Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Adaptation Station (12/27/24)

Summary

Wow in the World: Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Adaptation Station (12/27/24)
Released on December 27, 2024
Hosts: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz
Produced by Tinkercast | Wondery

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Introduction: A Chilly Start

The episode begins with a humorous behind-the-scenes glimpse into the studio’s battle with a broken heater. Hosts Guy Raz and Reggie navigate the frigid environment, setting a playful tone for the episode's theme of adaptation.

Guy Raz [00:50]:
"Dennis, it's freezing in here."

Reggie [02:18]:
"Adapt? That's it. Just like Polar bears have developed certain adaptations to help them adapt to freezing climates. So have we humans, Guy Raz. Or at least we've learned to mimic them."

This exchange not only introduces the episode's focus on adaptation but also engages listeners with relatable and entertaining banter.

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Game Show Segment: Two Whats?! And A Wow!

The core of the episode features the interactive game show segment, "Two Whats?! And A Wow!", where contestants identify true scientific facts (Wows) from fabricated statements (Whats).

Round 1: African Lungfish and Drought Survival

Question:
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?

A) 30,000 years ago, wild dogs had thumbs to help them fight predators.
B) Certain trees can turn themselves into cacti if planted in a desert.
C) During a drought, African lungfish can survive without water.

Winning Answer:
Blake from Michigan [05:56]:
"During a drought, African lungfish will dig into the mud and coat themselves with a slime-like mucus that hardens to keep them alive."

Discussion:
Guy Raz explains that African lungfish have developed remarkable adaptations, such as having two lungs to breathe air and creating a mucus cocoon to survive out of water for over a year. This showcases nature's ingenuity in ensuring survival during adverse conditions.

Guy Raz [06:23]:
"African lungfish have some bonkerballs adaptations to help them survive."

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Round 2: Geckos’ Unique Eye-Cleaning Method

Question:
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?

A) Some geckos lick their own eyeballs to keep their eyes moist in dry temperatures.
B) Snowy owls cover themselves in their own poop to help camouflage themselves in snow.
C) Flatulence is an adaptation that animals have developed as a defense mechanism.

Winning Answer:
Ethan from New Zealand [08:36]:
"A New Zealand green gecko has a purple tongue that it licks its eyes to clean with."

Discussion:
The hosts delve into the fascinating behavior of geckos, highlighting that many geckos lack eyelids and instead use their tongues to clean and moisten their eyes, a vital adaptation for their survival.

Reggie [09:16]:
"Licking their eyes also helps to keep them moist."

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Round 3: Goats’ Sneezing as an Alarm System

Question:
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?

A) Goats sneeze to warn each other of danger.
B) Elephants adapted big ears to cover their eyes while they sleep.
C) Zebras have black and white stripes to help them match with everything.

Winning Answer:
Kaya from Canada [11:51]:
"Goats sneeze to warn each other of danger."

Discussion:
The segment reveals that goats use sneezing as a social alarm system to alert the herd of potential threats. This behavior underscores the importance of communication in herd dynamics for survival.

Guy Raz [12:11]:
"Goats use their super sneeze powers as a way of sounding the alarm when they feel that they're in danger."

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Bonus Round: The Fox Question

In a lighthearted bonus round, the hosts humorously question, "What does the fox say?" This segment serves as a playful nod to popular culture, encouraging listeners to engage with scientific curiosity in everyday questions.

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Prize Generator Antics and Final Challenges

The episode wraps up with the hosts introducing an "invisible prize generator," which humorously malfunctions, dispensing "invisible pizza flavored panda pants." This quirky end segment maintains the episode's fun and engaging atmosphere.

Reggie [14:07]:
"All of our contestants today will be taking home their very own invisible pizza flavored panda pants."

Mindy Thomas [14:30]:
"We challenge you to invent something that would make your life a little bit more comfortable, a little easier. Like a pair of shoes that massages your feet as you walk."

Listeners are encouraged to participate by inventing their own comfort-enhancing devices, fostering creativity and application of adaptation concepts discussed during the episode.

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Conclusion: Staying Connected and Continuing the Adventure

The hosts sign off by inviting listeners to share their inventions and stay tuned for future episodes, reinforcing the podcast's commitment to inspiring curiosity and innovation in both kids and their grown-ups.

Reggie [15:02]:
"For more on how you can contribute, visit [e-mail] and share your creations."

Guy Raz [15:53]:
"Thanks again for listening and playing along. Meet us back here on Monday for Wow in the World."

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Key Takeaways

• Adaptation is Essential: The episode emphasizes how various species develop unique adaptations to survive and thrive in their environments, from African lungfish creating mucus cocoons to geckos licking their eyes for moisture.

• Interactive Learning: Through the game show format, listeners actively engage with scientific concepts, making learning both fun and memorable.

• Encouraging Creativity: The final challenge inspires listeners to apply the theme of adaptation to invent solutions that enhance comfort and adaptability in daily life.

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Notable Quotes:

• Guy Raz [06:23]:
  "African lungfish have some bonkerballs adaptations to help them survive."

• Reggie [09:16]:
  "Licking their eyes also helps to keep them moist."

• Kaya [11:51]:
  "Goats sneeze to warn each other of danger."

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This episode of "Wow in the World" successfully intertwines educational content with entertaining segments, making complex scientific phenomena accessible and engaging for both children and their grown-ups. By highlighting remarkable animal adaptations and encouraging listener participation, Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz create an inspiring and interactive learning experience that truly makes us all say "WOW!"

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. Hey Wowzer fams. It's Guy Raz here and before we start the show, have you watched wow in the world on YouTube? That's right. You can now watch some of your favorite tinkercast podcasts like 2 what's and a wow Flip and mosey. Who when wow and wow in the World. To start watching today, head to Tinkercast.com YouTube that's Tinkercast.com YouTube. That's it. Now back to the show.

[Mindy Thomas]

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[Guy Raz]

Dennis, it's freezing in here.

[Reggie]

Yeah. What's going on? Dennis, Backstage at the studio. Feels like Antarctica.

[Dennis]

Well, it's going to be a chilly episode of two. What's in a wow today? The theater heater is broken.

[Reggie]

What?

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Dennis]

Yeah, a certain someone let their cousin build a bird's nest in the blower motor. Yes. I'm talking about you, Reggie.

[Guy Raz]

Humans were not design to withstand these sub zero temperatures, Dennis.

[Dennis]

Oh, guy, it's only 60 degrees in here.

[Guy Raz]

Maybe to a polar bear it is.

[Dennis]

Well, the heating technician can't come out until Tuesday, so you're just gonna have to adapt.

[Reggie]

Wait, adapt?

[Guy Raz]

Uh huh.

[Reggie]

Adapt? That's it. Just like Polar bears have developed certain adaptations to help them adapt to freezing climates. So have we humans, Guy Raz. Or at least we've learned to mimic them.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, you mean like wearing sweaters that act like warm fur?

[Reggie]

Yes, or.

[Guy Raz]

Or sweater vests?

[Reggie]

Well, yeah, that too, but.

[Guy Raz]

Or sweater coats.

[Dennis]

Guy, quit dreaming about sweaters. We've got a show to do.

[Reggie]

Ooh, I almost forgot.

[Guy Raz]

Ah, ah, ahem.

[Dennis]

You there. Sweat those shirts. And you, flip those flops. And Reggie, ice all the cream. We're going live in three, two, one.

[Guy Raz]

And now for everyone's favorite game show. It's two once and a while.

[Blake]

With your hosts Mindy and Guy Rats. Two. One, two, one two. One, two, one, two what's two what's and a wow?

[Reggie]

Hello wowzers. And welcome back to two what's and a wow.

[Blake]

Two what's and a wow.

[Guy Raz]

The scientific game show that separates the wows from the what's and the category for today is adaptation.

[Blake]

What?

[Guy Raz]

Adaptation. It's how living things change based on their situations.

[Reggie]

You know, like how warm fur on polar animals is part of what helps them to survive and thrive.

[Guy Raz]

Now Mindy, why don't you remind our contestants on how the game works.

[Reggie]

You know it. Wowzers. In each of our three rounds today, Guy Raz and I will present you with three scientific statements about adaptations. But and this is a big but, only one of those statements will be a true wow. The other two, just a couple of made up wow.

[Guy Raz]

In each round, if you guess correctly, congratulations, you get a point.

[Reggie]

But if you guess incorrectly, you must stop, drop and do a ridonkulous physical challenge.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, everyone ready to start the game?

[Reggie]

Great. Let's do it.

[Guy Raz]

Ok, round one. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it a 30,000 years ago, wild dogs had thumbs to help them fight predators?

[Reggie]

Or is it certain trees can turn themselves into cacti if planted in a desert?

[Guy Raz]

Or is it sea? During a drought, African lungfish can survive without water.

[Reggie]

When you think you have the correct answer, breathe it onto a window and write it in the fog. Reggie, cue the thinking music.

[Guy Raz]

And time is up. Let's reveal the winning wow.

[Reggie]

And to do just that. Joining us by phone, it's Blake from Michigan. Blake from Michigan, tell us what's the wow? My wow in the world is that during a drought, African lungfish will dig.

[Blake]

Into the mud and coat themselves with a slime like mucus that hardens to.

[Reggie]

Keep them alive during the drought. Winner, winner, box of tissues for dinner.

[Guy Raz]

Thank you, Blake. Contestants, if you guessed the answer c that during a drought African lungfish can survive without water, you found the winning wow. Congratulations.

[Reggie]

You see, African lungfish have some bonkerballs adaptations to help them survive.

[Guy Raz]

First of all, these fish have two lungs and can breathe air.

[Reggie]

This is especially important since they live in floodplains and waterways that often dry up. But that's where their life saving mucus comes in.

[Guy Raz]

These lungfish will wrap themselves in a cocoon of their very own mucus. This mucus, a mucus cocoon, can Give them the protection they need to survive outside of water for a year or more.

[Reggie]

In the meantime, they breathe using their lungs until rain refills its waterway.

[Guy Raz]

Now, if you guessed correctly, congratulations, you get a point.

[Reggie]

But if you did not guess correctly, you must stop, drop, and jump on one foot while spelling your name backwards.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, on to round two. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A, some geckos lick their own eyeballs to keep their eyes moist in dry temperatures?

[Reggie]

Or is it B, snowy owls cover themselves in their own poop to help camouflage themselves in snow?

[Guy Raz]

Or what is it? C. Flatulence is an adaptation that animals have developed as a defense mechanism.

[Reggie]

I should note that flatulence is just a fancy word for that sound. Okay, when you think you have the correct answer, say it as slowly as you can.

[Guy Raz]

Reggie, sound the thinking music.

[Reggie]

And time is up.

[Guy Raz]

It's now time to reveal the winning wow with us is Ethan from New Zealand.

[Reggie]

Ethan, tell us what's the wow My.

[Kaya]

Wow in the world is that a New Zealand green gecko has a purple tongue that it licks its eyes to clean with.

[Blake]

Winner, winner.

[Reggie]

Eyeballs for dinner. I mean, meatballs for dinner.

[Guy Raz]

Thank you, Ethan. Contestants, if you guessed the answer A. That some geckos lick their eyeballs, you found the winning wow. Congratulations. Geckos actually do this because most of them don't have eyelids.

[Reggie]

No eyelids means that they can't blink, so they have to clean their eyes in other, more creative ways.

[Guy Raz]

Licking their eyes also helps to keep them moist.

[Reggie]

A. For good thinking, geckos and wowzers.

[Guy Raz]

Remember, if you didn't get the answer correct, we have a physical challenge for you.

[Reggie]

If you did not pick the correct answer, you must stop, drop, and lick your own eyeball.

[Guy Raz]

Ugh.

[Reggie]

Wait, wait. Almost got it.

[Blake]

Almost got it.

[Guy Raz]

While Mindy's attempting to lick her own eyeball, we should probably take a moment to thank one of our sponsors for today.

[Blake]

Blah fan blasting.

[Guy Raz]

Today's show is brought to you in part by Inside Out Burritos.

[Reggie]

All the delicious fillings you love but to waste.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, well, time for round three. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A. Goats sneeze to warn each other of danger?

[Reggie]

Or is it B, elephants adapted big ears to cover their eyes while they sleep?

[Guy Raz]

Or is it C, zebras have black and white stripes to help them match with everything.

[Reggie]

When you think you have the correct answer, say it out loud in your favorite cartoon character's voice.

[Guy Raz]

And we'll reveal the winning answer right after the break.

[Kaya]

2 what's in a while. We'll be right back. Grown ups, this message is for you. That's it. Now back to the show.

[Guy Raz]

Welcome back to Two what's and a wow.

[Blake]

Two what's in a wow?

[Reggie]

The scientific game show that separates the wows from the whats.

[Guy Raz]

Now, before the break, we left you with a dangling question for round three.

[Reggie]

Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?

[Guy Raz]

Is it A, goats sneeze to warn each other of danger?

[Reggie]

Or is it B, elephants adapted big ears to cover their eyes while they sleep?

[Guy Raz]

Or is it C, zebras have black and white stripes to help them match with everything.

[Reggie]

We've given you time to decide on the correct answer and to reveal that winning wow. Now, please welcome Kaya from Canada.

[Guy Raz]

Kaya, tell us, what's the winning wow?

[Kaya]

Goats sneeze to warn each other warn others of danger.

[Reggie]

Winner, winner, Gazootite for dinner.

[Guy Raz]

Thank you, Kaya. Contestants, if you guessed the answer A that goats sneeze to warn each other of danger, well, congratulations.

[Reggie]

That's right. Goats use their super sneeze powers as a way of sounding the alarm when they feel that they're in danger.

[Guy Raz]

But sometimes they just sneeze for sneezing's sake.

[Reggie]

It must get really confusing around allergy season for goats.

[Guy Raz]

Better to be safe than sorry, I guess.

[Reggie]

I guess.

[Guy Raz]

Well, if you guessed this round correctly, congratulations. Give yourself another point.

[Reggie]

But if you did not guess correctly, you must stop, drop, find the nearest pair of shoes, put them on your hands and clap three times.

[Guy Raz]

What was that?

[Reggie]

That sound can mean only one thing.

[Guy Raz]

It can't be danger. I didn't hear any goats sneezing.

[Reggie]

It means it's time for today's Bonkerballs bonus round. And the question for this round is.

[Guy Raz]

What does the fox say?

[Reggie]

I don't know. What does it say?

[Guy Raz]

This is not a joke, Mindy. It's the bonus question.

[Reggie]

Oh, right. And there's an answer.

[Guy Raz]

Well, congratulations to all of our winning contestants on today's show.

[Reggie]

And with that, we're sending everyone home today with a fabulous invisible prize. Reggie, roll out the prize generator. Here's the thing about the prize generator. I invented this thing as a way to get a surprise every time we turned it on. But the real surprise is that it spits out the surprise in three different parts. So it's kind of up to you to put it together.

[Guy Raz]

So in other words, it's broken.

[Reggie]

It's broken. Reggie, ready to power this puppy up?

[Guy Raz]

Is it supposed to be making that noise?

[Reggie]

Mindy, all of our contestants today will be taking home their very own invisible pizza flavored panda pants.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, what? Mindy, I really think you need to fix this prize generator.

[Reggie]

Well, that's just about all the time we have for today.

[Guy Raz]

But before we go, we have a little Steam themed challenge for you we like to call Comfort to the Max.

[Reggie]

We challenge you to invent something that would make your life a little bit more comfortable, a little easier.

[Guy Raz]

Like a pair of shoes that massages your feet as you walk.

[Reggie]

Or how about a bowl that cools your soup when it's too hot?

[Guy Raz]

Whatever it is, think about how this invention could help you and your fellow humans to adapt to new situations or surroundings.

[Reggie]

Forget to take a photo or video of what you come up with Grown Ups? You can upload pictures and videos to [e-mail] share and be sure to come.

[Guy Raz]

Back on Monday for a brand new episode of wow in the World and again on Friday for a new episode of 2 what's and a wow.

[Reggie]

Until then, keep on wowing.

[Blake]

2 what's 2 what? 2 what's 2 what? 2 WHAT? 2 WHAT? 2 rats and a wow.

[Reggie]

Grownups. 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.

[Reggie]

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

[Guy Raz]

2 what's in a WoW is executive produced by Meredith Halpern, Ranzer, Mindy Thomas and me, Guy Raz.

[Reggie]

Our writers are Anna Zagorski, Darnell Walker, Ruth Morrison and Heba Gutta.

[Guy Raz]

Sound production and design is by Marianne Lozano with help from our senior producer Jed Anderson.

[Reggie]

Special thanks to the rest of our team of Tinkerers including Anna Zagorski, Rebecca Caban, Henry Moskal, Jessica Boddy, Jacob Stein and Jason Rabinowitz.

[Guy Raz]

Our theme song was written and composed by the Pop Ups. For more on their three time Grammy nominated all ages music, find [e-mail] and.

[Reggie]

To keep the what's and the Wows rolling, Visit [e-mail] There you can find our two what's in a wow Think and Tinker Playbook Interactive, Kahoot Games and info on becoming a member of the World Organization of wowzers Grown Ups.

[Guy Raz]

You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @2whats and a wow and our email address is helloinkercast.com finally, if.

[Reggie]

You'Re a kid with a big wow to share. It could be used on an upcoming episode of 2 what's in a wow? Call us at 1-888-7-WOW. Wow.

[Guy Raz]

Thanks again for listening and playing along. Meet us back here on Monday for Wow in the World.

[Kaya]

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