WeWow Creepy Crawly Week - Day 4: The Return of Spider-Spider (10/30/25)

Summary

Wow in the World: WeWow Creepy Crawly Week – Day 4: The Return of Spider-Spider (10/30/25)

Podcast: Wow in the World

Hosts: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz (Tinkercast | Wondery)

Episode Date: October 30, 2025

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Main Theme & Purpose

Day 4 of WeWow Creepy Crawly Week takes listeners on a science-filled and adventure-packed exploration of spiders—particularly the remarkable slingshot spider of Peru. Using a playful narrative centered around an enormous, nature-inspired amusement park (Biomimicry World), Mindy and Guy Raz blend storytelling, science facts, and hands-on curiosity. This episode also teaches about biomimicry—the process of using nature as inspiration for solving human challenges.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Dennis, Reggie, and Smokey McDougal

• [02:22] Dennis and his cohost Reggie are bugsitting Mindy’s pet cockroach, Smokey McDougal. Dennis is at a loss for instructions but decides to read his favorite comic—the Amazing Spider Spider—aloud to Smokey.
• Spider Spider Story: A superhero spider with all spider powers saves a baby spider from a frog using water-walking abilities. It's a fun, comic-style introduction to real spider biology.

2. What is Biomimicry?

• [10:41] Mindy and Guy Raz are headed to “Biomimicry World,” a theme park where every ride is inspired by nature’s solutions. Discussion introduces biomimicry through playful examples:

  • Termites’ cooling mounds lead to human building design for efficient air conditioning.
  • Ant colonies inspire improvements in human traffic systems.

  Quote:

  • Mindy: “Biomimicry is actually when we humans look to nature to get ideas for inventions that might be able to help us out.” ([11:06])

3. Amazing Animal-Inspired Rides

Upon entering the park, Mindy and Guy explore nature-inspired attractions:

• [13:27] Notable rides based on animal superpowers:
  • Float Like an Otter wave pool
  • Sugar Glider zipline
  • Bison Bunting bumper cars
  • Gecko Wall (scaled like a gecko)
  • Mantis Shrimp Punching Bag ("fastest punch in the animal kingdom")
• Mindy achieves 20 mph on the punching bag; mantis shrimp punch two-and-a-half times faster!

4. The Main Event: Slingshot Sheriff Ride (and the Science Behind It)

What’s So Special about the Slingshot Spider?

• [15:36–20:10]
  • The slingshot spider is tiny (about 1 millimeter long).
  • Amazing hunting method: spins a cone-shaped, highly elastic web, pulls it back, and essentially becomes its own slingshot, launching itself at prey such as flies and mosquitoes.
  • "The slingshot spider is the slingshot—or at least its web is the slingshot." ([19:03])
  • This “launch” occurs at a staggering acceleration—100 times faster than a cheetah!
  • The web’s special silk holds large amounts of potential energy.
  • Inspired real-world scientists at Georgia Institute of Technology, who hope to apply these lessons to engineering.

The Science of Speed: Acceleration & G-Forces

• [24:15–26:10]

  • Acceleration defined (change in speed vs. speed itself).
  • Slingshot spider accelerates ~300 times faster than Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt!
  • Experiences up to 130 G-forces (enough to make a fighter pilot black out 10 times over).

  Quotes:

  • Mindy: “Usain Bolt’s acceleration is around 300 times slower than this little spider when it flings itself from its web.” ([25:10])
  • Mindy: “Slingshot spider experiences 130 G-forces—enough to make a fighter pilot black out 10 times over!” ([26:06])
  • Guy Raz (jokingly): “What does your grandma have to do with all this?”
    Mindy: “Not grandma, G force, Guy Raz.” ([25:24])
  • Mindy: “The spider might have some sort of locking mechanism in its legs that allow it to pull itself into place, then cock itself ready to fire as soon as its prey comes into view.” ([27:21])

Why Study Spider Silk?

• [29:01]

  • Spider silk can store and release more energy than any human-made material.
  • There is potential to use this discovery to build tiny power supplies for miniature robots and devices.

  Quote:

  • Mindy: "The silk that these spiders use is able to hold much, much more energy than anything us humans have ever made." ([29:01])

5. The Ride (and Biomimicry in Action)

• [27:53–29:58]

  • Mindy and Guy experience the Slingshot Sheriff ride—a massive human-sized version of the slingshot spider’s signature move.
  • The safety mechanisms (elastic ropes) are modeled after spider silk’s properties.
  • Guy Raz is nervous about safety, and Mindy reassures him it's "for science."
  • The episode ends with the characters about to be launched, echoing the spider’s dramatic hunting leap.

  Quote:

  • Guy Raz: "Are you sure these elastic ropes are safe?”
    Mindy: “They are based directly off the slingshot spider silk that it uses for its web.” ([28:38])
  • Mindy: "Anything for science!" ([29:23])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Just because he can't talk doesn't mean he can't listen. You're so smart, Reggie.” – Dennis ([02:22])
• "This little spider is able to accelerate 100 times faster than a cheetah." – Mindy ([19:46])
• "Unlike other high flyers... the slingshot spider does not rely only on its leg muscles... It uses its web." – Mindy ([26:19])
• "The silk that these spiders use is able to hold much, much more energy than anything us humans have ever made." – Mindy ([29:10])
• "Anything for science!" – Mindy & Guy Raz (throughout, especially [29:23])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:22] – Dennis’ introduction, Spider Spider comic story (Spider superpowers)
• [10:41] – Introduction to Biomimicry World; what is biomimicry?
• [13:27] – Exploring animal-inspired rides (gecko wall, mantis shrimp punching bag)
• [15:36] – Mindy and Guy plan to ride the Slingshot Sheriff; introduction to the slingshot spider
• [19:00] – Explanation of slingshot spider’s hunting method
• [25:10] – Comparing spider acceleration to Usain Bolt
• [26:06] – Slingshot spider experiences 130 G-forces
• [27:21] – Discussion of spider’s leg “locking mechanism”
• [29:01] – Spider silk’s energy storage and technological potential
• [29:23] – "Anything for science!" catchphrase before the ride launch

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Style & Tone

• Playful, humorous, and full of kid-friendly banter
• Science explained through story and analogy, making complex topics exciting and accessible
• Hosts often joke and tease each other, keeping the mood fun and energetic

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Summary Takeaway

This episode is a whirlwind of fun and discovery, perfectly blending comic adventure, theme park thrills, and real-world science. Through exploring the slingshot spider’s astonishing abilities and the broader concept of biomimicry, listeners learn how nature’s designs can inspire human innovation—while laughing along with Mindy, Guy Raz, and their cast of quirky characters. It’s all about saying “WOW!” to the wonders of the creepy crawly world, and learning to see the extraordinary in the tiny and overlooked.

Transcript

[A]

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.

[B]

Hey Wowzer Fams. Mindy and Guy Raz here. And before we start the show, did you hear that we are on YouTube.

[A]

That's right, Mindy Wowzer Fams. You can find full episodes of wow. In the World and more of your favorite Tinkercast podcasts on our YouTube channel, WowTube.

[B]

Plus on WowTube, you can also watch me explode some watermelons and test out Bonkerball's experiments in the laboratory of bad ideas.

[A]

Or you can dance along with Dennis for music videos featuring music from WEW on the weekend.

[B]

There is so much in store made just for you on WowTube. Visit Tinkercast.com YouTube to watch. Now that's Tinkercast.com YouTube.

[C]

Hey grown ups. If you're planning on taking a family trip to Orlando this summer to be transported to magical universes, well, you should know there's one portal you don't want to miss. Your portal to the original universe. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex where they have flying dragons too. It's about science where no spells are required. Walk beneath a towering Falcon 9 booster, touch a real moon rock and come face to face with space Shuttle Atlantis. Plus, take a Behind the Gates bus tour for an exclusive look at NASA's legendary launch sites and the future of space exploration. Visitors also have the chance to meet an astronaut. Talk about a core memory in the making. And get this, our friends at Kennedy Space center have offered our listeners $7 off admission. Just use code WOW at checkout. With missions to Mars, rocket launches and deep space exploration, no trip to Orlando is complete without landing at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Discover something real.

[D]

Ew.

[E]

Slimy squiggly little icky buggies. Flies and beetles and ants are so yucky Nasty critters scurrying and squirming and wriggling and slithering and I'm gonna barf.

[A]

Blech.

[E]

Creepy Crawly Week Creepy Crawly Week Things with wing too many legs grows Creepy Crawly Week Creepy Crawly Week Crawly Week Crawly Week Crawly Week. Hello and welcome to day four of Wee Wow. Creepy Crawly Week. I'm your host, Dennis and that's my co host Reggie. This week we're bug sitting Mindy's gross little pet cockroach, Smokey McDougal. Say hi, Smokey. Is that all you can do, Smokey? Just scuttle around all scuttle y. The problem, Reggie, is that Smokey can't talk. How are we supposed to interact? I can't ask him questions about his favorite reality show, or get the scoop on the hot cockroach gossip, or figure out his bedtime routine because Mindy didn't leave me instructions today. Reggie, you're right. I could read a mosque. Just because he can't talk doesn't mean he can't listen. You're so smart, Reggie. Okay, hold on. Where is it? Where is it? There it is. Found it. It's my favorite issue of my favorite comic book about my favorite arachnid superhero, the Amazing Spider Spider. Reggie, no. Spiders aren't bugs, they're arachnids. Yes, it's different. Now quit interrupting. I have to read Smokey a little story. Are you ready, Smokey? Okay, here we go. The Amazing Spider Spider. A mild mannered spider who fell into a big vat of radioactive chemicals and gained the abilities of every spider in the world. Jumping spiders. Wolf spiders. Long legged cellar spiders. The most amazing sp. Spider Spider in the world. On this particular day, Spider Spider was enjoying a relaxing day by the pond when suddenly. Gadzooks. A cry for help. Spider Spider sprang into action. Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba. Ja ja ja ja ja ja ja. Oh, what's this? A baby spider in a pond, trapped on a lily pad. With a hungry frog closing in. Help me.

[A]

Spider.

[E]

Spider Spider wasn't a very good swimmer, but he did have the water walking ability of the fishing spider. Using tiny hairs on his body to repel water. Spider Spider ran over the surface of the pond just in the nick of time. Spider Spider reached the lily pad and the baby spider. Wahaha. I'm scared.

[A]

Jump on my back.

[E]

Cried Spider Spider. Oh okay. Cried the baby spider. Boing. Now with the baby spider on his back, Spider Spider ran over the pond back to the shore before the frog could eat them both for lunch. Whee Hooray. Once again, the day is saved by the Amazing Spider Spider. Shippity Spider Spider Spider Spider Spider. He's got all the spider powers. Every spider ability. Super duper spidery. Look out. Here comes the Spider Spider. Yo nama demon.

[B]

Oh Ma.

[E]

The end. Hang on. What's that little tiny noise? Smokey McDougal. Are those cockroach. Cheers for me. He likes me. He really likes me. Or at least he likes stories about spiders. But who doesn't? Good idea, Reggie. Let's listen to another spider story. Here it is. Wow. In the World Season 5, Episode 3 called Slingshot Spider. Okay, here we go.

[B]

And play Wee. Wow will be right back. Grown ups. This message is for you. Hey, grownups, what happens when you bring a great white shark and a baby octopus to your house? A whole lot of wow. Hey, it's me, Mindy from Wow in the World, the number one science podcast for curious kids and their grownups. And we are so excited to bring the wows of sharks and sea creatures to your home without having to turn your house into an aquarium. Our jumbo great white shark is 24 inches long and comes with an exclusive wow fact card. Our baby ocean animals are perfect for the little ones in your life. Featuring exclusive audio that will leave the whole family saying, aw. These wow in the World toys make for fin tastic gifts for the kids in your life who love science and even the ones who don't. Yet grownups visit Tinkercast.com Toys to shop the wow. Now that's Tinkercast.com Toys. That's it. Now back to the show.

[E]

What in the world?

[B]

Come on, Guy Razi, where are you? I guess I could give him a call. Hey, Guy Raz, put a little pimp in your step. We got roller coasters to ride.

[E]

Hi, Mindy.

[B]

Oh, hey, Dennis.

[E]

What are you two doing?

[B]

Just waiting for Guy Raz to come outside and get in the ice cream truck. We're all supposed to go to that new amusement park that just opened, Biomimicry World.

[E]

Oh, I love Biomimicry World, where it's nature's way or the highway.

[B]

Yeah. Yep, that's the one.

[E]

Oh, my gosh. Mindy.

[B]

Uh huh.

[E]

This one time at Biomimicry World, Mother and I were waiting in line at the Gecko Wall Experience, and you wouldn't believe it. Mikey Moose. Yes, Mikey Moose walked right up to me and sang his famous song. It's a Biodiverse World after all. It was incredible. I'm telling you, Mindy, the magic, the wonder, the all you can eat hot dog.

[F]

Buff.

[B]

Hey, Raz.

[A]

Hey. Hey, Mindy. Sorry I'm late. My zoodle set my alarm for 8am Berlin time again.

[E]

Hey, Guy.

[A]

Oh, hey, Dennis. Are you coming with us to Biomimicry World?

[E]

Oh, I'd love to, but no. Actually, I was just telling Mindy about the time I went to Biomimicry World when I was. Let's see, how old was I yesterday?

[A]

Okay, Dennis, well, we really should be heading off. We're already late.

[E]

Okay, have fun. If you see Douglas the dolphin, tell him I said.

[B]

Oh, boy.

[A]

Mindy, I am so Excited for this trip. It's been so long since I've visited a theme park.

[B]

I know, me too. And I love parks. Dog parks, national parks, neighborhood parks, parallel parks. But I think theme parks are my favorite.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Oh yeah. The rides, the games, the crowds, the vomit. It's what days like today were made for.

[A]

Uh huh.

[B]

Oh, Bongo and the Big Toot are just about to come on. Let me just turn on the radio here.

[A]

Whoa.

[E]

You're tuned in to Bongo and the big two in the morning on 97. Wow.

[B]

I love this show.

[E]

Hey Toot, did you hear about this new theme park that's open just outside of town?

[F]

Haha, of course I've heard of it. We play their commercial like 17 times an hour.

[E]

Biomimicry World. It's nature's way or the highway.

[A]

Hey, hey, that's where we're going, Mindy.

[F]

Ha ha.

[E]

So biomimicry. What even is that? Actually, in your case, it's pronounced B O. Mimi Cry. What?

[F]

It is? Yeah.

[E]

Cause your B O is making me cry. I don't get it.

[B]

Oh, they were just joking around, Reg. That's right, because biomimicry is actually when we humans look to nature to get ideas for inventions that might be able to help us out.

[A]

Yeah, like how scientists have studied how termites keep their mounds cool inside even when it's boiling hot outside. And that's helped them to figure out how to cool down office buildings.

[B]

Yeah, or how scientists have studied ants and how they move in and out and around their giant colonies. Knowing this has helped to make traffic and roadways more efficient for us humans.

[A]

Right, and all the rides at Biomimicry World are inspired. Inspired by nature in the same way.

[B]

I can't wait to see this place for myself.

[A]

I'm so excited. Mindy, are we almost there?

[B]

Yep. In fact, I see it now. Look, Guy Raz. Look Reggie. Wow. Now I just need to find a place to park here. Oh, here we go. Right at the front gates. Perfect.

[A]

Mindy, this sign says no stopping.

[B]

I'm not stopping, I'm parking. Come on.

[F]

Okay, next.

[B]

Hello there. We would like one full price and one child priced ticket, please.

[F]

All right then.

[B]

Guy Raz, act like you're 12 and under.

[A]

Mindy, I'm not 12 years old.

[E]

Wait a minute.

[B]

Blow our cover. Two full price tickets please.

[F]

Okey doke. That'll be $150. We accept check, cash, chocolate, secondhand workout equipment, and American doll hairs.

[B]

I have an antique button.

[F]

Oh wow. Big spender. Okay, here are your Passes there. Have fun. And remember, it's nature's way or the highway.

[B]

Yeah, I've seen the ads.

[F]

Okay, next, please.

[A]

All right, Mindy, why don't you grab a map from over there, and we'll figure out where we want to go.

[B]

Okay. Here's a map for you.

[A]

Thanks. Let me just see here.

[F]

Whoa.

[A]

This place is huge. You've got the float like an otter wave pool.

[B]

Ooh, the sugar glider.

[A]

Zipline, bison bunting, bumper cars.

[B]

Look, there it is, Guy Raz, right there on the map.

[A]

What?

[B]

Mindy, it's the ride I came here for.

[A]

The Slingshot Sheriff.

[B]

Yeah, Grandma G Force and Thomas Fingerling came here last week, and they said that this ride was absolutely bonker balls. Or maybe it was barfie balls. Anywho, it's based on the slingshot spider from Peru.

[A]

Oh, yeah? Yeah.

[B]

You wanna check it out?

[A]

I don't know, Mindy. I'm usually more of a, you know, teacups and cotton candy kind of guy.

[B]

Oh, come on, Guy Razzy. The whole thing is based on new research from a team of scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Anything for science.

[A]

Anything for science. Yes.

[B]

Okay, so how do we get there?

[A]

It looks like the ride is all the way on the other side of the park.

[B]

Oh, man, it's a long way to walk. Oh, but look, There's a monorail stop right next to it.

[A]

Yeah, and according to this map, there's a monorail station down just up this path. We can hop on and take it to the Slingshot Sheriff ride on the other side of the park.

[B]

Perfect. I love it when a plan comes together.

[A]

Come on, let's go, Mindy.

[B]

Right behind ya. Oh, Reggie, are you coming? Oh, okay.

[A]

What'd he say, Mindy?

[B]

Oh, Reggie says he wants to go ride the Sky Voyager. It's one of those virtual reality rides that lets you experience. Experience what it's like to fly. Like a bird.

[A]

But Reggie is a bird.

[B]

What can you do? The bird wants what he wants. Okay, have fun. Catch up with you later, Reg. All right. Monorail this way.

[A]

So tell me more about this slingshot spider.

[B]

Okay, well, first of all, this spider is tiny.

[A]

How tiny?

[B]

I'm talking only around a millimeter long.

[A]

One millimeter. That's like five times smaller than a grain of rice.

[B]

Yeah, and it's only a teeny, tiny bit bigger than a grain of sand.

[A]

Wow. I'm surprised those researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology were even able to find any of these little spiders.

[B]

Yeah, and it's even more impressive when you find out that these teeny tiny spiders live in the super dense Amazonian rainforests in Peru.

[E]

Huh?

[A]

And what's so special about these spiders?

[B]

Well, let's just say they have a very unique way of hunting.

[A]

Huh? Okay, well, I know lions usually chase down their prey and falcons dive and swoop in on their prey. And don't most spiders just catch their prey in their sticky spider webs?

[B]

Well, sometimes, yes. But this tiny spider does things a little bit differently.

[A]

Differently?

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[D]

Welcome to the Kingfisher monorail system, the most aerodynamically efficient monorail system in North America.

[A]

Looks like we're here, Mindy.

[F]

Hey there, folks.

[B]

Hey, aren't you the same ticket taker from the park entrance?

[F]

Nope, that was my brother, Bjorn. My name's Anders. Welcome to the Kingfisher monorail system.

[B]

Kingfisher Monorail system. Mean like the kingfisher bird?

[F]

Yep, that's right. We took the most aerodynamically shaped beak in the animal kingdom here and used it to model the nose of the monorail there. It cuts through the air like a hot knife through. I can't Believe it's not butter.

[B]

Ah.

[A]

Like the Shinkansen.

[F]

Oh, bless you.

[A]

No, I didn't sneeze. Oh, I'm talking about the Shinkansen. The Japanese bullet train.

[B]

What are you talking about, Guy Raz?

[A]

Well, it's another classic example of biomimicry, Mindy. Back in the 1980s and 1990s, the Japanese completely redesigned their high speed trains. They were inspired by the beak of a Kingfisher and then used it to reshape the the nose of the train to make it faster and more efficient. Whoa.

[B]

And it looks like the monorail in this biomimicry world theme park has done the same thing.

[F]

Yep. So if I could just take a look there at the passes here, I can get you on your way there.

[A]

Sure thing. Here you go.

[F]

Okay, thank you. Good day now.

[B]

And here is mine.

[F]

Oh, this one here is all sticky there.

[B]

Later, tater.

[F]

Okay, bye.

[D]

Then the next monorail will arrive precisely in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Nailed it.

[A]

All aboard, Mindy.

[B]

All aboard, Guy Razzy.

[F]

Ah.

[A]

Okay, let's see here. Looks like it's only a couple of stops.

[B]

I can't wait. I can't wait. I can't wait.

[A]

I can't wait.

[B]

I can't wait.

[A]

So you were saying this slingshot spider has a different way of hunting its prey?

[B]

Oh, yeah, and it's all in the name.

[A]

Slingshot.

[B]

You got it.

[A]

So it uses a tiny slingshot to hunt its prey?

[B]

Well, not exactly. See, the slingshot spider is the slingshot. Or at least its web is the slingshot.

[A]

Huh.

[B]

Okay, so using its webbing as a sort of elastic band, the spider creates a cone shaped web that it winds back. And then sometimes hours later, when a fly or a mosquito comes into range. Bam. It launches itself at its target. And the slingshot spider has captured its prey.

[A]

Whoa. It must be pretty quick to catch a fly fly out of midair.

[B]

You have no idea, Guy Raz. This little spider is able to accelerate 100 times faster than a cheetah.

[A]

Yikes. Those mosquitoes don't stand a chance.

[B]

Not a chance.

[A]

So those researchers from Georgia Tech are trying to figure out how something so small can travel so fast?

[B]

Well, sort of. I mean, they're dolphin ately interested in how the spider is able to accelerate so fast, but they're also interested in the spider's web that it uses for the sling.

[A]

I'm guessing it's pretty special then.

[B]

Oh, yeah. This web is super strong and able to hold incredible amounts of energy when the slingshot spider pulls it back into place.

[E]

Huh.

[D]

Next stop, slideshow Alley.

[A]

This is us, Mindy.

[B]

All off board. All off board.

[D]

Thank you for choosing the Kingfisher monorail system.

[A]

Whoa, check out all these rides, Mindy.

[B]

Unbelievable.

[A]

The gecko wall.

[B]

I. Yeah, that's the one where they shove you in this suction puppy suit and you gotta shimmy up the wall like a gecko.

[E]

This is so fun.

[A]

Oh, right.

[B]

Check out this one. It's the mantis shrimp punching bag.

[A]

The mantis shrimp punching bag?

[B]

Oh, yeah. You know how the mantis shrimp has the fastest punch in the entire animal kingdom?

[A]

Yeah, enough to knock out its prey and boil the water around its corner.

[B]

Right. Well, this punching bag here tells you how fast your punch is, and then.

[A]

It looks like it compares it to how fast the mantis shrimp punches you.

[B]

Got it. Check it out. One, please.

[F]

Okey doke. Just let me scan your pass.

[B]

Oh, hey, Anders from the train.

[F]

Train? Oh, you mean Anders from Demonorail.

[B]

Or wait, are you Bjorn?

[F]

Nope, I'm Henrik.

[B]

Oh, well, you all sound like the same person.

[F]

Oh, yeah, we get that a lot. Okay, now step up to the punching bag and make sure to wait for the. Okay, never mind then. Sheesh. People these days just hauling off and punching stuff before they even know what's what. I tell you. Oh, results already. Okay, who's next?

[B]

There, See, Guy Raz, I was able to punch this bag at a speed.

[A]

Of 20 miles per hour, which is about 9 meters per second. That's pretty quick, Mindy.

[B]

Well, I have been working out, so.

[A]

And the mantis shrimp punches about two and a half times as fast as that.

[B]

Oh, bonkerballs.

[A]

Oh, well, good try anyway, Mindy. Hey, let's go find that slingshot Sheriff spider ride.

[B]

Oh, already found it. Lucky. Look, it's right over there.

[A]

Yeah, Mindy, that thing is massive.

[B]

Okay, so remember, the slingshot spider is only about a millimeter long. Yeah, but its web, which is what.

[A]

It uses to launch itself at its prey like a rubber band.

[B]

Right. Its web is not much, much bigger. So this ride has been scaled up to human size.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Wow is right. Come on. I can't wait any longer. Race ya. Run deep. Wait up.

[D]

Howdy, partner. And welcome to the slingshot Sheriff, the world's fastest accelerating ride, inspired by. By the Peruvian slingshot spider.

[B]

Aw, man. Line of people. That's not very nature inspired.

[A]

Actually, Mindy, Many insects, like ants and termites form lines and cues when going out to get food and then returning to the nest.

[B]

Yeah, but I bet those termites and ants didn't pay extra for us. Speedy pass. Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me. We have a speedy pass.

[E]

Yeah, you and everyone else.

[F]

This is the speedy pass line.

[B]

Bunker balls.

[A]

So what were those researchers from Georgia Tech trying to learn from the slingshot spider?

[B]

Well, like I was saying, the slingshot spider accelerates really, really fast.

[A]

And acceleration in spider speed are different. Right, Mindy?

[B]

Yes. Acceleration is a change in speed.

[A]

So from like 0 to 100 miles per hour in three seconds.

[B]

Yes, and that would be a very.

[A]

Fast acceleration, whereas 100 miles per hour would be the speed.

[B]

Exact oritos.

[A]

Okay, I think I got it. So how fast does this little spider accelerate?

[B]

Well, let's. So the fastest human on the planet, Usain Bolt. Yes. So when he explodes off his starting block at the start of a race, his acceleration is around 300 times slower than this little spider when it flings itself from its web.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

And moving that fast, that quickly subjects it to some rather intense G forces, if you know what I mean.

[A]

What does your grandma have to do with all this?

[B]

Not grandma, G force, guy, Raz. The actual gravitational force applied to your body.

[A]

Oh, right, of course, I remember. G force is that heavy feeling you get when you're on a roller coaster.

[B]

Yeah, so on a roller coaster, you'll typically experience around 3, 4, maybe 5G forces even. And a fighter pilot, when doing all of those. Those crazy twists and turns in their jets, can actually get up to around 10G forces. Right.

[A]

And so how many G forces does this spider experience when it launches itself from its web?

[B]

130 G forces.

[A]

130?

[B]

Yep. That's enough to make a fighter pilot blackout 10 times over.

[A]

Whoa.

[B]

But here's the thing. Unlike other high flyers in the animal kingdom, like frogs, crickets, or even grasshoppers, the slingshot spider does not rely only on its leg muscles to produce all of the power it needs to launch itself so quickly.

[A]

Right. This spider instead uses its web to accelerate at such high speeds.

[B]

Exact oritos. And what's blown these scientists brains is how this little teeny tiny spider is able to pull back and then hold this slingshot in place for hours at a time.

[A]

Because I imagine it has to wait a while for a fly or a mosquito to come near its web.

[B]

You know it. And it takes a crazy amount of energy to pull this slingshot back. And then even more energy to keep it in place for hours on end.

[A]

So how do they do it?

[B]

Well, they're still studying it, but. But they think that this spider might have some sort of locking mechanism in its legs that allow it to pull itself into place, then cock itself ready to fire as soon as its prey comes into view. Which is exactly how this ride seems to work. Speaking of which, looks like we're up next, Guy Raz.

[A]

Yay.

[F]

Okay, who's next there?

[E]

Oh, me, me, me, me.

[B]

We're next. We're next.

[F]

All right, you two just take a seat here and we'll get you launch there.

[B]

Don't mind if I do. Ooh, comfy. And which place? What popular Norwegian name do you have? Sven Oli? Thor.

[F]

Aw. Don't you recognize me? Uh, no, it's Bjorn from the front gate.

[B]

Of course it is.

[F]

Okay, strapping you in?

[A]

I'm not so sure about this, Mindy.

[F]

And that'll do. Okay, have fun now.

[B]

This is so exciting, I'm gonna barf.

[F]

Uh, please hold all barfing till after the ride is gonna come to a complete stop there.

[B]

Oh, come on.

[A]

Mindy. Are you sure these elastic ropes are safe?

[B]

Yes, of course. I'm not sure they're safe, Guy Raz. But. And this is a big but. They are based directly off the slingshot spider silk that it uses for its web. Which is another reason why the scientists were interested in researching this spider.

[A]

Why?

[B]

Well, because the silk that these spiders use is able to hold much, much more energy than anything us humans have ever made.

[A]

Really? Yeah.

[B]

They're hoping to use the web's energy storing secrets to create a potential power supply for tiny robots and other little devices.

[A]

Well, I guess that makes me feel a little better.

[B]

Aw, come on. Guy Razzie Anything for science.

[A]

Anything for science. Anything for science. Anything for science.

[B]

3, 2, 1 and here we Grown ups. If you like wow in the World, you can listen early and ad free right now on Wondry.

[A]

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

[B]

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

[A]

Wow in the world is written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Calkin with help from me, Guy Raz.

[B]

Original sound design and music editing is done by our senior producer Jed Anderson and Tyler Thull. 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.

[A]

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

[B]

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

[A]

The rest of our team of tinkerers including Anna Zagorski, Rebecca Caban, Kit Ballenger and Henry Moskal.

[B]

To keep the Wows rolling, Visit [e-mail] There you can learn more about becoming an official member of the World Organization of wowzers, learn more about upcoming events, shop our shop and pick up a copy of our new number one New York Times best selling book the how and wow of the Human Body Grown Ups.

[A]

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[B]

You'Re a kid with a big wow to share with us, call us at 1-888-7-WOW WOW. For a chance to be featured at the end of our show or an upcoming episode of 2 what's in a wow?

[A]

Thanks again for listening and until next time, keep on wowing.

[B]

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