Wow in the World: WeWow Earth Week - Day 5 (April 18, 2025)
Hosts: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz
Produced by: Tinkercast | Wondery
Release Date: April 18, 2025
Introduction to WeWow Earth Week
On Day 5 of WeWow Earth Week, hosts Dennis and Reggie kick off the day with their segment, emphasizing the importance of environmental conservation. They introduce their theme with enthusiasm, highlighting the beauty and diversity of Earth’s ecosystems.
Dennis: "Wow. Earth. The whole earth on Wee. Wow. Earth." [03:09]
Treasure or Trash: Upcycling Fun
To engage listeners, Dennis and Reggie play a game called “Treasure or Trash”, where they evaluate household items to determine their potential for upcycling. This interactive segment underscores the podcast’s commitment to sustainability and creative reuse.
Reggie: "Ahem. I'm going to show you a thing I found down in the basement here, and you're going to tell me if it's treasure or trash." [04:30]
Notable Moments:
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Plastic Deli Container: Reggie identifies it as treasure, citing its potential for reuse after cleaning.
Reggie: "Because you can clean it and put something else in there." [05:00] -
Glass Jar: Again deemed treasure for its aesthetic and functional potential as a vase.
Reggie: "Because it's glass, it has additional beauty to it." [06:00] -
Used Tissue: Unanimously classified as trash due to hygiene concerns.
Reggie: "Yeah, this is trash. Definitely trash." [07:00]
Transition to Main Episode: A Diaper Home for GeForce
Following the game, Dennis and Reggie segue into an episode of Wow in the World titled “A Diaper Home for GeForce” from Season 8, Episode 24. This episode explores an innovative approach to recycling by constructing a house entirely out of old diapers.
Dennis: "In this episode, we build Granny G a new house out of old diapers." [04:50]
The Science of Diaper Concrete
Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz delve into the scientific underpinnings of using dirty diapers as a substitute for sand in concrete. They discuss a groundbreaking study by engineers from Japan's University of Kitaki Yushu, which investigates the feasibility of replacing sand—a critically endangered resource—with materials found in used diapers.
Mindy: "I just read a new scientific study about diaper houses in the journal Science Reports. This is serious science business." [12:02]
Guy Raz: "The key ingredient is sand." [14:04]
Key Insights:
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Sand Shortage: Sand is the second most used natural resource globally, essential for concrete and glass production. The depletion of sand reserves poses a significant threat to construction industries worldwide.
Mindy: "Actually, Dennis, sand is the second most used natural resource in the whole world behind water." [14:15] -
Potential of Diapers: The study hypothesizes that the absorbent materials in dirty diapers could replace sand in concrete mixtures, offering a sustainable alternative while addressing waste management issues.
Guy Raz: "These engineers wondered if the materials found in dirty diapers could replace some of the sand typically used to make concrete." [14:45]
Experiment: Building a Diaper Concrete House
Mindy and Guy Raz lead Dennis and Reggie through a hands-on experiment to construct a miniature house using diaper concrete. This segment combines educational content with entertainment, demonstrating the practical application of scientific principles.
Mindy: "What if we all teamed up to build Grandma G Force a house made out of diapers?" [11:42]
Notable Quotes:
- Reggie on Experimenting: "I do not know what ratio means." [20:56]
- Mindy Clarifying Ratios: "A ratio just means the different amounts of each ingredient used compared to the others." [21:00]
Process Highlights:
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Gathering Materials: The team collects necessary ingredients—cement, gravel, sand, water, and dirty diapers. Reggie humorously repurposes household items, adding a playful dynamic to the experiment.
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Cleaning Diapers: Ensuring hygiene, Dennis is tasked with cleaning the diapers, emphasizing the importance of safety in construction.
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Mixing Concrete: The team discusses the correct ratios required for optimal concrete strength, referencing the scientists' method of testing multiple mixtures.
Guy Raz: "If they use too much water compared to the amount of diapers, it might be too liquidy or thin and make the concrete too weak." [21:20]
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Forming and Drying: They attempt to shape the concrete into bricks and assemble the house, facing humorous setbacks due to impatience and lack of proper drying time.
Mindy: "They had to test six different ratio mixtures before they found the right mixture." [21:39]
Challenges Encountered
The experiment faces several comedic obstacles:
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Structural Integrity: The lack of proper drying leads to a collapsing structure.
Guy Raz: "The concrete hasn't even hardened yet. It has absolutely no structural integrity." [22:18]
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Resource Mismanagement: Reggie’s playful interference results in the misplacement of tools, adding to the chaos.
Reggie: "Whatever." [25:02]
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Realization of Limitations: The team acknowledges the practical challenges of implementing diaper concrete without thorough testing and appropriate ratios.
Mindy: "But what they found was that diaper concrete didn't contain any more microbes or bacteria than regular concrete." [23:07]
Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Despite the humorous mishaps, the podcast underscores the potential of innovative recycling methods in addressing resource shortages. The diaper concrete study illustrates how unconventional materials can contribute to sustainable construction practices, making housing more accessible and environmentally friendly.
Guy Raz: "Since dirty diapers are free and easy to find, diaper concrete could be a much cheaper alternative to regular concrete." [24:54]
Mindy: "Which means that homes built with diaper concrete would be more accessible to more people in more parts of the world." [24:54]
Final Thoughts:
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Innovation in Sustainability: Exploring alternative materials like dirty diapers can revolutionize construction, reduce waste, and conserve precious resources.
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Community Collaboration: The experiment highlights the importance of teamwork and scientific inquiry in developing sustainable solutions.
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Educational Value: By blending science with entertainment, Wow in the World effectively educates its young audience and their families on critical environmental issues and innovative technologies.
Closing Remarks
The episode wraps up with a reminder to listeners about the importance of continued exploration and experimentation in environmental conservation. Mindy, Guy, Dennis, and Reggie encourage the community to think creatively about recycling and sustainability.
Mindy: "Thanks again for thinking, tinkering, experimenting and exploring with me this week." [27:37]
Reggie: "Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery." [29:18]
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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:
- Dennis: "Wow. Earth. The whole earth on Wee. Wow. Earth." [03:09]
- Reggie: "I do not know what ratio means." [20:56]
- Mindy: "It's not ridiculous, Guy Raz. It's science." [12:02]
- Guy Raz: "The key ingredient is sand." [14:04]
- Mindy: "Which means that homes built with diaper concrete would be more accessible to more people in more parts of the world." [24:54]
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