Baseball's Magic Mud: Superstition or Science? (10/20/25)

Summary

Wow in the World: “Baseball’s Magic Mud: Superstition or Science?”

Podcast: Wow in the World
Episode Date: October 20, 2025
Hosts: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz

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Overview

In this episode, Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz guide listeners through a zany, fact-filled baseball adventure exploring the real science behind “magic mud”—a mysterious substance used on every baseball in Major League Baseball (MLB). The hosts and their cast of characters (Dennis, Thomas Fingerling, Grandma G Force) spin a comedic story about a little league game hinging on a bucket of mud, pausing to dive into the history, chemistry, and enduring mysteries behind this baseball tradition. The science comes from recent studies that break down what really makes magic mud grip-tacular, settling the score between superstition and science.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Scene: The Bunker Ballers vs. the Lil Buff Bunnies

• [02:52-06:10] The episode begins with a spirited little league matchup, where Mindy’s team, the Bonkerballers, is on a losing streak and desperate for a win.
• Mindy builds anticipation, hinting at an undisclosed “secret weapon” that could change their luck: a “bucket” central to the story.

What IS Baseball’s “Magic Mud”?

• [07:13-09:30]

• Mindy reveals the bucket’s contents—in much comedic suspense—as “magic mud,” not poop (to great relief and giggles).

• She explains the mud’s origins, dating back to the early days of MLB:

  “Around 1940, a third base coach from Philadelphia discovered a super effective trick to give the baseballs a sticky grip without scuffing or damaging or discoloring the ball. … A substance known as magic mud.” (Mindy Thomas, 08:34)

• MLB rules have since required every ball to be rubbed with this specific Delaware River mud to reduce slipperiness and increase grip for pitchers.

Why Not Use Something Else?

• [09:55-10:28]

• There’s a discussion (and jokes) about what substances are allowed/enforced in baseball, with Grandma G-Force suggesting maple syrup:

  “Putting anything on a baseball that might affect its performance is against the rules and it could get us disqualified.” (Mindy Thomas, 10:14)

• Magic mud remains the only exception to this strict rule.

The Science: What Makes Magic Mud “Magic”?

• [13:51-15:34]

• The hosts reference a University of Pennsylvania study that investigated the mud’s composition using microscopes.

• Key ingredients found: clay, quartz, sand, and 43% water.

  “The magic was the proportions of all these different ingredients together.” (Mindy Thomas, 14:41)

• The precise water content is crucial: if there’s too much, it won’t stick; if too little, it’s tough to spread.

The Microscopic View: How It Works

• [17:44-18:26]

• Researchers found that once applied to the ball, the sand and clay stick to the ball, creating a texture:

  “Under the microscope, it looked like the ball was covered in lots of little barnacles.” (Mindy Thomas, 18:12)

• This textured surface gives pitchers more friction, making the ball less likely to slip—like extra grippy fine sandpaper.

  “Those tiny little barnacles give the hand more to grip onto when the pitcher is throwing the ball.” (Guy Raz, 18:19)

Testing the Mud: Comic Escapades

• [12:15-20:36]

• The Bonkerballers hilariously sample three different mud batches, only finding success on the last try.

• Tension builds as Thomas Fingerling—who has four thumbs and zero strikeouts all season—is sent in as pitcher using the third mud bucket.

• Against all odds (and amid much cheering and suspense), he strikes out “Static Man” to win the game.

  “How’s this for all thumbs? Strike three. You’re out.” (Thomas Fingerling, 20:25)

Broader Implications: Mud Beyond Baseball

• [21:25-21:45]

• Mindy shares that the techniques used to understand baseball mud could help scientists develop better construction materials in the future.

  “The researchers ... said that the techniques that they used to understand how the baseball mud worked could also be used to help develop more sustainable construction materials in the future.” (Mindy Thomas, 21:25)

Celebration and Takeaways

• [20:40-22:06]
• The Bonkerballers celebrate their win, attributing their victory, at least in part, to the “magic mud”—but also to teamwork, confidence, and perseverance.
• The episode closes with listener-submitted “wows”—fun science facts from kids around the world.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• The Great Reveal:
  • “It’s mud.”
    — Mindy Thomas, [07:13]
• Science Simplified:
  • “The magic was the proportions of all these different ingredients together.”
    — Mindy Thomas, [14:41]
• How Mud Works:
  • “Under the microscope, it looked like the ball was covered in lots of little barnacles.”
    — Mindy Thomas, [18:12]
  • “Those tiny little barnacles give the hand more to grip onto when the pitcher is throwing the ball.”
    — Guy Raz, [18:19]
• Technology Crossover:
  • “The techniques that they used … could also be used to help develop more sustainable construction materials in the future.”
    — Mindy Thomas, [21:25]
• Victory Under Pressure:
  • “How’s this for all thumbs? Strike three. You’re out.”
    — Thomas Fingerling, [20:25]
  • “I did it. And I only needed to use two out of my four thumbs!”
    — Thomas Fingerling, [20:55]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Baseball Game Setup: [02:52–06:19]
• Magic Mud Revealed: [07:13–09:30]
• How MLB Uses Mud: [09:30–10:35]
• Comedic Mud Mishaps: [10:45–13:06], [16:03–17:34]
• Science of Mud (UPenn Study): [13:51–15:37]
• Microscopic Discovery: [17:44–18:26]
• Game Tension & Victory: [18:49–20:36]
• Real-World Applications: [21:25–21:45]
• Listener “Wow” Call-Ins: [22:31–25:32]

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Tone and Style

• The episode is fast-paced, comedic, kid-friendly, and peppered with slapstick moments, puns, and sound effects.
• Explanations use accessible, silly analogies—e.g., mud as “face cream” or “fine sandpaper.”

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Final Takeaways

“Baseball’s Magic Mud: Superstition or Science?” uses play and humor to answer a surprisingly scientific question about sports rituals. The episode reveals that “magic mud” isn’t just a quirky tradition—it’s a precisely balanced natural material whose grippiness is rooted in chemistry and materials science. Through teamwork and investigation, the Bonkerballers (and listeners) discover how even long-standing superstitions can be grounded in real science—and maybe, just maybe, help kids build a better future, one mud-slicked baseball at a time.

Transcript

[Guy Raz]

Grown Ups Wondery subscribers can listen to wow. In the World early and ad free right now. Join Wondery in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hey Grown Ups. Mindy here. And did you hear that we have a brand new book coming out? That's right, Dinosaurs Are Wow. A Roaring Thunder, a Prehistoric Wonder. And it's coming to a bookshelf near you on October 28th. And to celebrate, I'm throwing a little vertical Prehistoric Pre Order party for wowzer fans like you. Together we'll read from the new book, play some games and answer some fan questions live. So what are you waiting for Grown Ups to get an invite to our Prehistoric Pre Order party? Just pre order your copy of Dinosaurs Are Wow. At your favorite book retailer. Then visit Tinkercast.com dinosaur to upload a copy of your receipt and sign up for the event. We can't wait to see you there once again. Visit tinkercast.com, to learn more. That's it. And now let's get back to the show.

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[Mindy Thomas]

Get ready for an adventure of magnificent proportion.

[Dennis]

I don't know what you've been told.

[Mindy Thomas]

We're in a golden age. So many discoveries that are jumping off the page while in the world.

[Announcer]

Good morning baseball fans and welcome to Big Jim's Lil Baseball park, home of the Little Buff Bunnies. Today's game is between the undefeated Lil Buff Bunnies and Mindy's Bunker Ballers, who haven't won a single game yet this season.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay Team, let's hud.

[Dennis]

All right, who's our pitcher gonna be today, Mindy?

[Mindy Thomas]

Hmm. I think it's gonna be.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Hey, me pick Thomas Fingerling. You haven't let me fish all season.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, that's because you're all thumbs, Fingerling.

[Thomas Fingerling]

What? Right.

[Dennis]

Well, you do have more thumbs than me.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Tommy, just because I have four thumbs and six fingers does not mean I don't know how to pitch.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

Don't worry, Mr. Fingerling. We're going to start with Grandma J. And you'll be pitching later in the game.

[Guy Raz]

He will.

[Thomas Fingerling]

I will.

[Mindy Thomas]

I thought we wanted to win.

[Dennis]

Yeah, we're never gonna break this losing streak if we let Thomas Fingerling pitch.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yes, we will.

[Guy Raz]

Why are you so confident?

[Mindy Thomas]

Because, Guy Raz, I have a secret weapon.

[Guy Raz]

You do?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yep. I got it right here. Uh.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Ooh, a bucket. Just what we needed.

[Mindy Thomas]

No, no, no. It's not the bucket that's gonna help us win the game, Thomas Fingerling. It's what's inside the bucket.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Oh, right.

[Guy Raz]

What is it, Mindy?

[Mindy Thomas]

All will be revealed in time, Guy Raz. For now, we have a baseball game to win. Hands in, everyone. Okay, Bunker ballers on three. Ready? One, two.

[Dennis]

Oh, Tommy's third thumb is touching me. Mindy, help.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Quiet you baby.

[Mindy Thomas]

Dennis. One, two, three.

[Dennis]

Bunker ballers. Let's do it.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait. Who are Bonkerballers up to bat for?

[Announcer]

The Bonkerballers? It's Thomas Fingerling.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Oh, I'm in.

[Dennis]

Woohoo. Go Thomas Fingerling.

[Mindy Thomas]

Come on, Fingerling.

[Announcer]

Here comes the bitch. Zurag One.

[Dennis]

Whoop.

[Announcer]

Strike two.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Oopsie.

[Announcer]

Steer eye. Great.

[Thomas Fingerling]

You're out. Well, tried my best.

[Announcer]

Coming up to the plate, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, just keep your eye on the ball.

[Announcer]

And here comes the pitch. And that's a home run for Guy Raz.

[Mindy Thomas]

Way to go, Guy Razzie. Woo hoo. Baseball time's fun.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Foul ball.

[Announcer]

But we gotta fast forward through the can.

[Dennis]

You're out.

[Announcer]

And that's the end of the fourth inning. Safe. The end of the fifth inning.

[Dennis]

Hot dogs. Peanuts.

[Announcer]

The sixth inning. Wow, this baseball montage is moving right along.

[Dennis]

I'll say. And now we're near the end of the game.

[Announcer]

And here we are at the bottom of the night. The Li' l Buff Bunnies are up to bat with two outs. Mindy's Bonkerballers lead by one. This is the Lil Buff Bunny's last chance to win the game.

[Dennis]

Wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Can you believe this? I knew I had a good feeling about this game.

[Guy Raz]

Well, it's not over yet, Mindy. We're only up by one run, and they're sending up their best batter. She's hit three home runs this game.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now, don't stress, Guy Raz. We haven't even used our stuff secret weapon yet.

[Dennis]

We haven't? What are we waiting for? Use it. Use it. Use it. Use the secret weapon.

[Guy Raz]

Dennis is right, Mindy. We can't let them get a single run this inning if we're gonna win this thing.

[Dennis]

Also, what is the secret weapon?

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, Grandma G Force, it's time to open the bucket. Wanna give me a hand here? Well, okay.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, what's in there?

[Thomas Fingerling]

It looks like poop.

[Guy Raz]

Ew.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Is it poop?

[Mindy Thomas]

No, it's not poop.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Oh.

[Mindy Thomas]

It's mud.

[Dennis]

Mud.

[Mindy Thomas]

That's right, Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

This bucket of mud is our secret weapon.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yep, but it's not just any mud, Guy Raz. This mud is magic mud.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Ooh, magic. Magic How?

[Dennis]

Yeah.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, everyone, listen up and I'll tell you the story of magic mud.

[Dennis]

Yay.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ahem. More than 100 years ago, major League Baseball was founded in the United States.

[Dennis]

Major League Baseball?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah. That's professional baseball, Dennis. The mlb.

[Dennis]

Oh, like the big leagues.

[Mindy Thomas]

Right. And in the big leagues, around 1920, there was a new rule put into place that every time a baseball got scuffed or dirtied or hit foul ball, a new clean, bright and shiny baseball had to be swapped in for the old one.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Ooh, shiny.

[Mindy Thomas]

But there was a problem. These clean and shiny new baseballs were a little bit slippery. And sometimes a pitch would just slip out of the pitcher's hands.

[Dennis]

Yikes.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, my. Whatever did they do? Well, around 1940, a third base coach from Philadelphia discovered a super effective trick to give the baseballs a sticky grip without scuffing or damaging or discoloring the ball.

[Thomas Fingerling]

What was it?

[Mindy Thomas]

It was a mysterious substance, A slimy, sticky, muddy substance. A substance known as magic mud.

[Dennis]

Ooh.

[Mindy Thomas]

And with magic mud, players could finally get the grip that they needed. And soon it became a rule that every ball used in every Major League baseball game must be rubbed with magic mud.

[Guy Raz]

Wait a minute, Mindy. You're telling me that each ball in the MLB is covered in mud?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, kinda. I mean, you don't smother the ball. You just use a little tiny bit of the mud and kinda rub it in like a lotion.

[Guy Raz]

Huh.

[Thomas Fingerling]

And just what exactly makes this mud so magic?

[Dennis]

Yeah, does the mud grant wishes?

[Mindy Thomas]

Nope. It just makes the balls extra grippy.

[Dennis]

Oh. Well, if we want to make the baseballs grippy, why don't we just use something like super glue or maple syrup.

[Mindy Thomas]

I got a stash of maple syrup up here in my unitard. You want me to start pouring what? No. Keep that maple syrup away from those baseballs, Grandma G Force, Putting anything on a baseball that might affect its performance is against the rules and it could get us disqualified. Fine. More for me. I guess that's good.

[Guy Raz]

So you can't put anything on a baseball that might affect its performance except for this magic mud.

[Mindy Thomas]

That's right.

[Dennis]

So magical.

[Guy Raz]

And your plan is to coat these baseballs in this mud to make them more grippy and then help us pitch better?

[Mindy Thomas]

Bingo. Guy Raz, you got it.

[Dennis]

Oh, I want to try it. Give me a ball.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Take it easy, feller.

[Dennis]

There we go.

[Guy Raz]

Magic.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wow. Uh, not quite. That is too much mud, Dennis.

[Dennis]

You know what you always say, Mindy? If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, too much mud like that won't work. We're just trying to take the slippery shine off the ball, Dennis.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Ah.

[Mindy Thomas]

So just take a little tiny bit of the mud and rub it into the baseball kind of hard.

[Dennis]

Oh, like an exfoliating facial scrub.

[Mindy Thomas]

Uh, yeah, sure.

[Dennis]

Okay.

[Announcer]

Scrub, scrub, scrub, scrub, scrub.

[Dennis]

And there. How's that?

[Mindy Thomas]

Ooh, that looks good. Okay, Grandma G Force, now you take this ball and see if you can strike this next batter out. Let me add him. Come here, muddy ball.

[Dennis]

Yay. Go, G Force. Strike them out.

[Mindy Thomas]

Quit. Everybody telling me what to do.

[Guy Raz]

So I guess this is where we find out if that magic mud of yours actually works, huh, Mindy?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, but don't worry, Guy Raz. If this batch doesn't work, I've got two others to try. Right here.

[Guy Raz]

You have two more buckets of mud? Why?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, the spot where they harvest the rock, real magic mud for the MLB is a super duper well kept secret. Nobody knows where it is. All we know is that it's harvested from somewhere on the Delaware River.

[Guy Raz]

Uh huh.

[Mindy Thomas]

So last week, Reggie and I went out and took samples from three different spots along the riverbank. So one of them's gotta work.

[Guy Raz]

If you say so.

[Announcer]

Waffle.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Take your base.

[Announcer]

That's another walk batter for G Force.

[Dennis]

Hey, Mandy, Grandma J Force just walked a batter. The mutt didn't do anything.

[Mindy Thomas]

Aw, man. Must have been a bad batch. Guess we're just gonna have to try the second buck. Uh, someone hand me another ball here. You got it. Okay. Coating it in mud. Rubbing it in, rubbing it in, rubbing it in.

[Announcer]

Up to bat for lil buff bunnies. Number 14, Joshua Toejam Johnson, who has the unusual technique of batting with his feet. It may be unorthodox, but this crack, the crowd is loving it.

[Dennis]

Okay, Dennis, Present.

[Mindy Thomas]

You're up. Think you can get a strikeout?

[Dennis]

Of course I can.

[Mindy Thomas]

Great. Here, use this ball with mud from the second bucket.

[Dennis]

You can count on me, Mindy. Come on, ball. Let's go. See if you've got the right mud on you.

[Announcer]

We've got a relief pitcher coming in. G force will sit. And now, pitching for the Bunker Ballers will be Dennis.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yay.

[Dennis]

I'm a.

[Guy Raz]

So, Mindy, I still don't fully understand. How does covering these balls in mud make them more grippy?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, for the longest time, we didn't know, but now, thanks to a study by the University of Pennsylvania, we do.

[Guy Raz]

And what did this study say?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, the first thing that these researchers tried to figure out was what exactly is in this mud to make it so magical anyway?

[Guy Raz]

And they did this by putting it under a microscope.

[Mindy Thomas]

Exactly. And what they found were minerals, like clay and quartz and sand.

[Guy Raz]

Huh?

[Dennis]

Yuck.

[Mindy Thomas]

The rest of it, almost 43% of it, was made up of water.

[Thomas Fingerling]

And how many percents is the magic?

[Mindy Thomas]

The magic was the proportions of all these different ingredients together.

[Guy Raz]

You mean it had just the right amount of water? Water. And just the right amount of clay and sand?

[Mindy Thomas]

Exact oritos. Yeah.

[Guy Raz]

So, like, if the mud was too watery, all those sand particles probably wouldn't stick to the ball.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, and if it wasn't watery enough, it would be too thick, and you.

[Guy Raz]

Wouldn'T be able to spread it all over the baseballs.

[Mindy Thomas]

Exactly. The consistency of this mud has to be just right. Watery enough to spread like a face cream, but sticky enough that it leaves a nice, even layer of mud all over the ball.

[Guy Raz]

But what is it about this mud that makes it so grippy?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, when these researchers looked at it under the microscope again, once they'd applied it to the baseballs, they discovered something interesting.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Ooh, what was it?

[Dennis]

Yuck.

[Thomas Fingerling]

All four, take your base.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oops.

[Announcer]

Toejam Johnson will walk to first base. The Lil Buff bunnies now have runners on first and second.

[Mindy Thomas]

Uh. Oh. Uh, pass me another ball. Mr. Fingerling, it's time to sample mud. Number three.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Here you.

[Mindy Thomas]

Thank you. Opening the bucket. There we go.

[Guy Raz]

Wait a minute, Mindy. I don't see any other buckets of mud. Is this the last one?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yep. Fingers crossed. This mud sample has all the right stuff in it.

[Guy Raz]

The right stuff being the perfect combination of clay, sand, and water.

[Mindy Thomas]

Exactoritos. There, now that should do it. Okay, Mr. Fingerling, take this ball and go get us a strikeout.

[Dennis]

Really?

[Mindy Thomas]

Me? Yep.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, it's the bottom of the ninth and we're only one run ahead, and Thomas Fingerling hasn't even had a strikeout all season, and he has four thumbs, so.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah, don't listen to them, Fingerling. You're gonna do great. Here, catch.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Whoopsie daisy. Let me just pick that up here.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, boy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Come on, Thomas Fingerling, just shake it off. We need you to have the best game of your life out there.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Okey doke.

[Announcer]

Here comes Fingerling. Mindy's sending a new relief pitcher in to replace Dennis, and it looks like. Oh, I don't believe it. It's Thomas Fingerling. Thomas Fingerling is yet to get a strikeout this whole season.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Get ready for my split thumb basketball.

[Guy Raz]

So what is it about this mud that makes it so sticky, Mindy? I mean, how do you know this is gonna work?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah. So as I was saying, when those scientists put one of those baseballs that had been covered in mud under their microscopes, they discovered something interesting.

[Guy Raz]

What was it?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, they discovered that the grains of sand that were in the mud had stuck to the clay, which had stuck to the slippery surface of the ball, basically covering the whole thing in what was almost like real fine sandpaper.

[Dennis]

Huh.

[Mindy Thomas]

Under the microscope, it looked like the ball was covered in lots of little barnacles.

[Guy Raz]

And those tiny little barnacles gives the hand more to grip onto when the pitcher is throwing the ball.

[Mindy Thomas]

Exact oritos. All right, everyone, we gotta cheer on Thomas Fingerling. He needs all the help he can get out there. Hi, Ash. Uh, has anyone seen my megaphone? I think Dennis had it last. Dennis?

[Kids Callers]

Dennis.

[Mindy Thomas]

Where'd Dennis go?

[Guy Raz]

No time, Mindy. It looks like the Buff Bunny's next batter is coming up to the plate right now.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait, who is that?

[Guy Raz]

Why does he look so familiar?

[Announcer]

Now up to bat number 00. It's Static Man.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh no.

[Dennis]

I am Static Man.

[Guy Raz]

Dennis.

[Dennis]

No. Dennis plays for the Bonkerballers. Static man plays for the Lil Buff Bunnies and is about to win this game and be a big hero.

[Mindy Thomas]

Uh huh.

[Guy Raz]

Well, let's hope this magic mud works, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, I don't know if I can stand losing to Static Man.

[Thomas Fingerling]

I ain't afraid of you, electricity dude.

[Announcer]

Thomas Fingerling winds up and the Pitch Ski Ride 1.

[Thomas Fingerling]

I don't believe it.

[Announcer]

Thomas Fingerling delivers his first on target pitch of the Season.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Hey. I did it.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wow. Way to go, Fingerling. Two more of those and we're home free.

[Guy Raz]

Looks like that magic mud might actually be working, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

I knew it had to be in one of those buckets.

[Dennis]

You can have that strike for free, Tommy. Static man is now fully charged and ready. You'll never be able to stir. Aah.

[Announcer]

The bunker ballers are just one strike away from winning their first game of the season.

[Mindy Thomas]

This is it, Guy Raz. This one for all the bananas.

[Guy Raz]

I can barely watch. I'm so tense.

[Thomas Fingerling]

How's this for all thumbs? Strike three. You're out.

[Dennis]

No. Yay. We did it.

[Announcer]

I don't believe it. The bunker ballers have won. In all my three weeks of announcing rec league baseball, I have never seen anything like this.

[Mindy Thomas]

I knew that magic, magic mud wouldn't let us down.

[Dennis]

Woo hoo.

[Thomas Fingerling]

I did it. I did it. And I only needed to use two out of my four thumbs. I still had more thumbs.

[Mindy Thomas]

Thomas Fingerling. That was incredible.

[Guy Raz]

I can't believe you got a strikeout. Your first one ever.

[Announcer]

Yeah.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Something about that ball just felt a little different, you know?

[Mindy Thomas]

It's the mud. I knew it. I love you, magic mud. Nasty, nasty.

[Guy Raz]

I wonder if we could improve the grip of anything else with that mud.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, I don't know about making things grippy, but the researchers behind the study said that the techniques that they used to understand how the baseball mud worked could also be used to help develop more sustainable construction materials in the future.

[Guy Raz]

So this baseball mud might actually help us build houses in the future?

[Mindy Thomas]

I mean, it's possible, but it's still a pretty long way away. But right now we need to celebrate. Come on, everyone. I think I saw a sports drink cooler over there that we can pour over. Fingerling. Come on, follow me.

[Thomas Fingerling]

All right, but if it's grape flavored, the other flavors give me a rash.

[Dennis]

Yay.

[Mindy Thomas]

We won.

[Dennis]

Way to go, everybody. Especially Dennis. Hey, wait for me.

[Kids Callers]

Wow in the world.

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[Dennis]

Wow in the world.

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[Kids Callers]

I'm Mindy. I'm Guy Raz. My name is Abigail and I live in Dallas, Texas. My wow in the world is that crocodiles are more closely related to birds than to lizards. Isn't that bonkerball? Say hi to grandma. Gee Force. Thomas Fingerling.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Neat.

[Kids Callers]

Dennis, Howdy and Reggie. Bye. My name is Luca. I live in Columbia, Tennessee, and my wow Is that penguins molt each year, meaning that they shed their feathers each year. Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz.

My name is Crosby. I'm 8 years old and I live in Bloomington, Minnesota. My wow in the world is that killer whales are actually dolphins because they live in pods and they're the largest member of the dolphin family. Say hi to Reggie for me.

Hello, Mindy and Guywise. My name is Meredith. I live in Mephisto, Tennessee. My wow. And my wow is that there's not a biggest number. Say hi to Wedgie Dennis. Hi, Grandma G Force, Bun journal and Thomas Fingerling.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Sup?

[Kids Callers]

Hi.

My name is Audrey, I'm six years old and I live in Rastrum, Idaho. My wow in the world is that lizards drop their tails when they are scared. They hide too.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Dennis.

[Kids Callers]

Hi there, Grandma G Force.

[Dennis]

Yay.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, oh, oh.

[Kids Callers]

And Reggie. Bye. Love your show. Hi. This is Elle from Michigan. My wow is that turtles can breathe through their butts. Bye. Hi, minding Guy Raz. My name's Avery. I'm from Cincinnati. My wow is jellyfish don't have heart. Hi, Guy Raz. Hi, Vimag Force.

[Mindy Thomas]

Booyah.

[Kids Callers]

Hi, Thomas Fingerling.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Ooh, cool dude.

[Kids Callers]

Hi, Dennis.

[Dennis]

Ahoy there.

[Kids Callers]

Hi, I'm Indian Garage. My name is Ike. I'm eight years old, no, nine actually, and I'm from Florida. My wow in the world is that octopus have blue blood because it's actually copper based. Say hi to Mr. Thomas Fingerling.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Okey doke.

[Kids Callers]

And say hi to Grandma G Force, Mr. Annoying, aka Dennis and the Sleigh cats for me.

[Dennis]

Bye.

[Kids Callers]

My name is Mila. I live on the Sunshine coast in B.C.

Canada.

My wow in the world is that popcorn can pop up to three feet in the air. Say hi to Reggie for me.

Bye.

[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 on Amazon Music.

[Mindy Thomas]

And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] 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 two. 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 more on.

[Guy Raz]

Tinkercast.Com 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 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 Boddy 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 Mac, Erica Medina, Henry Moskal, Jody Nussbaum, Ali Peck, Linda Rothenberg, Steph Sosa, Tyler Thol, 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 [e-mail] thanks for listening.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy Thomas]

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