WeWow on the Weekend (10/11/25)

Summary

Wow in the World: WeWow on the Weekend (10/11/25)

Date: October 11, 2025
Hosts: Mindy Thomas, Guy Raz, Dennis, and Reggie
Podcast: Tinkercast | Wondery

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Episode Overview

This lively episode of Wow in the World: WeWow on the Weekend brings kid-friendly science fun, Q&A hijinks, and an encore exploration into quirky animal secrets! Dennis and Reggie field audience questions, then cue up a throwback segment: the now-legendary “Hot Buttered Popcorn Pee” episode, where Mindy and Guy Raz investigate the science behind why the Asian binturong’s (bearcat) urine smells just like fresh movie popcorn. The energy is high, humor offbeat, and the science accessible for young listeners—absolutely packed with “WOWs” for weekend learning!

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Weekend Q&A with Dennis and Reggie (04:57–12:10)

• Dennis’s New Hair & Weekend Vibes:
  Dennis debuts his blue hair (thanks to washable hairspray), wonders what color Reggie would choose, and sets a playful tone (04:57–05:56).

• Q&A Segment – Listener Questions:

  • Snooping Schedule?
    Dennis details his “eavesdropping” schedule on Mindy and Guy Raz:

    “I eavesdrop on Mindy on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and then I snoop on Guy Raz on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays…They’re usually together on Mondays, so I check on them before I go to water aerobics.” (06:57–07:24)

  • Why Do Leaves Change Color?
    Dennis consults Guy Raz’s past science explanation:

    “The leaves on the trees are always red and yellow all year long, but you just can’t see those colors...because the leaves have a whole bunch of something called chlorophyll, which is green. So when there’s less sunlight, there’s less chlorophyll. So the green color disappears, and we start to see the orange and yellow colors.” (08:11–08:50)

  • Favorite Food?
    Dennis’s indecision leads to a new invention:

    “My favorite food is burritos. No, wait. Pizza. No, wait. Nectarines. Nectarines, Reggie…What about a peach pizza burrito?...Don’t yuck my yum. My favorite food is peach pizza burritos, and I don’t care who knows it.” (09:32–10:15)

  • Secret Inventions?
    Dennis humorously denies ever sneaking in to witness a fateful experiment—despite obvious evidence to the contrary:

    “Nope, that’s never ever happened. Sorry to disappoint you, Nathaniel.” (10:45–11:00)

  • How to Write In: Listeners are encouraged to send more questions for future Q&A segments.

2. Inside Tinkercast Studios: “Hot Buttered Popcorn Pee” (12:10–24:59)

A replay of Season 1, Episode 16 brings science, humor, and popcorn cravings!

• The Science of Popcorn Smell (13:43–15:46):

  • The Maillard Reaction:

    “When you heat up kernels of uncooked popcorn...the acids and the natural sugars in these foods get heated up, they form a chemical compound called 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline. Or for short, 2AP.” – Guy Raz (14:02–15:13)

  • Molecules and Atoms:

    “Molecules are invisible. And they happen when two or more atoms form a bond. Or like a friendship.” – Guy Raz (15:23–15:31)
    “So kind of like you and me, Guy Raz. Best friends forever, right?” – Mindy Thomas (15:31–15:35)

• A Rainforest Mystery: Why Does This Place Smell Like Popcorn? (17:19–17:50)

  • The journey continues from the kitchen to Indonesia’s rainforest to track the mysterious popcorn smell.

• Bearcat (Binturong) Revealed (19:01–19:53):

  • The Bearcat’s Secret:

    “The source of that hot buttered popcorn smell is an animal that lives in this forest… the Asian binturong. It's also called the bearcat because it kind of looks like a cross between a baby bear and a cat.” – Guy Raz (19:11–19:33)

• The Surprising Source: Bearcat Urine! (20:12–20:35):

  • Memorable Moment:

    “Urine.” – Guy Raz (20:11)
    “Urine. What?” – Mindy Thomas (20:12)
    “Urine. From their urine?” – Guy Raz (20:13)
    “So you’re telling me that when bearcats pee, their urine smells like hot buttered popcorn?” – Mindy Thomas (20:35–20:44)

• Why Do They Do It? (21:19–22:06):

  • Marking Territory:

    “The bearcat pees on its tail, so as it walks away, it drags its tail on the ground and leaves a trail of pee that smells like hot buttered popcorn...It’s a way for this bearcat to send a message to another bearcat...Keep out, stay away. This is my turf.” – Guy Raz (21:19–22:06)

• The Science Behind the Smell (22:10–22:56):

  • Dr. Lydia Green and her team discover the bearcat urine contains the same 2AP compound as popcorn!

    “After looking closely at the bearcat pee, these scientists found the very same chemical compound found in hot buttered popcorn.” – Guy Raz (22:38–22:49) “The 2AP compound.” – Mindy Thomas (22:49)

• Open Questions & Real-World Uses (23:00–23:58):

  • No one knows why the bearcat makes 2AP, but the discovery could have practical uses, like attracting endangered animals for conservation.

    “The researchers simply don’t know why… but imagine a future where we could produce certain smells to attract endangered animals to a safer place. Yes, or even attract an injured animal to a place where an animal doctor or veterinarian could treat it.” – Guy Raz (23:00–23:58)

• Wrap-up:

  • Mindy and Guy Raz are hungry for snacks and a movie as the adventure closes.

    “All this hot buttered popcorn and pee business has really got me hungry. I just want to fly back home, fire up the old Netflix, and watch my favorite movie, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Road Chip again.” – Mindy Thomas (24:04–24:15)

3. Ending Thoughts & Next Time (24:59–26:04)

• Dennis reacts:

  “Gross, Reggie. It was about pee. Ew. No, I do not want hot buttered popcorn right now. Well, that and I’m more of a kettle corn person.” (24:59–25:15)

• Thank-you and Goodbye Song:
  Dennis wraps up, invites listeners to contribute questions, and plans for more fun next episode.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dennis’s patented food innovation:

  “Peach pizza burritos…Don’t yuck my yum.” (09:53)

• Unforgettable Science Fact:

  “The smell you’re smelling... is actually... urine.” – Guy Raz (20:11)

• Musical Comedy Intro:

  “Wee wow on the weekend. Wee wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend.” – Dennis (04:32)

• Science as Friendship:

  “Molecules are invisible. And they happen when two or more atoms form a bond. Or like a friendship.” – Guy Raz (15:23–15:31)

• On the Value of Research:

  “This discovery could even help lead us to new ways of doing things, like, I don’t know, rescuing endangered animals or something.” – Mindy Thomas (23:31–23:40)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Dennis & Reggie’s Weekend Kickoff: 04:32–06:08
• Q&A Segment: 06:57–11:00
• Introduction to "Hot Buttered Popcorn Pee": 12:10–12:43
• Science of Popcorn Smell (Maillard Reaction): 13:43–15:46
• Journey to the Rainforest: 17:19–17:50
• Revelation: Popcorn-Scented Bearcat Pee: 20:09–22:06
• Scientific Study and Possible Applications: 22:10–23:58
• Dennis Wraps Up: 24:59–26:04

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Tone and Takeaways

The episode keeps things upbeat, silly, and accessible while sneaking in real science. With vivid personalities, catchy songs, outrageous facts, and listener mail, it encourages curiosity, experimentation, and “WOW” moments for families. The story of popcorn-smelling bearcat pee is a perfect reminder that science can be surprising, gross, and delightfully weird—all at once!

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Summary Author’s Note:
All dialogue and discoveries reflect the original voices and tone of Mindy, Guy Raz, and Dennis, capturing their fun-filled approach to making kids’ science “WOWable.”

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.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hey Wowzer fams Mindy and Guy Raz here. And before we start the show, we've got some gigantic epic news to share with you.

[Guy Raz]

That's right, Mindy. Uh, what was that?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, I'm so glad you asked. Guy Raz, you come on in, Steve.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, is that a T. Rex in your gingerbread mansion?

[Mindy Thomas]

Sure is, Guy Raz. But look what's in his little hand.

[Guy Raz]

Your door?

[Mindy Thomas]

No, in his other hand.

[Guy Raz]

Oh wait, is that our new book? Dinosaurs Are Wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Aw, he loves it.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, how did you find a T. Rex?

[Mindy Thomas]

Don't worry about it. I just wanted to get a real dinosaur Dinosaurs opinion on our new book since you know, they're kind of the main character in this one.

[Guy Raz]

Well, it looks like Steve is giving it two very sharp claws up Grown Ups. If you want to bring the wows of dinosaurs to life with our new book, Dinosaurs Are Wow. Pre order your copy [e-mail] dinosaur there you can shop at your favorite book retailer or support a local indie bookseller near you. Or once again, that's Tinkercast.com dinosaur and.

[Mindy Thomas]

If you pre order before October 28th, you will be invited to a special prehistoric party happening on our book birthday October 28th. Learn [e-mail] dinosaur that's tinkercast.com dinosaur to join us in our virtual prehistoric pre order party on October 28th. I gotta go drop Steve back off in the Jurassic period and you've got an episode to listen to. So without further ado, hit it, Reg.

[Sponsor/Announcer]

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[Dennis]

Wee wow on the weekend. Wee wow on the weekend. Wee wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend. Talking, laughing, me and Reggie singing, laughing. And then we. Oh wait, no, I said laughing twice. Whatever. We wow on the weekend. Yeah, we wow on the weekend.

[Mindy Thomas]

Laugh, laugh.

[Dennis]

We wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend. Hello and welcome to Wee Wow on the Weekend. I'm your host Dennis and also Reggie is here as my co host. Hey Reggie, do you notice anything different about me? No, it's not that. No, it's not that either. Reggie, look at my hair. How did you not see that my hair is blue today? Oh, you were just teasing me. Haha. Don't tease me. I don't like it. Yeah, I used blue hairspray. Now it's the kind that washes out. Because I might want another color later. Well, what about you? Do you think you'd ever change the color of your feathers for a day? What color?

[Guy Raz]

Really?

[Dennis]

Like kind of an ombre thing. Oh, wow. And then style it with a bowl cut and a handsome hat.

[Sponsor/Announcer]

That's great.

[Dennis]

You should do that. Well, should we jump into our first segment? Hooray. Let's answer some questions with a Q and A segment. Ahem. The Q and A segment. Okay, Reggie, where are the questions? Reggie? No, I want to answer the questions that got written in, not the phone calls. You were supposed to print them out. You had one job, Reggie. Well, quick, print them out now. Is it done? Hurry up. Printer. Finally.

[Guy Raz]

Thank you.

[Dennis]

Okay, this first question comes from username tween, and the message says, dennis, we are Emma and Chloe. We are wondering if snooping on Mindy and Guy Raz is on a schedule. Thanks. We love you. Well, Chloe and Emma, of course I have a schedule. I eavesdrop on Mindy on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and then I snoop on Guy Raz on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. They're usually together on Mondays, so I check on them before I go to water aerobics. Because, Reggie, water aerobics is fun and good for you. Next question. Oh, right. This one comes from username mbwinter633. And the message says, dennis, why do leaves turn different colors in the different seasons? Wow. Good question, mbwinter633. And I happen to know the answer because, Reggie, I asked Guy Raz this same question last fall, and I wrote it down in my journal. Okay, let's just see here. Ah, here it is. My journal entry from September 25th.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ahem.

[Guy Raz]

Ahem.

[Dennis]

Today I asked Guy Raz why the leaves on the trees turn so many beautiful colors in the fall. Do they just get tired of green and want a new outfit? Guy Raz said no, that actually, the leaves on the trees are always red and yellow all year long, but you just can't see those colors during the sunniest months of the summer because the leaves have a whole bunch of something called chlorophyll. Which is green. No, Reggie, I said chlorophyll. Right. You got it. Chlorophyll is the chemical that turns sunlight into tree food. I know. So when there's less sunlight, there's less chlorophyll. So the green color disappears, and we start to see the orange and yellow colors of the leaves come through. Isn't that cool? I know. Okay, next question. This next question comes from username imblueberry2016. The message says, what is your favorite food? Mine is spaghetti. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. I'm confused. Is this from a blueberry who likes spaghetti? Oh, you don't think IAMblueberry 2016 is really a blueberry?

[Guy Raz]

Whew.

[Dennis]

That's a relief. And a little misleading. Well, I am Blueberry2016. My favorite food is burritos. No, wait. Pizza. No, wait. Nectarines. Nectarines, Reggie. They're kind of like peaches. Oh, yeah, Maybe my favorite food is peaches. What about a peach pizza burrito? Reggie, don't yuck my yum. My favorite food is peach pizza burritos, and I don't care who knows it. Next question. Okay, this looks like the last one. This one comes to us from username Nathaniel, and the message says, do you ever see an invention getting made when you're not supposed to be? Well, Nathaniel, that depends on what you mean. Like, do you mean, have I ever snuck into the laboratory of bad ideas and ignored the signs that say keep out? And the other sign that says especially you, Dennis? And the other sign that says seriously, Dennis, keep out? I mean it. Luff Mindy. And then have I secretly watched Mindy inventing a machine that turns fish food into energy efficient rocket fuel and then jumped out and said, hi, Mindy, whatcha makin? And then she accidentally dropped it and the whole thing exploded? Nope, that's never ever happened. Sorry to disappoint you, Nathaniel. Okay, I think we answered all the cues for today. Thanks so much for your questions, everyone. And if you have a question for me, you can write to me or leave me a voicemail at 1-888-77-WOW WOW. That's 1-888-7-WOW WOW. I just might answer your question on Wii Wow on the weekend. Okay, next up is a little segment I like to call Inside Tinkercast Studios. Inside Tinkercast Studios. This is the part where we revisit an episode of one of my favorite Tinkercast shows. And today we're listening to wow in the World, Season 1, Episode 16 called Hot Buttered Popcorn Pee. What? Reggie, who's peeing on popcorn? Oh, wait, no. Are they putting popcorn in the pee? Reggie, what is this? Oh, maybe it's a typo. Like, is it supposed to say hot buttered popcorn, Please, and somebody wrote it wrong. Yeah, it's probably a typo. Let's listen to the episode. Okay, here we go. And play.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wee. Wow will be right back. Grown ups, this message is for you. That's it. Now back to the show. Wow. In the world. I smell popcorn. Somebody's definitely making popcorn. And I'm gonna find it. Because as the great Detective Toucan Sam always says, follow your nose. It always knows.

[Guy Raz]

Hey. Hey, Mindy.

[Dennis]

I'm in the kitchen.

[Guy Raz]

I'm just doing some science experiments.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait, you're popping up science? Well, in that case, Guy Raz, I'll take a bag of Red Vines and a large soda because it smells like this. This science is about to take us to the movie.

[Guy Raz]

First of all, Mindy, soda and red licorice are both full of sugar and artificial colors and are linked to all.

[Mindy Thomas]

Kinds of long term satisfaction because they are so delicious. Oh, well, Guy Raz, the last time we went to the movies, all you brought was dried seaweed and sprouted wheat berries. This time I'm packing the snacks.

[Guy Raz]

Who said anything about the movies? I am doing science here.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, all I see is a bat of hot butter Jiffy pop on the counter just waiting to release that delicious smell of movie theater all through the house.

[Guy Raz]

Precisely, Mindy. That's the experiment. Here, can you hold this bag while I cut it open?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, sure. By the way, Guy Raz, love the fact that you're wearing a white lab coat to make popcorn. Really classes up the experiment there.

[Guy Raz]

2 Acetyl 1 Pyrroline.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait, what did you just say?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, I'm taking in the smell of 2 acetyl 1 pyrroline.

[Mindy Thomas]

Uh, the what?

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, you and I have just experienced the Maillard reaction right here in this bag of hot buttered popcorn.

[Mindy Thomas]

Right, the Maillard reaction. Uh, yeah. So what is that?

[Guy Raz]

Well, it's what happens when you heat up kernels of uncooked popcorn or. Or when you toast bread or when you cook some rice. It's named after a famous French scientist named Louis Maillard, who first discovered it back in 1912.

[Mindy Thomas]

Whoa, time out. I need to imagine this discovery.

[Guy Raz]

Ooh la la. Take the amino acids in the soon reducing sugars, crank up the heat, and voila. The Maillard reaction.

[Mindy Thomas]

Whoa. So according to my imagination, Louis Maillard basically invented hot buttered popcorn.

[Guy Raz]

Well, not. Not the popcorn. But he did discover what makes things like popcorn or rice or toasted bread smell so delicious. And it happens. When the acids and the natural sugars in these foods get heated up, they form a chemical compound called twoacetyl 1 pyrroline. Or for short, 2AP.

[Mindy Thomas]

OK, and just to be clear, Guy Raz, when you say chemical compounds, you're talking about the tiny, microscopic molecules inside the popcorns.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly, Mindy. Molecules are invisible. And they happen when two or more atoms form a bond or like a friendship.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, so kind of like you and me, Guy Raz. Best friends forever, right?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah. And atoms are these teeny, tiny, invisible little balls that are in almost everything in the universe, Even in the air we breathe.

[Mindy Thomas]

I'm breathing in all the atoms.

[Guy Raz]

There are invisible atoms in the oxygen that fills our lungs. And almost everything in our universe includes invisible atoms from hydrogen, which is the most abundant Chemical in our universe.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, and when an oxygen atom becomes friends with a couple of hydrogen atoms, you get a molecule better known as H2O.

[Guy Raz]

That's my favorite molecule, Mindy. H2O, better known as water.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah, just love the taste of fresh molecules in the morning.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, so now that we've got that down, back to the hot buttered popcorn.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hang on a second, Guy Raz. I'm firing up Netflix. Time to make my own molecular compound using hot buttered popcorn combined with the Minion movie.

[Guy Raz]

Well, that's not exactly. Well, that doesn't matter anyway, Mindy, we don't have time for movies.

[Mindy Thomas]

We don't have time. What are you talking about, Guy Raz? Last week I broke all of your clocks when you were running late so that you wouldn't have to worry about me. The time is now 3:30pm I'll tell you what time it is, Clark.

[Guy Raz]

No, I mean, now that we've experienced the Maillard reaction and now that we know the chemical compound 2AP smells so delicious.

[Mindy Thomas]

It really does.

[Guy Raz]

We've got to get to the bottom of a mystery.

[Mindy Thomas]

A mystery? Guy Raz, the only mystery I smell is why we're standing here staring at a fresh bag of hot buttered popcorn and not.

[Guy Raz]

Well, to get to the bottom of this mystery, we're gonna have to take a trip to the rainforests of Indonesia.

[Mindy Thomas]

Whoa, that is really far away. But you know what? My carrier pigeon Reggie can totally take us. Whoa, hang on a second. Hey, Reggie, I need you to fly us to Southeast Asia, stat. Whoa, watch out, Kairoz. Ooh, Reggie, you really stick that landing. All right, Guy Raz, come on, hop aboard. We've got no time to waste.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, I'm ready, Mindy. But by the way, thanks so much for letting us fly on, Reggie. It's so much easier than going commercial. And no lines to get through security.

[Mindy Thomas]

I know. He doesn't even care if he brings snakes on board. Reggie. Get ready to step on the gas. Guy Raz. Here we go. Man, talk about a speedy delivery. Must have been feeding Reggie some high powered bird seed lately. Mindy.

[Dennis]

Mindy, Sh.

[Guy Raz]

Why Keep quiet. Do you smell that?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, it smells like hot butter popcorn. But why are we whispering? Mindy. What?

[Guy Raz]

Keep it down. We just found an important clue.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, but all I smell is hot buttered popcorn. I'm not seeing any clues.

[Guy Raz]

That's the clue, Mindy. The hot buttered popcorn is exactly why we're here.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait a minute. We came all the way to the rainforests of Indonesia to eat hot Buttered popcorn? We could have just done that in your kitchen back home.

[Guy Raz]

No, but we did come here to find the source of that hot buttered popcorn smell.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, wouldn't the source just be the hot buttered popcorn?

[Guy Raz]

Well, actually, the source of that hot buttered popcorn smell is an animal that lives in this forest.

[Mindy Thomas]

Animals are making that popcorn smell.

[Guy Raz]

That's right. And specifically an animal known as the Asian binturong. It's also called the bearcat because it kind of looks like a cross between a baby bear and a cat.

[Mindy Thomas]

A cross between a baby bear and a cat?

[Guy Raz]

Yes.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, that's so cute. I can't stand it.

[Guy Raz]

Uh huh. Wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, if those bearcats are making popcorn, they better not be charging as much as they do at the movie theater.

[Guy Raz]

Can't even believe it. They're not actually making popcorn, nor are they selling it.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, so then who's making the popcorn?

[Guy Raz]

Well, no one. In fact, many. The smell you're smelling the delicious smell of fresh, hot buttered popcorn. Yeah, it's actually.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, it's from.

[Sponsor/Announcer]

From what?

[Mindy Thomas]

Just say it, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Urine.

[Mindy Thomas]

Urine. What?

[Guy Raz]

Urine. From their urine?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, I think there might be something wrong with my ears, Guy Raz. Because for a second there, I thought you said that the smell of hot buttered popcorn that we're sniffing in this Indonesian rainforest is actually bearcat pee. I thought that's what you said.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, that's exactly what I said.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wow. Okay, so you're telling me that when bear cats pee, their urine smells like hot buttered popcorn?

[Guy Raz]

That's what I'm saying, Mindy. And right now, by my sense of smell, there may be some bearcats lurking nearby in this forest.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh. Oh. Shh, shh.

[Guy Raz]

Oh. Oh. In fact, Mindy, I think I see one right now.

[Mindy Thomas]

I see it too.

[Guy Raz]

And I think it's gonna be amazing. Ow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Cat. Ross, I think it's peeing on its own tail and feet. Hey, bearcat, you're peeing all over yourself.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, you scared it away.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, somebody needed to warn it. It's disgusting. Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

The bearcat pees on its own tail and feet on purpose. Deliberately. What? Ugh.

[Mindy Thomas]

You're gonna have to explain this one to me.

[Guy Raz]

Well, the bearcat pees on its tail, so as it walks away, it drags its tail on the ground and leaves a trail of pee that smells like hot buttered popcorn. Yes, and guess why it wants to leave that scent.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, if my scientific reasoning is still sharp, I guess it's because it was trying to signal something to the Other bearcats?

[Guy Raz]

Yes, exactly. It's a way for this bearcat to send a message to another bearcat. And that message is? Keep out, stay away. This is my turf.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, but I still don't get why they're peaceful. Pee smells like hot buttered popcorn.

[Guy Raz]

Well, Mindy, a team of scientists led by Lydia Green of Duke University in North Carolina were wondering the same exact thing. Why does bearcat pee smell like hot buttered popcorn?

[Mindy Thomas]

Man, I love science. So what did they find out?

[Guy Raz]

Well, the scientists were able to take samples of the bearcat's pee and then examine it very closely. And they ran a bunch of experiments, and lo and behold, Mindy, they found their answer.

[Mindy Thomas]

So what was it?

[Guy Raz]

Well, Mindy, remarkably, after looking closely at the bearcat pee, these scientists found the very same chemical compound found in hot buttered popcorn.

[Mindy Thomas]

The 2AP compound.

[Guy Raz]

Yes. Which explains why their pee smells that way.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, but it still doesn't explain the bigger why their pee smells that way.

[Guy Raz]

Well, here's the beauty of science. The researchers simply don't know why. I mean, they think it may be because when the bearcat's pee comes into contact with its skin, there's a chemical reaction that results in that hot buttered popcorn smell.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, but if they could figure it out, it seems like that could be very valuable information.

[Guy Raz]

It could. We could help scientists figure out how certain smells are made and. And maybe even allow us to create certain smells in a laboratory. Wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

You know, I'm thinking that maybe this discovery could even help lead us to new ways of doing things, like, I don't know, rescuing endangered animals or something.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, in fact, the scientists are thinking the same thing. I mean, imagine a future where we could produce certain smells to attract endangered animals to a safer place. Yes, or even attract an injured animal to a place where an animal doctor or veterinarian could treat it.

[Mindy Thomas]

That would be amazing.

[Guy Raz]

You know what, Mindy?

[Mindy Thomas]

What, Guy Raz?

[Guy Raz]

I think our work is done here.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, all this hot buttered popcorn and pee business has really got me hungry. I just want to fly back home, fire up the old Netflix, and watch my favorite movie, Alvin and the Chipmunks. Road chip again? You know it. You've watched that movie like 349 times.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, 349 times. I mean, can we watch something else this time?

[Mindy Thomas]

Nope. Hey, Reggie, get back here, you crazy old bird. We're ready to fly back home.

[Guy Raz]

Wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now hold on tight, Guy Raz, because Reggie's about to crank it up to supersonic speed.

[Guy Raz]

No.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, Reggie, we're ready to go in three, two, one.

[Dennis]

Gross, Reggie. It was about pee. Ew. No, I do not want hot buttered popcorn right now. Well, that and I'm more of a kettle corn person. Oh, I don't know why it's called kettle corn. Um, I think it's because you make it in a tea kettle. Oh, good idea. Let's wrap up the show and go make some. Thanks to all you listeners out there for tuning in to Wee Wow on the weekend. If you have a question for me, call and leave me a message at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW. That's 1-888-7- wow Wow. Or leave a comment on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and I just might answer your question on the weekend. Oh, right, the goodbye song. That's the end of the show. I need to go and make some tea kettle corn, but I'll do another show tomorrow. But for now, that's the end of the show.

[Guy Raz]

Eee. Eee.

[Mindy Thomas]

Bye grownups. If you like wow in the world, you can listen early and ad free right now on Wondery.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy Thomas]

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