Wow in the World: Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Stormy WOWther! (February 28, 2025)

Hosts: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz
Podcast: Wow in the World by Tinkercast | Wondery

Introduction to the Episode

In this exciting episode of Wow in the World, hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz kick things off by announcing the Make It Wow engineering challenge. This competition invites listeners, especially young tinkerers and their teachers or parents, to invent solutions for animal-related problems. Participants have the chance to win a virtual classroom visit from Mindy and a signed copy of books like Wow in the Wild and Sea Creatures. The challenge emphasizes creativity and innovation, encouraging kids to engage deeply with science and problem-solving.

Notable Announcement:

Mindy Thomas (00:00): "Introducing the Make It Wow engineering challenge. Wowzers. Listen up."

Two Whats?! And A Wow! Game Show

Following the announcement, the episode transitions into the beloved segment "Two Whats?! And A Wow!", a scientific game show that tests contestants' ability to distinguish between real scientific facts ("Wows") and fabricated statements ("Whats"). The theme for this episode centers around Wind.

Round 1: Hurricanes and the Animal Kingdom

Question:

Guy Raz (03:13): "Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
A) Hurricanes always rotate in a clockwise direction.
B) Hurricanes can cause animals to fall from the sky.
C) The eye of a hurricane blinks 15 to 20 times every minute."

Winning Wow:

Everett from Lakewood, Ohio (04:19): "My wow in the world is that hurricanes can cause animals to fall from the sky."

Insight: Mindy explains that heavy storms can form waterspouts capable of lifting animals like fish and frogs into the air, resulting in seemingly "animal showers."

Quote:

Mindy Thomas (04:45): "Many scientists believe that animals like fish and frogs can get sucked up into the sky when waterspouts form during heavy storms."

Round 2: The Green Sky Phenomenon

Question:

Guy Raz (05:56): "Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
A) The sky can turn green before a tornado or hurricane.
B) Stratus clouds are the only kind of cloud in a hurricane.
C) The name hurricane comes from the fact that you have to hurry to get away from it."

Winning Wow:

Marilyn (06:23): "The sky turns green before a tornado."

Insight: A green sky often signals severe weather. The phenomenon occurs due to the way storm clouds filter sunlight, making the sky appear green, although it doesn't happen with every storm.

Quote:

Guy Raz (06:52): "This is because of the way light comes through the massively thick storm clouds. All of the water droplets and ice particles in those clouds can filter the light and make the sky look green."

Round 3: The Power of Floodwaters

Question:

Guy Raz (08:31): "Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
A) Flash floods only happen when rain falls and lightning flashes at the same time.
B) Plants and trees do not help to prevent flooding.
C) Even just 6 inches of floodwater can sweep you off your feet."

Winning Wow:

Nora from Illinois (09:31): "6 inches of floodwater can topple a person and 12 inches of floodwater can move a car."

Insight: Floodwaters, even at relatively shallow depths, possess incredible force. The National Weather Service confirms that just six inches can knock over an adult, while twelve inches can carry away vehicles.

Quote:

Mindy Thomas (10:01): "According to the National Weather service, even just 6 inches of floodwater has enough force to knock over a typical adult."

Conclusion and Prizes

At the episode's end, Mindy and Guy celebrate the winners of each round, awarding them creative prizes like personal "wind" and engaging them with enthusiastic banter. They encourage listeners to join the World Organization of Wowzers for year-round activities and to participate in future live events and contests.

Final Encouragement:

Mindy Thomas (13:14): "Meet us back here every Friday for more episodes of 2 what's in a wow. Saturday and Sunday for WEW on the Weekend with Dennis and Mondays for Wow in the World. It's all right here on the wow in the World podcast feed."

Key Takeaways

• Engineering Challenge: Listeners are motivated to invent solutions for animal-related issues, fostering creativity and scientific inquiry among kids.

• Scientific Insights: The game show segments provided fascinating facts about wind-related phenomena, debunking myths and highlighting the power of natural forces like hurricanes and floods.

• Engagement: The interactive format, complete with real-time challenges and rewards, keeps both kids and adults engaged, making science fun and accessible.

Notable Quotes:

• Guy Raz (02:22): "The scientific game show that separates the Wows from the whats."
• Mindy Thomas (05:10): "Also, the eye of a hurricane doesn't actually have any eyelids, so it can't blink at all."

This episode of Wow in the World seamlessly blends educational content with interactive fun, leaving listeners both informed and inspired to explore the wonders of science further.