped with a shrink wand, they plan to reduce themselves to atomic sizes and witness fusion up close.

Notable Quote:
Mindy Thomas: "How hard could it be to get a bunch of tiny atoms to smash into each other?"
[06:57]

Guy Raz questions the safety and feasibility of their plan, but Mindy's enthusiasm prevails as they set off on their fantastical journey.

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Center of the Sun: A Fiery Experiment

[11:30 - 17:45]

Upon shrinking to the size of atoms, Mindy and Guy arrive at the sun's center, experiencing the extreme heat and pressure required for nuclear fusion. They successfully gather hydrogen atoms and attempt to fuse them, resulting in the creation of helium and an explosion of energy.

Notable Quote:
Mindy Thomas: "That's the dream, Guy Raz. Now, who wants to be the first to try the Ped o Matic?"
[20:37]

The experiment not only demonstrates the principles of fusion but also humorously ties back to their original invention, highlighting the massive energy demands of such a process.

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Achieving Fusion on Earth

[17:45 - 20:34]

Returning to their underground lab, the duo, along with their assistant Reggie, reconstruct the nuclear fusion machine. They meticulously adjust the heat and pressure settings, mirroring the conditions of the sun's core. Their efforts culminate in a successful fusion reaction, powering the Ped o Matic 3000.

Notable Quote:
Guy Raz: "With this sort of technology, we might finally be able to move on from fossil fuels as an energy source."
[20:27]

Mindy celebrates their achievement, emphasizing the potential of fusion energy to revolutionize Earth's energy landscape.

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Conclusion and Reflections

[20:34 - 21:19]

Mindy and Guy Raz reflect on their adventure, marveling at the possibilities that nuclear fusion presents. They humorously consider practical applications, such as automating pet care, while also acknowledging the monumental scientific breakthrough they've achieved.

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Episode Highlights

• Imaginative Learning: The hosts utilize creative storytelling to simplify and explain the intricate process of nuclear fusion, making it accessible and entertaining for both kids and adults.

• Humor and Relatability: Through playful banter and humorous inventions, the episode maintains a lighthearted tone while delving into serious scientific concepts.

• Educational Insights: Listeners gain a foundational understanding of nuclear fusion, its significance as a potential clean energy source, and the scientific challenges involved in harnessing it.

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Key Takeaways

• Nuclear Fusion Basics: Fusion involves combining small atoms, like hydrogen, under extreme heat and pressure to form larger atoms, such as helium, releasing vast amounts of energy.

• Challenges in Fusion Research: Achieving controlled nuclear fusion on Earth is immensely complex, requiring precise conditions that have been elusive despite extensive research efforts.

• Potential of Fusion Energy: Successfully harnessed, fusion could provide a virtually limitless and clean energy source, transforming global energy systems and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

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Closing Thoughts

"A Star is Born - A Brief History of Nuclear Fusion" masterfully blends education and entertainment, offering listeners a memorable journey through the fascinating world of nuclear fusion. Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz demonstrate that even the most challenging scientific topics can be explored with creativity, humor, and a sense of wonder, truly embodying the spirit of saying "WOW"!

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• Reviews: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts to share your WOW moments!

Transcript

[Mindy Thomas]

Hey, Wowzer fams, Mindy and Guy Raz here. And before we start the show, summer break is almost here.

[Guy Raz]

And if you're looking for an adventure that the whole family will love, we've teamed up with our friends at Atlas Obscura to create trips designed for families to explore the wows of our world.

[Mindy Thomas]

That's right. The first wow in the World family tour starts at the end of June. And there's still a few more spots left. So why not join your fellow Wowzer fams on an exploration exploration of the ancient Mayan temples and the pyramids of Tulum in Mexico.

[Guy Raz]

Or if you're looking for some wows this winter, your family can discover the pyramids of Giza and ride camels in Egypt in December.

[Mindy Thomas]

All of our wow in the World family tours come with an adventure toolkit. T shirts, a journal, and postcards. And the best part, grownups, the planning is already taken care of.

[Guy Raz]

Aw, but I love planning, Mindy. Spending hours online searching for the best location, the best deals, the best.

[Mindy Thomas]

I know you do, Guy Raz, but a lot of busy grown ups don't really have that kind of time these days. So our friends at Atlas Obscura have planned experiences that will wow your family each day of your trip. And we've put together some audio surprises and daily missions for you too, grown ups.

[Guy Raz]

If you want to learn more about the wow in the World family tours, visit Tinkercast.com trips that's Tinkercast.com trips that's it. Now back to the show.

[Mindy Thomas]

Proceeded. 3, 2, 1. Mission.

[Guy Raz]

Get ready for an adventure of magnificent proportion.

[Reggie]

I don't know what you've been told we're in a golden age. So many discoveries that are jumping off the page While in the world While in the world While in the world.

[Mindy Thomas]

Houston.

[Guy Raz]

It's a wonderful day to garden It's a wonderful day to garden With a snip, a snip and a snip, snip, snip. I hope you'll be begging my parents. It's a wonderful day. Hello, Guy Razzie.

[Mindy Thomas]

Careful with that magnet, Reg. Hey, Guy Raz. What are you doing right now?

[Guy Raz]

Well, I'm kind of busy trimming my petunias right now, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, great. So you're free. Think you could pop over for, like, two seconds? I could really use a hand putting together my latest invention.

[Guy Raz]

You need me to come over right now?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, I'll be right there.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, great. We're in the laboratory of bad ideas out back. See you soon.

[Guy Raz]

Bye. Well, my little petunias, it looks like your trim is going to have to wait until later this afternoon. You all be good now, okay? I'm off to Mindy's house. It's a wonderful day to garden. It's a wonderful day to garden. What is that sound? Uh, hello? Mindy?

[Reggie]

Hey, Rozzie.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, is that you? Where are you?

[Mindy Thomas]

Uh, I'm down here in the underground lair of the Laboratory of bad Ideas.

[Guy Raz]

You have an underground lair?

[Mindy Thomas]

I do now. Had to dig it out for this new invention. Needed a little bit more space.

[Guy Raz]

I see.

[Mindy Thomas]

Come on down. Take the elevator. It's coming up to you now.

[Guy Raz]

Uh, Mindy, are you sure this is safe?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yes, of course I'm not sure this is safe. Safe Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, see you soon. Wait. Well, here goes nothing.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hi there, and welcome to Mindy's Underground Laboratory of Bad Ideas. The invention you're about to see uses very strong magnets. So before entering the lab, please remove all metal objects and place them in the bin in front of you.

[Guy Raz]

What in the.

[Mindy Thomas]

Metal objects include giant spoons, suits of armor, frying pans, belt buckles that say Queen of mean. I'm looking at you, Grandma. G Force. And anything else that may interfere with the nuclear fusion machine.

[Guy Raz]

Nuclear fusion machine?

[Mindy Thomas]

That's what I said.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, isn't this a pre recorded message?

[Mindy Thomas]

No, it's just me.

[Guy Raz]

Whoa. Oh, Mindy, this place is massive.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, tell me about it. Took Reggie and I a whole afternoon to dig this place out.

[Guy Raz]

You did this in one afternoon?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, yeah. Like I said, we needed some extra space for my newest invention.

[Guy Raz]

And what is it, Mindy? What is this mega sized invention?

[Mindy Thomas]

Guy Raz? Behold. My latest and greatest invention is.

[Dennis]

Reggie.

[Mindy Thomas]

Drumroll. The Ped o Matic 3000. The world's first automatic dog Petter.

[Guy Raz]

The first what?

[Mindy Thomas]

It pets your dog when your arms get too tired.

[Guy Raz]

And that required an entire underground lair. I mean, how big is this invention?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, it's not the invention itself. Itself? That's Big Guy Raz. It's the power source for the invention.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, is this why you were talking about a nuclear fusion machine in the elevator?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, that's what Reggie and I have been trying to put together all day. But it hasn't been going so well.

[Guy Raz]

Just hold on here. Nuclear fusion. I mean, isn't that when a bunch of small atoms smash together to create a bigger atom?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, and when that happens, it creates this bonkerballs amount of energy. Energy that I will be using to power the pedomatic.

[Guy Raz]

But Mindy, world Famous scientists have been trying to crack this for almost 100 years.

[Mindy Thomas]

Uh huh.

[Guy Raz]

And you're trying to do it in one afternoon?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, yeah. How hard could it be to get a bunch of tiny atoms to smash into each other?

[Guy Raz]

Well, pretty hard, Mindy. I mean, this stuff is super complicated. I don't even understand how nuclear fusion works.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, well, I can fix that. Gu. See, there's an all natural nuclear fusion machine just 95 million miles away from here. So why don't we just pop over and I'll show you how the whole thing works.

[Guy Raz]

Wait a minute, 95 million miles from here? Mindy, are you talking about the sun? Yes.

[Mindy Thomas]

You know it. Uh, Guy Raz, the sun's energy, all that light and heat that it gives off, is all powered by nuclear fusion.

[Guy Raz]

And you want to fly us out there to see up close how it all works?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah. Didn't you say you wanted to know how it works?

[Guy Raz]

Well, don't you have to put together this machine, this invention of yours?

[Mindy Thomas]

Eh, we can take a little break. Hey, Reg, take 10. We're gonna take a quick trip out to the sun. All right, Guy Raz, you in?

[Guy Raz]

Well, do I have much of a choice? Nope. All right, let's see how nuclear fusion works.

[Mindy Thomas]

To the wow machine. Follow me.

[Guy Raz]

All right.

[Mindy Thomas]

Opening the hatch. Lowering the drawbridge. Okay, Guy Raz, hop on in.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, here goes.

[Mindy Thomas]

All right, buckle your seat belt. Punching in the coordinates. Next stop, center of the sun.

[Guy Raz]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, Mindy. The sun? Center of the sun, as in the center of the sun?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah. Where else did you think we were going?

[Guy Raz]

Well, I thought we were just gonna look at it from a distance.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, well, Kyraz, I think we all know that you should never just look at the sun without proper eye protection. And second of all, we are never going to learn how nuclear fusion works if we don't go to where the nuclear fusion is happening.

[Guy Raz]

And I suppose the nuclear fusion is happening at the center of the sun.

[Mindy Thomas]

Exactly. Exactly. You need the right conditions to make nuclear fusion happen. A lot of heat and a lot of pressure.

[Guy Raz]

And I'm assuming you get both of those things at the center of the sun.

[Mindy Thomas]

Uh huh. In fact, the center of the sun is the hottest place in the whole solar system.

[Guy Raz]

And exactly how hot is that?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, I don't know, just about 27 million degrees Fahrenheit.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, but it's only like 15 million degrees Celsius.

[Guy Raz]

That's the same temperature. Mindy, how are we gonna survive?

[Mindy Thomas]

Guy Raz, we're barely gonna feel it. I'VE got this entire wow. Machine smothered in sunscreen.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

And I'm 99.99% sure that it will survive.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, no.

[Mindy Thomas]

Although it was only SPF 50. All right, let's see here. Center of the sun. Oh, I almost forgot. I gotta engage the shrink wand too.

[Guy Raz]

The shrink wand?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah. Not only do we need to go to the center of the sun, Guy Ra also have to shrink down to the atomic level.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, you mean we're gonna be the same size as atoms?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yep. Those little teeny tiny building blocks that make up everything around us. We're gonna be so cute and tiny.

[Guy Raz]

But why do we need to shrink down so small?

[Mindy Thomas]

Because, Guy Raz, nuclear fusion occurs when two atoms get smushed together to create one new atom.

[Guy Raz]

Uh huh. So we're gonna shrink down and smush these atoms together ourselves.

[Mindy Thomas]

You're picking up what I'm putting down, Guy Raz. Shrink wand activate. Here we go.

[Reggie]

Whoopsie. Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Uh, hold on, Guy Raz. Let me just adjust the settings here. There we go. Got our voices unshrunk, but our bodies are still. Still tiny. Now, you ready for our trip to the center of the sun?

[Guy Raz]

I guess as I'll ever be.

[Mindy Thomas]

Good. Because here we go. We made it, Guy Raz. The center of the sun.

[Guy Raz]

And we're roughly the size of an atom.

[Mindy Thomas]

Let me check. Yeah, we're only about 0.1nm tall.

[Guy Raz]

Which is about how big exactly?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, we're so small that you could fit about 10 million of us just on the head of a pin.

[Dennis]

Whoa.

[Mindy Thomas]

Alright, now put this suit on. Guy Raz, we've got some atoms to fuse.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

Your sunsuit. Here, put your sunsuit on. We're heading outside.

[Guy Raz]

Heading outside? Mindy, it's millions of degrees out there.

[Mindy Thomas]

Don't worry, Guy Raz. These sun suits should be able to handle it. I made them myself out of old oven mitts. Here, catch.

[Guy Raz]

This thing.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, just put it on.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, ready?

[Mindy Thomas]

And now for my helmet. Can you hear me, Guy Raz?

[Guy Raz]

Reading you loud and clear, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

All right, let's take these sun suits out for a test run and hope they work.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, you don't know if they work?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, no, I've never been to the center of the sun, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Well, should we test them first?

[Mindy Thomas]

Sorry, Guy Raz, no time.

[Guy Raz]

But they're made out of oven mitts.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, so hold your breath.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, I really don't think we should.

[Mindy Thomas]

We and Guy Raz gonna open the hatch in three, two.

[Reggie]

Mindy One.

[Guy Raz]

Phew.

[Mindy Thomas]

I didn't think that was really gonna work.

[Guy Raz]

Wow, it really feels like we're in space out here, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, remember, Guy Raz, we're currently about the size of an atom, so.

[Guy Raz]

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

[Mindy Thomas]

It's an atom. Guy Raz, look, here comes another one. Try to grab it.

[Guy Raz]

I see it. It's coming towards me. I got it, Mindy. I got it.

[Mindy Thomas]

Way to go, Guy Raz. Let me see that thing. Looks like you caught yourself a hydrogen atom. It's the most common type of atom in the whole universe.

[Guy Raz]

And it's also what the sun uses for fuel, right?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah. Now, in order to make some nuclear fusion energy, we need three more of those puppies. So you think he can catch them?

[Guy Raz]

Well, okay, I'll try.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ooh, ooh, look, here comes another one. Guy Raz, quick, grab it.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, I got it. Ooh, nice catch. Mindy, behind you. There's two more coming. Oh, oh, got it.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, here's another one. And two. Okay, Guy Raz, we got him.

[Guy Raz]

This is great. Mindy, we have four hydrogen atoms. Now what do we do now?

[Mindy Thomas]

We smush em together.

[Guy Raz]

Smush em?

[Mindy Thomas]

I mean, the technical term is fuse them together, but I just like to say smush.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, so we're gonna fuse these four hydrogen atoms together.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah. Which is something that atoms don't usually like to do, but we're able to do it here because we are at the center of the sun, which, again, is very, very hot. And it has a lot of pressure.

[Guy Raz]

Got it.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, so on the count of three, Guy Raz, you take your two hydrogen atoms, and I'll take my two hydrogen atoms and we'll smush em together.

[Guy Raz]

And I suppose in the process, create nuclear fusion?

[Mindy Thomas]

There's only one way to find out. You ready, Guy Raz?

[Guy Raz]

I'm ready.

[Mindy Thomas]

On three.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, three.

[Reggie]

Smash.

[Mindy Thomas]

There. Rozzy. I'm over here.

[Guy Raz]

What was that?

[Mindy Thomas]

That was the energy from the nuclear fusion. Hold on, I'll come over to you. Swim, swim, swim, swim Swimming through the sun I'm swimming through the sun I'm swimming through the sun and there we go.

[Guy Raz]

That was some explosion. Mindy, what happened?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, I'll show you what happened. Guy Raz, this is what happened. Whoa.

[Guy Raz]

What is that? It looks different than the other hydrogen atoms we had before.

[Mindy Thomas]

That's because it is a different atom. Guy Raz, say hello to helium.

[Guy Raz]

Helium. Wait a minute. Mindy, is that what our four hydrogen atoms fused into?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yep, and when that happened, it created a huge amount of energy. Wow.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, imagine what we could do if we were able to harvest that kind of energy. I mean, we could power entire cities on clean energy for years.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, or power my dog petting machine for, like, a good 15 minutes.

[Guy Raz]

Huh?

[Mindy Thomas]

Like I said, it requires a ton of energy.

[Guy Raz]

Speaking of which, Mindy, shouldn't we head back? I think Reggie's break might be over by now.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ooh, you're right. I don't even know if he knew we were going to the sun. All right, come on, Guy Raz, back to the wow machine. Come on, follow me.

[Guy Raz]

How?

[Mindy Thomas]

Mindy, just pretend like you're swimming here. Look, follow my lead. Swim, swim, swim, swim. Swimming through the sun. I'm swimming through the sun.

[Reggie]

Mindy, wait up.

[Guy Raz]

There, there. Made it.

[Mindy Thomas]

You all right there, buddy?

[Guy Raz]

I think so.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, now let's just close the hat, take off our helmet, and head back to Reggie in that nuclear fusion machine.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, seat belts on.

[Mindy Thomas]

All right, plugging in the coordinates. And here we go.

[Reggie]

Ta da.

[Mindy Thomas]

Made it. Earth. Sweet Earth. Wow.

[Guy Raz]

Back to our original sizes, too.

[Mindy Thomas]

Walk, walk, walk, Reg.

[Guy Raz]

Whoa. Mindy, look. The nuclear fusion machine. It's all in one piece, Reggie.

[Mindy Thomas]

Aw, did you finish constructing the nuclear fusion machine while we were away, you little go getter, you?

[Guy Raz]

What does this mean, Mindy?

[Mindy Thomas]

It means that we can take this ped o matic dog petting machine out for a test run. Come on, follow me to the control room, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, lead the way, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

You too, Reg. Opening the door. Okay, Guy Raz, you sit here.

[Guy Raz]

Okay.

[Mindy Thomas]

And Reggie, you sit here.

[Guy Raz]

What's going on here, Mindy?

[Dennis]

Well.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, inside that machine are a bunch of hydrogen atoms.

[Guy Raz]

Just like there were at the center of the sun.

[Mindy Thomas]

Correct. Now, remember the two things that we needed to make those atoms fuse together?

[Guy Raz]

A lot of heat and a lot of pressure.

[Mindy Thomas]

Exactly. So, Guy Raz, your job is to bring up the heat inside the machine using this little knob here.

[Guy Raz]

Got it.

[Mindy Thomas]

And, Reggie, your job is to build the pressure by cranking up this little knob. And hopefully, fingers crossed, with enough heat and enough pressure, we can get those hydrogen atoms to fuse together and make some energy.

[Guy Raz]

So we're basically creating a sort of mini star right here in our own underground lair.

[Mindy Thomas]

Exact oritos.

[Guy Raz]

Wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now, are you two ready to make some nuclear fusion here on Earth?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, I guess so.

[Mindy Thomas]

All right, then, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Yes, Mindy?

[Mindy Thomas]

Pump up the heat.

[Guy Raz]

Okay. Increasing the heat.

[Mindy Thomas]

Reggie. Pump up the pressure. Building, building. Keep it up, keep it up.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, my goodness, Mindy. I don't know how much more this machine can Take it. Feels like a whole. The whole thing is starting to fall apart.

[Mindy Thomas]

No, no, don't stop now. We're almost there.

[Guy Raz]

Did we do it?

[Mindy Thomas]

You tell me, Guy Raz. What do you see over there?

[Guy Raz]

Uh, a glove attached to a rotating bicycle wheel well?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yes, but what you're really seeing is my Pedomatic 3000. It's working, Guy Raz. And powered by 100% clean fusion energy.

[Guy Raz]

Wow, that's amazing. Way to go, Mindy. You did it. You cracked fusion energy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, I couldn't have done it without my friends.

[Guy Raz]

This is incredible, Mindy. With this sort of technology, we might finally be able to move on from fossil fuels as an energy source. I mean, imagine entire cities powered by clean, renewable fusion energy.

[Mindy Thomas]

That's the dream, Guy Raz. Now, who wants to be the first to try the Ped o matic?

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

Come on. Who doesn't like a good pat on the head? Reggie, I'm looking at you. Come here. Reggie, come back. It's for science.

[Guy Raz]

Oh boy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Reggie, I'll give you a bird bath.

[Reggie]

If you just let me try it on you.

[Mindy Thomas]

Reggie, come on.

[Dennis]

Wow in the World. We'll be right back, Grown ups. This message is for you. That's it. Back to the show.

[Reggie]

Wow in the World.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hi, thanks for calling wow in the World. After the beep, get ready to record.

[Dennis]

Hi Mindy, Guy Raz. My name is Eli and I live in Provo, Utah. My wow in the world is that horses can sleep standing up. Bye. Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. My name's Emma Kate and I'm from Buena Vista, Colorado. My wow in the world is that ants can carry 10 to 50 times their body weight. Bye. Love yourselves.

[E]

Hi, Mindy and Guy Ross. My name is Ryan and I live in Dallas, Texas. My wow in the world is that sharks can have up to 15 rows of teeth and do not get cavities. Say hi to Thomas Tingerling for me. Hi Grandma G Force.

[Dennis]

Hi Mindy and Guy Raz. My name is Sophia. I am 8 years old and I live in Agoura Hills, California. My wow in the world is that 90% of snow is air. Hi Mindy, I'm Guy Raz. I'm Gayla and I live in Raleigh, North Carolina. A Colossal squid has an eye as big as a whole pizza. Hi, my name is Avoni. I'm six years old and I live in Culver City. And my wow in the world that pterodactyls aren't dinosaurs, they're flying reptiles. Say hi to Dennis and Thomas Fingerling for me.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ahoy there.

[Dennis]

Bye. Hi Mindy and Guy Girls. My name is Neil and I live in Newfoundland. My WOW in the world is your nose can detect more than 1 trillion smells. Bye. Love your show. Hi Mindy and Guy Raz this is Alana and I'm from Internal Lake in New York. My WOW in the world is that the kernel that makes popcorn. When the moisture inside gets heated up, it turns inside out. That's what you eat when you're eating popcorn.

[Mindy Thomas]

Bye.

[Dennis]

Say hi to Ready for me.

[Mindy Thomas]

End of messages Grown Ups if you like WOW in the World, you can listen early and ad free right now on Wondery.

[Guy Raz]

Join Wondery in the Wondery app or on Wondery Kids plus on Apple Podcasts prime members can listen ad free free on Amazon Music.

[Mindy Thomas]

And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] survey thanks for listening to this episode of wow in the World. If you're a kid with a big WOW to share with us, call our WOW hotline at 1-888-7-WOW WOW for a chance to be featured at the end of the show or an upcoming episode of 2 what's in a wow?

[Guy Raz]

And while you're at it, why don't you head over to Apple Podcasts and tell us what wows you about our show by leaving a review. You just might hear your reviewsy read by Dennis on WEWOW on the weekend.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, and don't forget to Visit [e-mail] and become a member of the World Organization of Wowzers. With that you'll get year round mailings, weekly activities, birthday cards, and on Tinkercast.com.

[Guy Raz]

You can also shop our wow Shop, get tickets for upcoming live events, find our books and learn about all the other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast.

[Mindy Thomas]

Once again, that's Tinkercast.com wow in the.

[Guy Raz]

World is written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Kalken with contributions from Me, Guy Raz.

[Mindy Thomas]

Original sound design and music editing is done by Tyler Thole with help from our senior Production Director Jed Anderson. 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.

[Guy Raz]

Jessica Bode keeps our facts straight as our fact checker and Meredith Halpern Ranzer powers the WOW at Tinkercast.

[Mindy Thomas]

Our theme song was composed and performed by three time Grammy nominees the Pop Ups. Find them at thepopups.com Special thanks to.

[Guy Raz]

Our team including Kit Ballinger, Rebecca Caban, Dr. Natasha Crandall Kenny Curtis, Kristin Yang, Thuy Mack, Erica Medina, Henry Moskal, Jody Nussbaum, Ali Paxsima, Linda Rothenberg, Steph Sosa, Anna Zagorski, and all of the other tinkerers at Tinkercast HQ Grown Ups.

[Mindy Thomas]

You can follow wow in the World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter owintheworld, and our email address is hello in tinkercast.com thanks for listening.

[Guy Raz]

Find episodes of wow. In The World every Monday 2 what's in a wow? Every Friday, and we wow on the weekends with Dennis every Saturday and Sunday right here in the wow in the World podcast feed. Until then, keep on wowing.

[Dennis]

Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.