Wow in the World – “Robo Dino Chicken!” (November 3, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this playful and educational episode of "Wow in the World," hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz embark on a wild science-filled adventure inspired by cutting-edge paleontology and robotics research. The main theme centers on a real-life robotic dinosaur built by scientists to explore why ancient dinos like the Caudipteryx developed wings—even before they could fly! The episode is a blend of wacky, imaginative pranks, genuine scientific discussion, and a closer look at how science can answer age-old questions with inventive new methods.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mindy’s Giant Robo Dino Prank (01:32–07:34)

• Mindy has built a 10-foot-tall robotic dinosaur in her "Laboratory of Bad Ideas," with the help of Reggie and, unwittingly, Guy Raz.
• The robot is part of a plan to prank their friend Dennis, but also inspired by a real scientific study.
• Notable moment: The robot’s first attempt at moving is unpredictable and comically out-of-control, setting the tone for the playful episode.
  • "Yes, of course it's not safe, Guy Raz." – Mindy (03:40)

2. Real Science: Why Did Dinosaurs Get Wings? (07:34–10:37)

• The episode shifts to real recent research from Seoul National University in South Korea.
• Scientists there built a turkey-sized robot modeled after the Caudipteryx, a small, feathered dinosaur from 125 million years ago, to test how wings might have helped.
  • "Their robot was based on a dinosaur called the Caudipteryx." – Mindy (05:08)
  • Guy Raz and Mindy review classic theories for why dinosaurs might have developed wings:
    1. Agility and Hunting: Wings helped dinosaurs make sharp turns and jump higher when chasing prey.
    2. Egg Care: Wings were used to keep eggs warm during incubation.
    3. Attracting Mates: Colorful or large wings helped dinosaurs attract a mate, similar to how peacocks do today.
  • "There are three possible theories for why dinosaurs developed wings." – Mindy (09:22)

3. The New "Flush Pursuit" Theory (10:37–13:44)

• Mindy explains the latest theory: dinosaurs developed wings to scare insects out of the grass—an approach called "flush pursuit," used by some modern birds.
  • "Flush pursuit. I think I've heard about that before. Mindy, isn't that a hunting strategy that some birds use to catch insects?" – Guy Raz (11:49)
  • The scientists tested the theory by rolling their robot with and without wings through grass filled with locusts; more insects jumped when the robot’s wings were unfurled.
• Demonstration: Mindy has Reggie act out the bird behavior, making science engaging and relatable for young listeners.
  • "Here, I'll show you. Hey, Reg, can you demonstrate? So, first the bird spreads its wings..." – Mindy (12:13)

4. Prank in Action & Application of the Theory (13:44–15:44)

• Mindy puts the flush pursuit theory to the test—on Dennis instead of insects—using her giant robo-dino-chicken to startle him.
  • "You see, these researchers from the University of Seoul think that dinosaurs might have developed wings for this same reason? To scare bugs out of the grass?" – Guy Raz (13:11)
• The prank works; Dennis is thoroughly surprised!
• The hosts confirm the scientific experiment was successful for both robots (the research one and Mindy’s oversized prankster):
  • "When they used the flush pursuit hunting technique, they found that tons more locusts jumped out of the grass compared to when the robo dinosaur's wings were tucked in." – Mindy (15:01)
• Science Takeaway: The research supports the possibility that early winged dinosaurs weren’t just agile or incubating eggs, but may have used wings to become better hunters by flushing out prey like bugs.

5. Wrapping up with Dennis (15:44–17:15)

• Mindy and Guy Raz reveal the prank to Dennis, who isn’t scared for long and quickly offers enthusiastic feedback.
  • "You know I'm a very popular pranky... But I have a few recommendations for you." – Dennis (16:49)
• The episode ends on a light note, with Dennis suggesting the robo-dino needs a hat and more style.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pranking Robotics Introduction:
  • "What you're looking at here could be the latest and greatest in pranking robotics." – Mindy (03:21)
  • "Pranking robotics?" – Guy Raz (03:29)
• Classic Mindy Chaos:
  • "Yes, of course it's not safe, Guy Raz." – Mindy (03:40)
• Clear Science Communication:
  • "A theory is a guess that scientists have before they start to conduct research to see if the guess is actually correct." – Guy Raz (09:28)
  • "Dinosaurs may have used their wings to keep their eggs warm." – Mindy (09:49)
• Explanation of Flush Pursuit:
  • "Flush pursuit. ...They spread their wings super wide, and then they slowly walk through some tall grass, and then they catch all the insects that come jumping out." – Mindy (11:49)
  • "It's like trying to control a sneeze." – Mindy (12:07)
• Summary of Findings:
  • "When they used the flush pursuit hunting technique, they found that tons more locusts jumped out of the grass compared to when the robo dinosaur's wings were tucked in." – Mindy (15:01)
• Endearingly Silly:
  • "First, Mr. Robot Dinosaur needs a hat." – Dennis (17:01)

Important Timestamps

• 01:32–03:09 – Introduction to the giant robo dino prank in Mindy’s lab
• 03:37–04:50 – First (disastrous) test run of the robot
• 05:02–07:34 – Mindy introduces the real scientific inspiration
• 07:34–09:55 – Review of classic wing-evolution theories
• 10:37–13:44 – Explanation and demonstration of the flush pursuit theory
• 13:44–15:44 – Pranking Dennis and drawing the link to the research study
• 15:44–17:15 – Wrapping up with Dennis (the “pranky”) and his feedback

Episode Tone & Style

True to "Wow in the World," the tone is fast-paced, playful, and full of slapstick humor—but always rooted in real-world scientific discovery. The hosts use silly banter, imaginative scenarios, and quick explanations to make the science digestible and fun for kids and grown-ups alike.

Takeaway

This episode seamlessly weaves together comedy and credible science, using hijinks with a giant robo-dino-chicken to illustrate real research on how and why ancient dinosaurs may have evolved wings before flight. It's a wow-moment-rich journey into the golden age of paleontology, robotics, and creative scientific problem-solving.

For curious listeners who want more: The episode encourages learning beyond the show, inviting kids to use their “wownoculars”—aka curiosity—to keep asking why and exploring the "wow" in their own worlds.