WeWow on the Weekend (2/15/25)

Summary

Podcast Summary: Wow in the World – WeWow on the Weekend (February 15, 2025)

WeWow on the Weekend is a special episode of the beloved science podcast Wow in the World, hosted by Dennis and Reggie. This episode, released on February 15, 2025, takes listeners on an engaging journey filled with exciting announcements, listener interactions, and a fascinating deep dive into the world of blue crabs. Below is a detailed summary capturing all key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode.

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1. Exciting Event Announcement

[00:02] Dennis kicks off the episode with enthusiastic news about an upcoming event:

"Introducing the Make It Wow Listening Party. That's right. On Saturday, February 15 at 7:00pm Eastern, I will be hosting the second ever members-only live listening party."

He invites listeners to join a live stream event featuring a never-before-heard performance from the Make It Wow live show in New York City. Dennis emphasizes the benefits of membership, including exclusive content and special mailings.

2. Educational Partnership Spotlight

[02:03] Mindy takes a brief moment to highlight an educational resource:

"Hey, grown-ups. Are you looking for more great ways to set your kids up for academic success? IXL Learning is an online learning program that enriches your homeschool curriculum."

Mindy promotes IXL Learning, an online platform trusted by millions, offering engaging educational games and resources. She provides a special discount code for listeners, encouraging them to enhance their children's learning experiences.

3. Episode Kickoff: WeWow on the Weekend

The show transitions into its main segment with playful banter between Dennis and Reggie:

[03:28] Dennis:

"We wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend. Talking, laughing. Me and Reggie singing, laughing."

They engage in a light-hearted guessing game, setting a fun and interactive tone for the episode. Dennis attempts to stump Reggie with a whimsical riddle about a mysterious "thing" he's thinking of, leading into the heart of the episode.

4. Listener Interaction: Reading Reviewsies

[04:44] Dennis introduces the "reviewsies" segment, where they read and react to listener reviews:

"I'm reading reviewsies for me and for uzies. We've got us some doozies, so let's read review."

They share humorous and heartwarming feedback from listeners, showcasing their appreciation for the podcast community. Notable highlights include a listener expressing immense love and another suggesting that Reggie should be the star of the show, sparking playful disagreements between the hosts.

[06:16] Reggie:

"Reggie rocks and the message says, reggie, tell Dennis that he shouldn't be the star. You should be."

The segment emphasizes the strong connection and camaraderie between the hosts and their audience.

5. Inside Tinkercast Studios: Exploring "You Krabby Pee is Scaring Me"

[08:42] Dennis transitions to the "Inside Tinkercast Studios" segment, where they revisit another show episode:

"This is the part where we revisit an episode of one of my favorite Tinkercast shows. And today we're gonna listen to... Season 2, episode 20 called You Krabby Pee is Scaring Me."

The chosen episode delves into the intriguing world of blue crabs and their unique biological processes, setting the stage for an in-depth exploration of marine biology.

6. Main Segment: The Science of Blue Crab Pee

The core of the episode features a detailed and entertaining discussion about blue crabs, their predators, and the chemical signals in their urine that play a crucial role in the marine ecosystem.

a. Introduction to Blue Crab Pee

[19:05] Dennis and Guy Raz introduce the topic:

"I just read this study that was conducted by these scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology. And I found it so fascinating that I just had to see or smell it for myself."

They explain that blue crabs produce urine containing unique chemicals—Trigonelline and Homarin—that serve as warning signals to their prey, primarily mud crabs.

b. The Experiment Demonstrated Live

Using a playful skit, the hosts simulate an experiment where they collect blue crab urine and observe its effects on mud crabs. Reggie interacts with a toy crab, "Crabby Abby," to demonstrate how the chemicals in the urine deter mud crabs from approaching.

[30:42] Reggie:

"They froze dead in their tracks. A total duck in cover. Almost like they're trying to go undetected."

Through this demonstration, listeners learn how these chemical signals act as a natural repellent, maintaining the balance within the ecosystem by protecting oyster populations from over-predation by mud crabs.

c. Ecological Impact and Applications

The discussion highlights the broader ecological significance of blue crab urine:

[34:03] Guy Raz:

"Without the blue crab pee, mud crabs might see these waters as an all you can eat oyster buffet."

Reggie adds insights on how researchers aim to replicate these chemicals to help conserve oyster habitats by deterring predators naturally.

[34:27] Reggie: "Fake blue crab pee to scare off the crabs and keep them from eating all their oyster livestock. That's brilliant."

This innovative approach underscores the potential of biomimicry in environmental conservation efforts.

7. Conclusion and Listener Engagement

As the episode wraps up, Dennis invites listeners to participate and provide feedback:

[35:44] Reggie:

"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."

The hosts encourage audience interaction through messages and surveys, fostering a sense of community and continuous engagement.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• [00:02] Dennis: "Introducing the Make It Wow Listening Party... our members also get birthday cards from Mindy and Guy, quarterly mailings from you, Reggie."

• [02:03] Mindy: "IXL Learning is an online learning program that enriches your homeschool curriculum... Make an impact on your child's learning."

• [06:16] Reggie: "Reggie rocks and the message says, reggie, tell Dennis that he shouldn't be the star. You should be."

• [19:05] Guy Raz: "I just read this study that was conducted by these scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology... blue crab pee is basically the same color as ours when we've had a lot of water to drink."

• [30:37] Guy Raz: "Trigonelline and Homarin... colors like straw... invisible danger signals."

• [34:27] Reggie: "Fake blue crab pee to scare off the crabs and keep them from eating all their oyster livestock. That's brilliant."

Key Takeaways

• Innovative Conservation: The chemical properties of blue crab urine offer promising methods for natural predator deterrence, aiding in the preservation of oyster populations.

• Community Engagement: Wow in the World fosters a strong connection with its audience through interactive segments like "reviewsies" and invitations to special events.

• Educational Value: The episode seamlessly blends entertainment with educational content, making complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging for both kids and their grown-ups.

Final Thoughts

WeWow on the Weekend exemplifies Wow in the World's mission to inspire curiosity and wonder through engaging storytelling and scientific exploration. By delving into the unique behaviors of blue crabs and their ecological impact, the hosts provide listeners with both knowledge and amusement, embodying the true spirit of saying "WOW!"

Transcript

[Dennis]

Hello, Wowzers. It's me, Dennis. And before we start the show, I wanted to invite you to a special spectacular, super secret event. Okay, fine, Reggie. Maybe it isn't a super secret anymore, but can I get a drum roll anyway?

[Reggie]

Thank you. Ahem.

[Dennis]

Introducing the Make It Wow. Listening party. That's right. On Saturday, February15 at 7:00pm Eastern, I will be hosting the second ever members only live listening party. And this time we'll be listening to the never heard before recorded performance of the Make It Wow. Live show in New York City from last November. Isn't that cool? Yes, Reggie. All of our members will be there and we can all chat together as we listen to it. It'll be like reviewsies, but in real. If you want to join the party, grown Ups, you can sign up to become a member of the world organization of Wowzers today. Just visit Tinkercast.com membership. That's Tinkercast.com membership. Every membership helps support our podcasts and Tinkercast mission to spread wow to families and teachers around the world. That's right, Reggie. Our members also get birthday cards from Mindy and Guy, quarterly mailings from you, Reggie, and so much more members. We'll see you there on Saturday, February 15th. Just go to tinkercast.comevents to get the secret password to join my live stream at 7pm Eastern. That's it. Now let's get back to my show. I mean our show. I mean the show.

[Mindy]

Hey, grown ups. Are you looking for more great ways to set your kids up for academic success? IXL Learning is an online learning program that enriches your homeschool curriculum. Trusted by 15 million students worldwide and backed by over 75 scientific research studies, kids can explore any topic in any grade level. From practice problems to lessons and video tutorials, IXL has resources for all kinds of students and learning styles. And important importantly, IXL is fun. Kids can learn through IXL's educational games, win awards, and enjoy learning in a way that works for them. Make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and WOW in the world. Listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixl.com wow visit ixl.com wow to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.

[Dennis]

We wow on the weekend. We wow on the weekend. We 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. Ah, whatever. We wow on the weekend.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah.

[Dennis]

We wow on the weekend. Clap clap. We wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we on the weekend. Hello and welcome to Wee Wow on the Weekend. I'm your host, Dennis, and that's Reggie, co host and giant pigeon. Hey, Reggie, want to play a game real quick? Okay, try and guess what I'm thinking of. No, it's not a place. No, it's not a food. No, it's not an anim. No, it's not a person. Even though people are animals too. Aw, Reggie, don't give up. Okay, I'll give you a hint. It's a movie that I can't remember the name of. Actually, wait, no. It might be a TV show or a video game. Actually, wait, no, I think it was a commercial for dog food. And the dog was so cute, Reggie. It was wearing a bow tie and did a little dance. Well, better luck guessing what I'm thinking of next time, Reggie. Okay, let's get into the show and read some reviewsies.

[Reggie]

Ah, ah, ahem.

[Dennis]

I'm reading reviewsies for me and for uzies. We've got us some doozies, so let's read review. Okay, this first reviewsie comes from username UG and the title says I u have a chugga back of them. Yeah, I don't know. Maybe this ugga bugga gugga person fell on their keyboard while they were typing the title. The message says, I love Dennis so much, I give him a thousand billion stars. Actually, I give him 100,008,888 billion stars out of 10. Wait, no, actually, 800,000, 9,200,000,000,000,000, million billion stars. Wow, that's so many stars. Hugga bugga. Yeah, I think it might almost be too many stars. Nah, you're right. There's no such thing. Hooray stars. Next reviewsy. This reviews from username Wowed by wowintheworld. The title says Reggie rocks and the message says, reggie, tell Dennis that he shouldn't be the star. You should be. I'm talking to Reggie.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Dennis]

Listen here. Wowed by wow in the world. Reggie and me are co stars. Sure, it's my microphone and my mother's basement, but Reggie and me are equals. Right, Reggie? Stop upstaging me, Reggie. Next reviewsy. This one is from username D J, exclamation point. The title says give me more episodes, and the message says, can you please make way more episodes right now? Ah, right now. That's so soon. Can I have a homework extension? Because, Reggie, I want to take a vacation. Also, how Many episodes is way more like five. More than five. Okay, so we need to record all those other episodes while we're recording this episode. Big buzz, Reggie. That's the only way to fit it all in. Hurry. Okay, welcome. We will on the weekend podcast Mother's basement Chit chat in her jam jams. Next episode. I found a box down in the basement. We're already behind. Next episode. Next episode. Dish it up on a dish. Anything that you wish.

[Guy Raz]

Ah.

[Dennis]

Next episode. Pancakes are for eating and rivers are for rafting and. Reggie, it's too many episodes at once. What are we gonna do? Alright, it was just a question, not a demand.

[Guy Raz]

Sorry.

[Dennis]

D period, exclamation point. J. We can only make one episode at a time. But it was a good idea. Thanks for all your reviewsies, devoted listeners. I want more. More, I say. Alright, please, please, I say. If you leave me a comment on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, I just might read it on wee. Wow. On the five stars or more, please. You can give more than five stars, Reggie. You just draw them in. Yeah, look, I drew in extra stars. On a completely unrelated note, do you know how to remove marker from a phone screen? No. Okay, moving on. Next up is a little segment I like to call Inside Tinkercast Studios.

[Reggie]

Ahem.

[Dennis]

Inside Tinkercast Studios. This is the part where we revisit an episode of one of my favorite Tinkercast shows. And today we're gonna listen to. Let's see, let's see. Reggie, be patient. I'm picking one. Sheesh, Louis, I pick this one. It's wow in the world. Season 2, episode 20 called you Krabby pee is scaring me. Ah, Reggie, this one sounds scary and gross. Oh, it's not scary. I notice you're not saying that it's not gross.

[Guy Raz]

Hmm.

[Dennis]

Fine, we can listen. I'll just cover my ears with moist towelettes during the icky parts. Okay, here we go. And play Wee Wow.

[Guy Raz]

We'll be right back, grown ups. This message is for you. That's it. Now back to the show. What in the world? Okay. Hey, Reg, can you hand me the fill valve? Okay, fill valve. And now I'm gonna need the washer. There we go. And now the valve cap. Valve cap. Valve cap. Oh, here it is. Just gonna twist that. There we go. And oh, I need the float arm. Do we have the. Thank you, Reg. Float arm. And last but not least, the a flapper. There, that should do it. Okay, Reg, you want to do the honors? That's right. You don't have hands that's okay. Here, I'll do it. By the way, you know that you can use your wing to put the seat down when you're finished using it. Look at that. We did it regular. The world's teeniest, tiniest working toilet. A throne fit for all. Guy Raz. Wait until he gets a diaperload of this coming. Hey, Guy Raz.

[Reggie]

Oh, hey, Mindy. I heard a bunch of loud clanging and flushing over here, and I just wanted to make sure that you weren't trapped in your bathroom again.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, yeah, that was just the sound of me literally flushing out an idea that came to me in the middle of the night.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah? Well, what's the idea?

[Guy Raz]

Well, the idea was to make the world's teeniest, tiniest working toilet.

[Reggie]

Well, that seems like time well spent.

[Guy Raz]

I know. Want to see it?

[Reggie]

As long as you don't try to get me to use it.

[Guy Raz]

What? No. This tiny toilet invention isn't intended for human use.

[Reggie]

So then what is it for?

[Guy Raz]

Well, the answer to that question is off the coast of Georgia.

[Reggie]

The country or the state?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, the. The state. I only follow my curiosity so far.

[Reggie]

That's still kind of far to go to for an answer to a simple question, don't you think, Reggie? Oh, no. Oh, no, Mindy, I.

[Guy Raz]

Hey, Reg, you're not too busy. We need you to take us to some murky, muddy, marshy waters off the coast of Georgia. Why does everyone keep asking me that? Georgia. The Peach State?

[Reggie]

Oh, no, no, no, no, no. I've got a long list of things I plan to do today. Fermenting some mung beans, yarn bombing neighborhood fire hydrants. Then I've got rehearsal with my barbershop quartet.

[Guy Raz]

Your barbershop quartet will be here when you get back. Now, here, I need you to hold on to my adventure toolbox.

[Reggie]

Oof.

[Guy Raz]

And my adventure journal, Mindy. And this gallon of frosting.

[Reggie]

No, I. What? Frosting.

[Guy Raz]

In case we get hungry. And last but not least, this one of a kind world's teeniest, tiniest working toilet. Okay, now I want you to be very careful not to drop it. It's ceramic.

[Reggie]

Mindy, I don't have enough hands for all this stuff.

[Guy Raz]

It's so cute.

[Reggie]

It has an itsy bitsy toilet seat and a tiny toilet paper roll and everything.

[Guy Raz]

The bowl part is modeled after my own head. Oh, come on, Guy Raz. Let's follow Reggie outside so we can take off.

[Reggie]

Wait, why are we going to Georgia again?

[Guy Raz]

To find the answer to your burning question.

[Reggie]

Which was what again?

[Guy Raz]

What is this teeny Tiny toilet for.

[Reggie]

Oh, right. But do we really need to hop on Guy Raz? What are you getting us into, Mindy?

[Guy Raz]

Just some of Georgia's finest murky waters. Now, hold on tight, because here we. Nice splash landing, Reg.

[Reggie]

If I knew we were going for a splash landing, I would have worn my tweed bathing suit. I'm soaked.

[Guy Raz]

Kraz, do me a favor and grab our inflatable flotation devices out of my adventure toolbox over there.

[Reggie]

Okay?

[Guy Raz]

Right there. You got it.

[Reggie]

Why are there all these cats in this toolbox? Okay, I think I got them. Hey. Hey, these look just like the ones on airplanes.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, that's them.

[Reggie]

How did you get.

[Guy Raz]

Just pull them out and they'll inflate automatically.

[Reggie]

Okay.

[Guy Raz]

Much better. Okay, now we can relax.

[Reggie]

Relax? Where are we, Mindy? What is this?

[Guy Raz]

Guy Raz, we're in Georgia. How many times do I have.

[Reggie]

I know we're in Georgia, but what is this murky water we're floating in? Ah, mosquitoes. Ugh.

[Dennis]

Get away from me.

[Reggie]

Get away from me.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, well, these murky waters just happen to be a marshy estuary, Guy Raz.

[Reggie]

Of course, an estuary. A body of water where the river meets the sea.

[Guy Raz]

You are so bright. Your mother should call you son.

[Reggie]

I know. Ha, ha, ha.

[Guy Raz]

Ah, that joke. It gets funnier every time you interrupt it.

[Reggie]

So why are we floating in this estuary? And why can't I see my feet? This water is disgusting. What?

[Guy Raz]

They'll hear you. Oh, the crabs that live here.

[Reggie]

I'm standing in crab water.

[Guy Raz]

Well, not just crabs. We're talking oysters, shrimp, all kinds of fish.

[Reggie]

I think I can feel them nipping at my toes, Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, that means they like you.

[Reggie]

It does? Are you sure?

[Guy Raz]

Yes, of course. I'm not sure, Guy Raz. Now lift your foot out of the water and let's see what's clamped onto it. Aw, they're tiny mud crabs. Hey there, little fellers.

[Reggie]

Well, get them off me, Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

I'm pretty sure I won't have to, Guy Raz.

[Reggie]

What? Why?

[Guy Raz]

Well, because they're about to become.

[Reggie]

Well, Mindy, if you were hungry for crabs, we could have just gone to that little crab shack up the. Whoa.

[Guy Raz]

Not our lunch, Guy Raz.

[Reggie]

What?

[Guy Raz]

Her lunch.

[Reggie]

Whose? Whoa.

[Guy Raz]

She is what we came here for. The famous blue crab.

[Reggie]

Wait, she is these little mud crabs pinching onto my feet? Is she going to eat my feet, too?

[Guy Raz]

No, but she is about half the size of your foot.

[Reggie]

And these little mud crabs are only about the size of my thumb. Wait, wait. How do you know she's a she. Oh.

[Guy Raz]

So see the red tips and the pincers of her big blue front claws?

[Reggie]

Yes.

[Guy Raz]

Well, that's how you know she's a she.

[Reggie]

And the blue claws are how you know it's a blue crab.

[Guy Raz]

Exact oritos, Guy Raz. And can you guess how to tell if a blue crab is a he?

[Reggie]

By its blue elbow patches?

[Guy Raz]

What? No. Male crabs are known for their crazy dance moves.

[Reggie]

Oh, I think I read about this once. Don't they do these wild leg waving dance moves to send signals to the females?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, kind of like what you're doing now.

[Reggie]

I'm not dancing or sending signals, Mindy. I'm treading water with feet full of mud crabs.

[Guy Raz]

But speaking of signals, Guy Raz.

[Reggie]

Yes?

[Guy Raz]

There is another way that blue crabs send signals. And it has nothing to do with dancing. But it has everything to do with why we're here.

[Reggie]

So there is a reason we're floating in this marshy estuary in the middle of nowhere.

[Guy Raz]

Hey, you were the one who asked me what my teeny tiny toilet was for. Remember?

[Reggie]

That seemed like. Like so long ago.

[Guy Raz]

Well, grab that crab and let's swim to shore. I'll explain everything when we get there.

[Reggie]

Grab that. Ah. Mindy. I think it grabbed me.

[Guy Raz]

Come on, Guy Raz. Swim fast and don't let her go.

[Reggie]

She's swimming faster. Mindy. She's pulling me. I'm just along for the run.

[Guy Raz]

Swim, swim, swim, swim. Okay, Guy Raz, Guy Ross. Come on, Lilo. You can do it. You're almost there. We did it. Yay. You're looking rough.

[Reggie]

Whatever. We're here for Mindy. This better be good.

[Dennis]

Ah. Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. We gotta stop for a second because I'm chilly and I need a blanket. No, Reggie, I want my fuzzy one from upstairs. Don't you dare touch play button. Ah, that's so much better. Of course, I got one for you. There you go. Should we finish the episode now? Okay, great. Here we go.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, Guy Raz, now we need you to pull that teeny tiny toilet out of my adventure toolbox. Okay.

[Reggie]

You know, Mindy, you could have just done your business here in and the water. I mean, judging by the smell out here, that's what everything else does.

[Guy Raz]

It's not for me, Guy Raz. It's for Krabby Abby over here.

[Reggie]

You dragged me all the way out here so you could put a crab on the toilet?

[Guy Raz]

You wanted to know what it was for, and now I'm about to show you.

[Reggie]

From now on, before I ask you a question, I need to brace myself for the answer.

[Guy Raz]

The answer? You mean the adventure? Now pull that crab off your. Wait, is she pinching onto your buns?

[Reggie]

Well, scientifically speaking, it's called a gluteus maximus.

[Guy Raz]

We'll pull her pinchers off your crab cakes and help me get her onto this tiny toilet. Come on.

[Reggie]

Wait, why are we putting a crab on the toilet?

[Guy Raz]

Mindy for science. Guy Raz for science. Okay, so here's the deal. I just read this study that was conducted by these scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah, Georgia Tech.

[Guy Raz]

And I found it so fascinating that I just had to see or smell it for myself.

[Reggie]

Smell it. Well, what was the study about?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, so it was about blue crab pee.

[Reggie]

They found that crabs have blue pee.

[Guy Raz]

No, blue crab pee.

[Reggie]

Blue crab pee. Interesting, because mine is usually yellow.

[Guy Raz]

No blue crab pee.

[Reggie]

I feel like you're just saying the same thing over and over and over again. Did you accidentally drink some of this murky water, Mindy?

[Guy Raz]

No. It's pee from a blue crab, not a crab's pee. That is blue. Never mind. The color of its pee is not what's important here. It's what's inside that.

[Reggie]

Can you mean like the chemicals in the blue crab's pee?

[Guy Raz]

Yes. Winner, winner, crab leg dinner, Guy Raz.

[Reggie]

But now I need to know, what color is a blue crab's pee?

[Guy Raz]

Well, when I first read this study, I kind of wanted to know the same thing, so I called Mark Weisberg, one of the head scientists on the study.

[Reggie]

You called a scientist and asked him what color a blue crab's pea is?

[Guy Raz]

Guy Raz, there is no such thing as a dumb question.

[Reggie]

Well, I guess that is what they say. So what'd he tell you?

[Guy Raz]

He told me that it was a fantastic question and that a blue crab's pee is basically the same color of ours when we've had a lot of water to drink.

[Reggie]

So we're talking a pale yellow, like a cream or a flaxen or maybe daffodil.

[Guy Raz]

Straw.

[Reggie]

What?

[Guy Raz]

He said that blue crab pee is the same color as straw.

[Reggie]

Huh. Good to know. Oh, look, Mindy, she's sitting on your tiny toilet. The blue crab is on your toilet.

[Guy Raz]

Aw. Oh, look at that. She looks so cute on there. Come on, Crabby Abby, time to go potty.

[Reggie]

What is happening?

[Guy Raz]

So while we wait for her to pee on the potty here, I'll tell you about those chemicals in her pee.

[Reggie]

Oh. Oh, yeah? Well, what did the researchers discover about them?

[Guy Raz]

First of all, they found more than 600 chemicals in the blue crab's pee or urine. If you want to be scientific.

[Reggie]

I do.

[Guy Raz]

And 600 chemicals is really not that big of a deal when you consider that we humans have over 3,000 chemicals in our pee.

[Reggie]

Wow. I never really counted.

[Guy Raz]

But what is a big deal is that two of these chemicals send invisible danger signals to the blue crab's prey.

[Reggie]

Like the tiny mud crabs it wants to eat.

[Guy Raz]

You know it.

[Reggie]

Well, how do these chemicals actually work?

[Guy Raz]

First, we should start with the chemicals names. Which are. Trigonelline and Homarin.

[Reggie]

Trigonelline and Homarin.

[Guy Raz]

Now I know what you're thinking. Hmm. Those names sound like delicious pasta dishes.

[Reggie]

I was actually not thinking about that. But you know, Mindy, trigonelline just so happens to be a chemical molecule that's also found in coffee beans. And it's part of what makes coffee smell.

[Guy Raz]

So you can smell the trigonelline in your coffee?

[Reggie]

Well, not specifically, but.

[Guy Raz]

But you would if you were a tiny mud crab. And that smell would be the scent of fear.

[Reggie]

Wow. So how does it work?

[Guy Raz]

Okay, when a blue crab eats, its body breaks down the food. Kind of like how ours does during the digestion process. You know, the time between when we eat our food and when what's left and not used by our bodies comes out the other end.

[Reggie]

Yeah, yeah, I got you. And so during that time, those two chemicals, Trigonell and homarin, are made.

[Guy Raz]

Yep. And when the blue crab goes to pee, those two chemicals tell the mud crabs what the blue crab had to eat. And the warning signals become especially strong if the blue crab's last meal was mud crab.

[Reggie]

The smell of fear.

[Guy Raz]

Yep. And if those mud crabs smell other mud crabs in the blue crab's pee on. Well, let's just say they know they better. Usain Bolt.

[Reggie]

Ah, interesting. A four alarm pee siren.

[Guy Raz]

Uh huh.

[Reggie]

Hey, by the way, do you think she's peed yet? Mindy?

[Guy Raz]

I'm not gonna go check the toilet while she's on it, guy. Raz.

[Reggie]

Well, I haven't heard anything yet. Have you?

[Guy Raz]

Nah. You smell any pee yet?

[Reggie]

You mean do I smell any fear yet? No.

[Guy Raz]

Well, maybe you should bring one of those mud crabs up here to sniff out the situation.

[Reggie]

Well, that's the thing, Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

What's the thing?

[Reggie]

Crabs don't actually have noses. So how are they supposed to smell anything, much less fear and death in urine?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, well, Dr. Weisberg also mentioned that these crabs are basically walking noses.

[Reggie]

Ah, well, that makes sense, Mindy, because Although crabs don't have actual noses, they are able to detect smell or certain chemicals with their antennas or mouths.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, or even their legs.

[Reggie]

Fascinating, isn't it?

[Guy Raz]

Totally.

[Reggie]

So how did these scientists find all of this out?

[Guy Raz]

Well, I can tell you. Yes, but I'd rather show you. If Crabby Abby over here will ever go to the bathroom in this tiny.

[Reggie]

Toilet, maybe we should offer her a treat. I mean, that always seems to work for you.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, good idea, Guy Raz.

[Reggie]

Okay, Abby, if you use this potty, I've got some kelp with your name on it.

[Guy Raz]

Kelp? That's your idea of a treat?

[Reggie]

Hey, kelp is the kale of the sea, Mindy. Ugh.

[Guy Raz]

She's clearly not interested. Here, let me try. Hi, Abby. For a little pee pee in this potty. Here, I'll let you take a dip in the. In this tub of melted butter.

[Reggie]

We're in the middle of nowhere. Mindy, where did you get a tub of melted butter?

[Guy Raz]

I had it in my pocket. Hey, Raz, crab legs always taste better in melted butter, so I brought it along in case of emergency.

[Reggie]

You're gonna eat Crabby Abby?

[Guy Raz]

I said in case of emergency. But she doesn't know that. So I'm gonna use this melted butter to scare the pee out of her. Hmm. Nothing yet. Mm.

[Reggie]

Mm.

[Guy Raz]

Man.

[Reggie]

Here, let me sing her a song. Maybe that'll help her to, you know, get things flowing. Ah, let it go, let it go. Don't hold it in anymore. Let it go, let it go.

[Guy Raz]

Shut the bathroom door.

[Reggie]

Huh?

[Guy Raz]

We can't sing the pee out of her, Guy Raz. Maybe we should squeeze it out of her.

[Reggie]

What?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah. Hand me my adventure toolbox.

[Reggie]

Oh, no. I will not sit here while you squeeze the pee out of a crab Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, yeah? Well, I will not sit here while you sing the pee out of a crab Guy Raz.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, yeah.

[Reggie]

Let it go, let it go. Don't hold it anymore. Stop booing my song, Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

I'm not booing your song, Guy Raz. I'm trying to scare the pee out of her, ghost style. Boo.

[Reggie]

Let it go. Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go. Is that what I think it is, Mindy? Guy Ross.

[Guy Raz]

She's peeing in the potty. Yay.

[Dennis]

You did it. Pee pee in the potty.

[Guy Raz]

Pee pee in the potty Pee pee.

[Reggie]

In the potty Pee pee in the potty Pee pee in the potty Pee pee in the potty. Ah, she flushed. And we needed that pee to reenact the experiment.

[Guy Raz]

Don't worry, Guy Raz. This tiny toilet's not connected to any pipes. Phew.

[Reggie]

So the pee's still right where she left it.

[Guy Raz]

Now close the lid and let's get this pee pee potty back to the lab so I can show you how this experiment was done.

[Reggie]

Anything for science, Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

Reggie.

[Reggie]

Wow.

[Guy Raz]

Hey, Reg, that was quick.

[Reggie]

Now, Reggie, please fly carefully. I'm holding a toy full of crab urine.

[Guy Raz]

We'll explain later, Reg. Okay, let's just hop on here. Here we go.

[Reggie]

Man.

[Guy Raz]

Hey, Guy Raz, is all of Krabby Abby's pee still in that potty?

[Reggie]

Yeah, I think so. A little bit splashed out when we hit that turbulence, but I think we're pretty good.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, well, we better get it back to the lab so I can demonstrate what those researchers at Georgia Tech did in their experiment. Come on, let's go. Run, run, run, run, run, run.

[Reggie]

Mud crabs are all over my feet. Ah.

[Guy Raz]

Well, maybe you shouldn't run, Guy Raz. Besides, you're gonna spill it.

[Reggie]

Oh, right, right. Walk, walk, walk.

[Guy Raz]

Slow and steady.

[Reggie]

Walk, walk, walk.

[Guy Raz]

Who?

[Reggie]

Okay, back at the lab. So, where do we begin, Mindy?

[Guy Raz]

Well, first, I need you to take those mud crabs and put them in your fish tank over there.

[Reggie]

But they'll pinch me.

[Guy Raz]

Come on.

[Reggie]

Now what?

[Guy Raz]

Drop the crabs in the tank. Okay, you're doing great.

[Reggie]

The crabs are in the tank.

[Guy Raz]

Now, once the mud crabs get situated, I'm going to throw in this shrimp. What?

[Reggie]

Where did you get a live shrimp?

[Guy Raz]

My pocket. Now drop them in.

[Reggie]

Ok, well, good luck in there, little buddy. So what's the purpose of the shrimp, Mindy?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, mud crabs love shrimp. And nothing will stop them from trying to eat it. Except for the smell of a blue crab predator in their.

[Reggie]

Oh, wow. Look at them going after that shrimp. They might as well be holding knives and wearing bibs.

[Guy Raz]

Now, I want you to dump that tiny toilet of blue crab pee into the tank and closely watch what happens.

[Reggie]

Okay. Easy does it.

[Guy Raz]

It's coming. Now watch what happens.

[Reggie]

They froze dead in their tracks. A total duck in cover. Almost like they're trying to go undetected.

[Guy Raz]

Yep. They're smelling those two chemicals in the blue crab. Trigonelline and homarin.

[Reggie]

So those researchers were right. Blue crab urine does contain secret signals that warn their prey.

[Guy Raz]

Pretty cool, huh? They work almost like disaster. Warning alarm.

[Reggie]

Silent warning alarms.

[Guy Raz]

Exact oritos. So think of it like this. To us humans, Trigonelline would be like a blaring car alarm. And Homerin would be Like a bright flashing light. Both different, but both trying to warn you about coming danger so that you can stay safe. Gives these mud crabs a good head start if they want to swim for their lives.

[Reggie]

Yeah, but if our food could run away every time it smelled us coming, coming, we'd starve. So is there anything the blue crab can do to stop these secret pee signals?

[Guy Raz]

Nope.

[Reggie]

Well, can't they hold it until after they eat their mud crab dinner?

[Guy Raz]

Nope, can't hold it. I can barely hold it.

[Reggie]

Well, what about peeing in designated spots, like underwater bathroom stalls, far and away from their lunch?

[Guy Raz]

Guy Raz, when you're a crab, the entire underwater world is your toilet.

[Reggie]

Well, then how are blue crabs not starving to death?

[Guy Raz]

Well, I mean, I'm sure some do, but the smart and savvy blue crabs know that pee floats downstream.

[Reggie]

Aha. So they swim upstream to hunt their unsuspecting prey.

[Guy Raz]

You got it.

[Reggie]

Wow. But I'm still wondering, why did these researchers at Georgia Tech want to learn about the bathroom habits of blue crabs?

[Guy Raz]

Well, so in a crab eat crab world, or really any predator prey situation, pea chemistry like this can really affect the balance of whole entire ecosystems.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah? Well, how so?

[Guy Raz]

So you've heard of the food chain, right?

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah. It's basically the order in which different living things eat each other.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah. So starting with plants and ending with animals. For example, a grasshopper eats grass.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Guy Raz]

And then a frog eats the grasshopper.

[Reggie]

Okay.

[Guy Raz]

And a snake eats the frog.

[Reggie]

Go on.

[Guy Raz]

And an eagle eats the snake.

[Reggie]

Oh, okay, I got it.

[Guy Raz]

And in this case, mud crabs eat the oysters, and the blue crabs eat the mud crabs.

[Reggie]

But nature has given mud crabs the superpower to basically eavesdrop on their predator's pee, right?

[Guy Raz]

Yep. And when the pee starts to flow downstream, it acts as a silent alarm, warning the mud crabs to get out of Dodge.

[Reggie]

And when they do, they stop looking for their own food, which in most cases, would be oysters.

[Guy Raz]

Yep. And crazy as it sounds, these secret silent pee signals might actually be nature's way of protecting oyster populations.

[Reggie]

So essentially, what you're saying, Mindy, is that this blue crab pee works as a natural repellent to keep mud crabs from eating all the oysters.

[Guy Raz]

That's exactly what I'm saying. Without the blue crab pee, mud crabs might see these waters as an all you can eat oyster buffet.

[Reggie]

And this must be especially big news to oyster farmers who are trying to preserve or save large oyster populations.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, yeah. Speaking of which, ask me how these researchers are hoping to use this New information.

[Reggie]

Okay, how are these researchers hoping to use this new information?

[Guy Raz]

Well, I'm so glad you asked, Guy Raz. Now that they know what these chemicals are and how powerful they can be to the entire underwater ecosystem, the hope is that scientists can recreate this blue crab pea and then use it to help save other oyster habitats. Or at least control their predators who are on a mission to eat them.

[Reggie]

Fake blue crab pee to scare off the crabs and keep them from eating all their oyster livestock. That's brilliant.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, and believe it or not, this is really nothing new. I mean, some farmers on land have been doing this for a long time. Using fake pee to do things like scare away coyotes and wild foxes.

[Reggie]

You know, this reminds me, Mindy, you can actually buy certain kinds of animal pee on the Internet.

[Guy Raz]

What? Guy Raz, I just got an idea.

[Reggie]

Oh, no.

[Guy Raz]

Do you think that maybe I could sell my pee?

[Reggie]

Nope.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, come on. It's not like the worst idea I've ever.

[Reggie]

Let it go.

[Mindy]

Oh, no.

[Reggie]

Let it go. Don't hold it in, Rozda.

[Guy Raz]

You do not need to turn this.

[Reggie]

Into a musical, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

We don't need to the copyright for that song.

[Reggie]

Ew.

[Dennis]

Ew.

[Reggie]

Ew.

[Dennis]

Ew. Ew. Ew. That was so gross, Reggie. It's not funny. I feel like a crab just tinkled in my ears. Also, I kinda really need to go to the bathroom now. Oh, good idea. Better wrap this up quick. 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. I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the weekend. Okay, let's do the goodbye song, but like really fast. That's the end of the show. I need to go. So I don't pee my pants, but I'll do another show tomorrow. But for now, that's the end of the show. Bye.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Reggie]

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

[Guy Raz]

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