WeWow on the Weekend (3/1/25)

Summary

Wow in the World: "WeWow on the Weekend" (March 1, 2025)

Released on March 1, 2025 by Tinkercast | Wondery

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Overview

In the March 1, 2025 episode of "Wow in the World," titled "WeWow on the Weekend," hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz introduce listeners to an engaging and educational spin-off segment called "Wee Wow on the Weekend," hosted by Dennis and his co-host, Reggie the Giant Pigeon. This episode seamlessly blends scientific exploration with humor and interactive elements, making complex topics accessible and entertaining for both kids and their grown-up companions.

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1. Make It Wow Engineering Challenge Announcement (00:57 - 02:38)

Mindy Thomas kicks off the episode with an exciting announcement about the Make It Wow Engineering Challenge. Recorded live in New York City, this segment features two teams competing to create innovative inventions that benefit animals. Mindy encourages listeners to participate by submitting their own animal-centric inventions by March 21st for a chance to win a virtual classroom visit with her and a signed copy of the book "Wow in the Wild: A Wow in the World, Sea Creatures, Aquarium, Toy and More."

Notable Quote:

Mindy: "Listen up. If your grown-up or teacher enters your invention for how to solve a problem for animals by March 21st, you could win a virtual classroom visit from me, Mindy." [00:57]

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2. Introduction to "Wee Wow on the Weekend" (04:07 - 09:04)

The main segment, "Wee Wow on the Weekend," is introduced by Dennis and Reggie the Giant Pigeon. Dennis shares the news about getting a new pet goldfish, sparking a humorous and relatable conversation about naming it. This segment sets a playful tone, encouraging listener interaction by soliciting name suggestions for the goldfish.

Notable Quote:

Dennis: "I got a pet goldfish. Isn't that exciting?" [04:07]

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3. Listener Q&A Session (09:04 - 17:03)

Dennis and Reggie dive into a series of listener-submitted questions, addressing topics like penguins' wings and spiders. This interactive segment not only provides informative answers but also showcases the hosts' personalities and rapport.

Notable Quotes:

Mindy: "My question is why do penguins have wings but they don't fly?" [07:16]

Dennis: "Well, actually, Reggie, penguins kind of fly through the water." [07:27]

Mindy: "And my question is, why don't you like spiders so much?" [08:09]

Dennis: "I love spiders. Spiders are the best." [08:18]

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4. Exploring the Origins of the Universe (17:03 - 35:20)

The conversation takes a deep dive into cosmology as Reggie and Mindy discuss the Big Bang, gravitational waves, and the vastness of the universe. Using relatable analogies, such as a trampoline to explain gravitational waves, they make complex scientific concepts understandable for younger audiences.

Key Discussions:

• The Big Bang Theory: Reggie explains the origins of the universe, emphasizing how light from distant stars like Proxima Centauri allows us to "time travel" by seeing events from the past.

  Notable Quote:

  Reggie: "When the bowling ball in the center of the trampoline moves, look what happens to the baseball at the edge." [29:27]

• Gravitational Waves: The hosts discuss the 2017 detection of gravitational waves, likening them to ripples caused by a pebble thrown into a pond. This breakthrough in astrophysics brings them closer to understanding the universe's creation.

  Notable Quote:

  Reggie: "On August 17, 2017, astrophysicists detected a gravitational wave, a ripple in space that they were able to detect using a very special laser." [30:31]

• Time Machine Adventure: Mindy and Reggie embark on a playful narrative involving a time machine to witness the Big Bang, incorporating humor and imaginative storytelling to keep listeners engaged.

  Notable Quote:

  Reggie: "You are hearing nothing because we are in the middle of nothing." [24:15]

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5. The Kilonova and Gold Creation (35:20 - 37:39)

The hosts discuss the collision of two neutron stars 130 million years ago, resulting in a kilonova explosion that produced an astonishing 1,000 trillion tons of gold. This segment highlights the incredible processes that contribute to the formation of elements in the universe.

Notable Quotes:

Reggie: "That explosion was so hot, Hotter than anything we've ever known." [34:29]

Mindy: "We're gonna be rich. We're gonna be rich." [35:03]

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6. Conclusion and Interactive Engagement (37:39 - 39:43)

Dennis and Reggie wrap up the episode with a light-hearted farewell, encouraging listeners to submit their questions and fish name suggestions. Mindy reminds listeners to engage with the podcast through Wondery for early and ad-free access.

Notable Quotes:

Dennis: "Thanks to all you listeners out there for tuning in to Wee Wow on the weekend." [38:06]

Mindy: "Tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] survey." [39:28]

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Key Insights and Takeaways

• Interactive Learning: The episode emphasizes listener participation through contests and Q&A segments, fostering a community of curious minds.

• Simplifying Complex Concepts: By using everyday analogies like trampolines and bird baths, the hosts make intricate scientific theories accessible to a younger audience.

• Humor and Relatability: Dennis and Reggie's playful banter and humorous scenarios keep the content engaging and memorable.

• Encouraging Scientific Curiosity: Discussions about the Big Bang and gravitational waves inspire listeners to explore and appreciate the wonders of the universe.

Conclusion

"WeWow on the Weekend" successfully blends education with entertainment, offering a rich and engaging experience that captivates both children and their guardians. Through interactive segments, relatable explanations, and a touch of humor, Dennis and Reggie create a captivating narrative that makes science fun and accessible.

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Notable Quotes Summary

• Mindy Thomas: "Listen up. If your grown-up or teacher enters your invention for how to solve a problem for animals by March 21st, you could win a virtual classroom visit from me, Mindy." [00:57]

• Dennis: "I got a pet goldfish. Isn't that exciting?" [04:07]

• Reggie: "When the bowling ball in the center of the trampoline moves, look what happens to the baseball at the edge." [29:27]

• Reggie: "On August 17, 2017, astrophysicists detected a gravitational wave, a ripple in space that they were able to detect using a very special laser." [30:31]

• Dennis: "Thanks to all you listeners out there for tuning in to Wee Wow on the weekend." [38:06]

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This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the "WeWow on the Weekend" episode, highlighting its educational value, interactive elements, and entertaining delivery. Whether you're a long-time listener or new to the podcast, this episode promises a delightful journey through science and imagination.

Transcript

[Guy Raz]

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[Mindy]

Hey wowzer fams. Mindy here and we are so excited for you to listen to the recorded performance of Make It Wow. In New York City. You'll hear two teams of tinkerers going head to head, coming up with some bonker balls and amazing inventions for how to help animals. And now you can wow our judges with your inventions that solve a problem for animals too. Reggie, drumroll please. Introducing the Make It Wow Engineering Challenge. Wowzers. Listen up. If your grown up or teacher enters your invention for how to solve a problem for animals by March 21st, you could win a virtual classroom visit from me, Mindy. Plus a signed copy of our book wow in the Wild, A wow in the World, Sea Creatures, Aquarium, Toy and more. Visit tinkercast.com makeitwow to learn more and to get tinkering. And tell your teacher this contest is open for classrooms too. One more time. That's Tinkercast.com MakeItWow oh, and P.S. if you're in the Denver or Washington D.C. area, don't miss your chance to see Make It Wow live on stage. Grownups, you can get your tickets and learn how you could get your Wowzer to be a contestant in the [e-mail] events. That's tinkercast.com events. We can't wait to Make It Wow with you. That's it. And now let's get back to the show.

[Guy Raz]

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[Mindy]

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[Dennis]

Ah, ah, ah. 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. Whatever. We wow on the weekend. Yeah, we wow on the weekend. 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 that's my co host, Reggie the giant pigeon. This is the show where we hang out and chit chat and listen to episodes of Tinkercast podcasts and hey Reggie, guess what? I got a pet goldfish. Isn't that exciting? Yeah, Mother said I'm finally responsible enough for a pet. So I got a goldfish.

[Mindy]

See?

[Dennis]

I know. Look at its scales. Aren't they so shiny and cool? No, I haven't named it yet. What kind of name should I pick? Huh? How about Reggie? Oh yeah, that's your name. How about Dennis? Oh, right, that's my name. Um, maybe we should just ask the fish what its name is. Uh, excuse me. Fish. Fishy Fish. Fish. What's your name? Huh? How do you spell that? Alright, that didn't help. Use it in a sentence. No, I don't understand. Okay, we'll just come back to that later. It's time for our next segment, Reading reviewsies. Ahem. I'm reading reviewsies for me and for Uzis. Why? Reggie, let's ask the Wowzers. The Wowzers. Reggie, let's ask the Wowzers about fish names. We can get suggestions. Yeah, they can call in or write their ideas in the comments and we can look through them and find the perfect name. I know. It'll be like having a fishy fish name book. Wowzers. Let us know if you have any ideas of what to name this fish because Reggie and I are stumped. Okay, let's do a Q and A segment. Yes, I know we were doing reviewsies, but now I don't feel like it. Keep up, Reggie. The Q and A segment. Alright, let's just get the old answering machine pulled up here. Okay, here we go. Hi, you've reached Dennis from WEW on the Weeknd. That's me. Do you have a question? Well, I do too. Lots of them. And who's gonna answer all my questions? You? Probably not, but I guess I can answer yours. Leave me a message.

[Mindy]

Hi, Dennis, my name is Heidi and I'm from Florida.

[Dennis]

Hi, Heidi.

[Mindy]

My question is why do penguins have wings but they don't fly?

[Dennis]

Huh? Why do penguins have wings but they don't fly? That's a great question, Heidi. Well, actually, Reggie, penguins kind of fly through the water. Yeah. Huh. I once saw a video of penguins swimming underwater and it kind of looked like they were flying underwater. And then I saw another video where a fish jumped out of the water and was swimming through the air. So that's what I think. Some birds, like penguins, fly through the water. And some fish, like the flying fish, swim through the air. Oh, Reggie, is water just thick air? Oh, well, look into it. Next question.

[Mindy]

Hi, my name is Ava and I'm from Oregon.

[Dennis]

Hi, Ava.

[Mindy]

And my question is, why don't you like spiders so much?

[Dennis]

What? Why don't I like spiders so much? I love spiders. Spiders are the best. Reggie. No, I don't like bugs. Spiders aren't bugs. They're arachnids. Here, I even wrote a little song about how much I love spiders. And it goes a little something like this. I love spiders. They are great. Bugs have six legs and spiders have eight. They also make really cool webs and stuff. And bugs. And I don't really like them. Spiders, spiders. I like your eyes and I like your smiles. Spiders, Spiders. When I sit on my tuffet. You can sit down beside me. Next question.

[Mindy]

My name is Cow.

[Dennis]

Hey, cow, what you got?

[Mindy]

I'm wondering if you like to go outside and play in the snow.

[Dennis]

Do I like to go outside and play in the snow? Um, no, I do not. Because, Reggie, I'm what they call an indoorsman. I prefer the warmth and coziness of a couch or a chair or a fort made of pillow, willows and blankies. Besides, there's nothing to do outside in the snow. Okay, fine. You can build a snow fort. Okay, fine. And you can go sledding, I suppose, right? Or skiing or skating. Or have a snowball fight. Or make snow angels and spell out words with your footsteps. Or the snowman. But that's basically it. Oh, you're right. After you're done playing in the snow, you get to go inside for hot cocoa. I forgot about that part. Okay, maybe I like going outside and playing in the snow, but only so I can come inside and get warm. Thanks for your calls, everyone. If you've got a question for me, call and leave me a message. The number is 1-888-7-www. I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the weekend alri. And let me know if you have any ideas of what to name this fish. Oh, good idea. I'll describe it. Um, it's little and orange and gold and has big eyes and it's super cute. Oh, it's looking at me. Do you think it's trying to tell me something? Yeah, probably not. Okay, let's move on to a little segment I like to call Inside Tinkercast Studio. Inside Tinkercast Studios. This is the part where we listen to an episode of one of my favorite Tinkercast podcasts. And today we're listening to season two, episode 10 of wow in the World Called Bang. Where'd the universe come from? That's a good question, Reggie. Where did the universe come from? From the universe store. That doesn't sound right. Oh, a university. Yeah, that's probably it. Well, let's listen and find. Okay, here we go. And play Wee Wow.

[Mindy]

We'll be right back.

[Dennis]

Grown ups.

[Mindy]

This message is for you. That's it. Now back to the show. What in the world?

[Reggie]

Ah, what a beautiful evening. A clear, dark sky, quiet. And just me and my telescope. Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing could take away from this peaceful, bucolic night. Oh, I love looking at the stars.

[Mindy]

That's it. Sounding great, guys.

[Reggie]

What is that?

[Mindy]

Over here, boys. Right this, this way.

[Reggie]

What?

[Mindy]

Yep, that's it. You got it. Now I need a little bit more from the frying pan section. Mindy. Okay, now I need some metal spoons. Mindy. Oh, hey there, Ross.

[Reggie]

Mindy, what are you doing?

[Mindy]

Oh, I'm just rehearsing with my pot and pans choir. We meet every Wednesday night right here in this quiet and peaceful field.

[Reggie]

Mindy, I can see that, but you're making a racket. Can you please cut it out.

[Dennis]

What?

[Mindy]

I can't hear you. I think the saucepan section just arrived. Mindy. Sorry, what did you just say? Guy Raz.

[Reggie]

Mindy, cut it out.

[Mindy]

Ah, hold on a sec. Let me just get my band to stop playing. Hey, boys. Put a lid on it. Literally. Okay, much better. I can hear you. Now. What were you saying?

[Reggie]

Mindy, what in the world are you doing?

[Dennis]

What?

[Reggie]

I was enjoying a peaceful night in this field, looking through my telescope at the stars.

[Mindy]

Oh, wow. Well, that sounds like fun. Can I take a look?

[Reggie]

Mindy, why are you making such a racket?

[Mindy]

A racket? Guy Raz, are you talking about those sweet sounds you just heard? Can it, boy. Shh. Sorry, Guy Raz. That was my pots and pans band practicing for our Wednesday night jamboree.

[Reggie]

Well, actually, I'd have preferred the Moonlight Sonata.

[Mindy]

Oh, we can do that. Hey, boys. Moonlight Sonata. You ready? No. And a one and a two and a no. Mindy, no.

[Dennis]

That's not what I was asking for.

[Mindy]

Can I just get some peace and quiet here? Guy Roxy, calm down. You don't have to shout. Man, my ears. Okay, I guess I'll send the band home. Time to pack it in, boys. Wrap it up.

[Reggie]

Thank you.

[Mindy]

Okay, so you were saying?

[Reggie]

Well, I was trying to observe the cosmos.

[Mindy]

You mean outer space?

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mindy]

With this little telescope?

[Reggie]

Well, yeah, I'm hoping to try and understand the mysteries of our universe.

[Mindy]

Mysteries?

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mindy]

Mysteries. Like what?

[Reggie]

Well, for starters, the biggest mystery of all, which is how did we even get here?

[Mindy]

How did we get here? Well, let me see. We took the 32 bus from 5th Avenue and Broadway, and then we got up at the wrong stop.

[Reggie]

No, no, no, no. Not how did we get here to this particular park? But how did all of us humans get here? Like, how did our planet get here? How did the sun and our solar system and all the stars and planets in the sky get here?

[Mindy]

Wait a minute. Are you talking about the origins of our universe?

[Reggie]

Yes.

[Mindy]

The source of our existence?

[Reggie]

Yes.

[Mindy]

Okay, then I'm gonna need to put on my leotard. Where is it? And my sweatband.

[Reggie]

Leotard? Sweatband.

[Mindy]

Oh, yeah. Because, Guy Raz, it's time to get metaphysical. You get it?

[Reggie]

Oh, brother.

[Mindy]

Here, I brought you a moo. Moo Melon unitart. It's one size fits most.

[Reggie]

Not sure I'll be needing that. I'm just trying to explore one of the greatest theories in cosmology.

[Mindy]

Cosmology? Cosm. Oh, cosmology. You're talking about, like, the study of our universe, right?

[Reggie]

Yep. And one of the greatest scientific theories in cosmology, or explanations based on facts and information found by scientists, is what's known as the.

[Mindy]

I think I know where this is going.

[Reggie]

Well, can you guess?

[Mindy]

If I was a betting man, I'd say you were talking about the big bang.

[Reggie]

Exactamundo. Mindy, I'm talking about the very, very, very beginnings of our universe and everything and everyone inside of it.

[Mindy]

Man, if only I could hop into the time machine and see it.

[Reggie]

Well, that would be cool, But, Mindy, we don't have to do that. In fact, every single night of every single day of every single year, each and every one of us can become.

[Mindy]

A time traveler without a time machine. Go on.

[Reggie]

Here, here, let me show you right now. Go ahead, Mindy. Look through the telescope.

[Mindy]

Okay. Well, yeah, let me look through this thing. Hmm. Yeah, it's pretty cool. Oh, I think the star I'm looking at is. Is that Proxima Centauri?

[Reggie]

That's the one. And as you know, Mindy, Proxima Centauri is the closest star in space to our solar system.

[Mindy]

Okay, but just to be clear, the closest star to Earth is, of course, our own sun.

[Reggie]

Right. Our sun is the center of our solar system. We have eight planets in our system that orbit or circle the sun.

[Mindy]

And I always kind of think of our solar system as like, our bl. Or our neighborhood. Interesting, because our solar system is kind of like our neighborhood, but in space.

[Reggie]

That's a really interesting way to think about it. And, Mindy, in space, just like with neighborhoods, there are millions and millions more solar systems in space. Millions of suns with their own planets circling around.

[Mindy]

Well, does that mean that there are other creatures out there somewhere in space?

[Reggie]

Well, we just don't know for sure, Mindy. But if I had to guess, I'd probably say there's a decent chance, because our planet Earth is just one teeny, teeny, tiny planet in our galaxy.

[Mindy]

Our galaxy, known as the Milky Way.

[Reggie]

Yep.

[Mindy]

Named after the famous candy bar, huh? Nope.

[Reggie]

And in the Milky Way, there are millions of solar systems, and astronomers believe as many as 400 million other planets.

[Mindy]

And that's just our galaxy.

[Reggie]

Exactly. The Milky Way galaxy is full of 100 million stars and 400 million planets. And that's just one galaxy in a universe of millions. Or maybe billions more galaxies.

[Mindy]

This is so exciting. I can't wait to make friends with aliens. We'll jump rope. We'll have a lemonade stand. We'll collect pond water and stick it under a microscope. We'll trade baseball Cards. We'll be best friends forever.

[Reggie]

Well, I'm not so sure that's gonna happen anytime soon, Mindy.

[Mindy]

Why?

[Reggie]

Well, for starters, the distances in space are so vast, so huge, that even if there are other living creatures somewhere out there in the cosmos, there's a good chance that if they exist, they haven't figured out how to travel through space and time to come and visit us.

[Mindy]

Wait a minute. I almost forgot. Guy Raz, you said that if I looked through this telescope, I'd become a time traveler. And Guy Raz, I don't know about you, but I'm standing right here, right next to you in this park, looking up at the stars.

[Reggie]

Bingo. Bingo, Mindy. You got it.

[Mindy]

I won bingo.

[Reggie]

I didn't even know I was playing bingo. As in you hit the nail on the head.

[Mindy]

I'm not even holding a hammer.

[Reggie]

You hit the bullseye.

[Mindy]

The what?

[Reggie]

Collared the horseshoe.

[Mindy]

Okay, enough with the idioms. I get it. But I don't see how I became a time traveler.

[Reggie]

Mindy, just by looking up at that star, Proxima Centauri, you are seeing the past. You are looking at history happen right before your eyes.

[Mindy]

I think I know what you mean. If Proxima Centauri is the closest star to our solar system, it means it's about 4.2 light years away, right?

[Reggie]

It takes the light coming from Proxima Centauri about four years and a few months to reach the Earth.

[Mindy]

Which means that when I look at this star from here on Earth, I'm looking at it four years ago.

[Reggie]

Yes. You and me, Mindy, we are time travelers right at this very moment. And anybody on planet Earth can be one, too.

[Mindy]

Wow. We're real Life, grade A, 100% certified organic, non GMO free range time travelers right here in the. Wait a minute. Guy Raz, why are you so excited?

[Reggie]

What do you mean?

[Mindy]

I mean, we own a time machine. My dad was working on it for 30 years, and I finally helped him finish it.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot about that hunk of junk. Speaking of which.

[Mindy]

Come on, Guy Raz. Here, put this on quick.

[Reggie]

A helmet? Why do I need a helmet?

[Mindy]

Oh, my Seagull. Robert requires them of all passengers now.

[Reggie]

Robert Seagull? What happened to Reggie?

[Mindy]

Oh, so Reggie's auditioning for the school play Bye Bye Birdie.

[Reggie]

Huh?

[Mindy]

So Bob the Seagull here decided to step in and help me out. He's newly retired, so he's got a lot of free time to fill.

[Reggie]

Where are we going anyway?

[Mindy]

My house. Come on.

[Reggie]

Your house?

[Mindy]

Well, technically it's a gingerbread mansion. You ready?

[Reggie]

Not really, but here we. I can't believe I missed landing with Reggie. Glad I wore that helmet. Mindy? Mindy, where are you?

[Mindy]

Over here, Guy Raz. Just dragging the time machine out of my garage. Here, can you help me with this?

[Reggie]

Oh, no. Mindy, do you know how late it is?

[Mindy]

It's 9:00. Why?

[Reggie]

Well, it's a weeknight and I was supposed to be in my jammies a half hour ago. There is no way I can travel through space and time at this very moment.

[Mindy]

Well, good for you. I have the perfect solution.

[Reggie]

Uh oh.

[Mindy]

We'll go back in time to the very, very, very beginning of our universe.

[Reggie]

You mean the Big Bang?

[Mindy]

Yep, the Big bang.

[Reggie]

You mean 13.8 billion years ago?

[Mindy]

You got it, Galileo.

[Reggie]

Well, how do you expect to go back in time 13.8 billion billion years ago? Witness the big Bang and get me home in time in bed by 9:00pm.

[Mindy]

Ah, well, glad you asked me, compadre. Because after we witnessed the big Bang, all we have to do is set the time machine to 30 minutes before your bedtime and presto.

[Reggie]

Back with time to spare.

[Mindy]

Exact oritos you'll have time to brush, floss, rinse and repeat.

[Reggie]

Oh, I love those nights.

[Mindy]

Come on, hop in, Copernicus. I'll let you drive this time. All right, here, take the keys.

[Reggie]

Let's set this baby to 13.8 billion years ago.

[Mindy]

Okay, here we go, baby.

[Reggie]

I hope you took your anti nausea medicine, because this could make you.

[Mindy]

We interrupt this program for a brief barf break.

[Reggie]

Wow.

[Mindy]

And the world will return in 3, 2, 1.

[Reggie]

What a journey. And so glad you lined the time machine with those covers we used on the backseat of the car. I mean, it really kept the barf from making a big mess.

[Mindy]

Yeah, good call, Guy Raz. Plus, it preserves the resale value of the time machine.

[Reggie]

So, Mindy, what do you hear?

[Mindy]

Nothing.

[Reggie]

Listen.

[Mindy]

I'm listening.

[Reggie]

What do you hear?

[Mindy]

Nothing. Is it possible to hear nothing?

[Reggie]

Yes. You are hearing nothing because we are in the middle of nothing.

[Mindy]

Hold the phone, Guy Raz. If we're in the middle, we have to be in the middle of something. If there's nothing, there's no middle.

[Reggie]

Yeah, fair point. So, Mindy, peek through the window here, because we're probably better off keeping the hatch of the time machine closed just to be on the safe side.

[Mindy]

Especially once the big bang starts to go bang.

[Reggie]

So look out here. Right here, Mindy. Okay, what do you see outside the window? Describe what you see?

[Mindy]

Is nothing. An answer.

[Reggie]

Yes, that's right. Nothing. Not a nunca, no dice. Nothing.

[Mindy]

So this is where it all began, huh?

[Reggie]

Yep. Nothing. There is nothing to see here. Move it along, folks.

[Mindy]

No here, here, no there, there. No where or.

[Reggie]

But why?

[Mindy]

Okay, so if what I think is about to happen will happen very soon, we should start to see the birth of our universe.

[Reggie]

You ready?

[Mindy]

I'm not seeing anything.

[Reggie]

Wait for it.

[Mindy]

I'm very impatient.

[Reggie]

Wait for it.

[Mindy]

Still not seeing anything.

[Reggie]

Wait for it. Okay.

[Mindy]

I can't stand it anymore. Guy Raz, you're saying there's gonna be a giant explosion? A bang, and in the universe as we know it is gonna form.

[Reggie]

Well, not exactly. There was probably no single moment when everything just exploded. The truth is, no one really knows how it all happened.

[Mindy]

So what are we waiting for?

[Reggie]

Well, good question. I'm not really sure. But where we are right now, in the middle of. In the middle of nothing, there's intense energy. Can you feel it?

[Mindy]

Uh, no. Not feeling it.

[Reggie]

Hmm. I had hoped we might feel something.

[Mindy]

So are we supposed to see something?

[Reggie]

Well, I'm not sure. I mean, all I know is that around 13.8 billion years ago, there was this invisible, intense energy. So much heat and pressure that it started to expand and expand and expand. And as that heat and energy expanded.

[Mindy]

And grew, it started to build our universe.

[Reggie]

Yep. All the stars and planets and asteroids and space rocks and eventually our Earth. Oh, wait, did you just hear that? Yeah. Yeah, I heard something.

[Mindy]

It's starting to feel like. Like our time machine is being pushed out.

[Reggie]

Hey, hey, you feel that? Hey, Mindy.

[Mindy]

Yeah?

[Reggie]

We might be experiencing the earliest phase of the Big Bang.

[Mindy]

The expansion of our universe.

[Reggie]

Yeah, and I'm feeling like our time machine is about to get blasted into space. Quick, Mindy, type in 13.8 billion years in the future. Okay.

[Mindy]

Okay, I'm typing as fast as I can.

[Reggie]

And don't forget to add those 30 minutes.

[Mindy]

Okay, here we. Man, I think. Guy Raz, I think we just witnessed the start of the Big Bang.

[Reggie]

Yeah, And Mindy, it's all starting to make sense.

[Mindy]

What's starting to make sense?

[Reggie]

My trampoline.

[Mindy]

What?

[Reggie]

My trampoline.

[Mindy]

Your trampoline? Guy Raz, what on planet Earth are you talking about?

[Dennis]

Wait.

[Reggie]

Let's go to the backyard. I want to show you something on my trampoline.

[Mindy]

Guy Raz, you told me it's a weeknight and you had to be in bed by 9:00. This is no time for jumping on the trampoline.

[Reggie]

Come On Mindy. To the trampoline.

[Mindy]

I'm so confused. Run, run, run, run.

[Reggie]

Up here, Mindy. Come on. Come on. Get up here.

[Mindy]

Okay, but what does a trampoline have to do with any of this?

[Reggie]

Okay, well, think about our universe kind of like a trampoline.

[Dennis]

Ooh.

[Mindy]

Does it have a basketball hoop attached?

[Reggie]

Not for the purposes of this experiment.

[Mindy]

Oh, gotcha.

[Reggie]

So imagine that at the center of this trampoline, we put a really heavy bowling ball.

[Mindy]

Okay, still not sure why, but all right. So lucky for you, I just happen to have a bowling ball in my backpack here.

[Reggie]

Perfect. Okay, now imagine our planet Earth is like this baseball here at the edge of the trampoline. Okay.

[Mindy]

Okay.

[Reggie]

When the bowling ball in the center of the trampoline moves, look what happens to the baseball at the edge.

[Mindy]

Oh, it moves too.

[Reggie]

Precisely, Mindy. Precisely. This is exactly what the famed physicist Albert Einstein was talking about.

[Mindy]

Wait a minute. You're telling me the Nobel prize winning physicist Albert Einstein had a trampoline? He. You think he did flips on it?

[Reggie]

No, no, no, Mindy, of course not.

[Mindy]

But you just said Albert Einstein had a trampoline.

[Reggie]

No, no, no. What I'm trying to figure out is Einstein's theory of gravitational waves.

[Mindy]

You're talking about Einstein's theory that if something really big happened out there in distant space somewhere in the cosmos, we should, in theory, feel it right here on Earth.

[Reggie]

Yes, the theory of gravitational waves. Just like when the bowling ball moves at the center of the trampoline, it makes the baseball at the edge of the trampoline move as well.

[Mindy]

But did Albert Einstein ever prove his theory?

[Reggie]

No, not during his lifetime. But amazingly, Mindy, in the past few years. Astrophysicists.

[Mindy]

You mean the scientists who try to explain how our universe was born?

[Reggie]

Right. Those scientists, they detected a gravitational wave here on Earth.

[Mindy]

You mean they noticed something big happening in distant space that reached here on Earth?

[Reggie]

Yes, exactly. Here, Here, let me show you in my bird bath over here.

[Mindy]

Man, between your trampoline and your bird bath. Your backyard is getting pretty cramped, Guy Raz.

[Reggie]

So watch as I toss this pebble into the bird bath, all I see.

[Mindy]

Are ripples going out from where you dropped the pebble.

[Reggie]

Exactly. Those ripples expand out from where the disturbance in the water was. And in this case, the disturbance was caused by the pebbles.

[Mindy]

So that's sort of like how gravitational waves work.

[Reggie]

Yes. And, Mindy, something incredible happened right here on Earth on August 17, 2017. And we just found out about it.

[Mindy]

Oh, wait, I know. August 17th is national I Love My Feet Day.

[Reggie]

No, no, no, no, that's. That's not it, Mindy.

[Mindy]

Oh, sorry, I took a guess. It's also Black Cat Appreciation Day.

[Reggie]

No, no, no, Mindy. Besides, those aren't real holidays. They're just made up by marketers to try and get us to buy things and discuss them on morning news shows in the third hour when no one's watching.

[Mindy]

Okay, well, you may not love your feet, but I know that on August 17, I was soaking my old dogs in a warm bath of Epsom salts.

[Reggie]

Well, on that very Same day, Mindy, August 17, 2017, astrophysicists detected a gravitational wave, a ripple in space that they were able to detect using a very special laser that, for a brief moment, Mindy stretched and squished every single one of us on Earth.

[Mindy]

Wait a minute. You're saying we all got stretched and squished on August 17th?

[Reggie]

Exactamundo, Mindy. Every single human creature and object on planet Earth. Even if we didn't actually feel it. On that day, a gravitational wave 130 million years in the making arrived to our planet and passed through all of us.

[Mindy]

You know, come to think of it, I do remember reaching all the way up to that top shelf in my library to check on the status of my sea monkeys, and I did it without a stool.

[Reggie]

Well, that sounds like a coincidence, but it is true. For the briefest of brief moments, we all grew a teeny, tiny bit that day.

[Mindy]

Well, what happened on August 17th to make that possible, Mindy?

[Reggie]

On that date, August 17th, 2017, astrophysicists working in labs around the world all detected a spectacular explosion that happened 130 million years ago.

[Mindy]

Wait a minute. 130 million years ago?

[Reggie]

Yes. A ginormous explosion in distant space. An explosion that is so far away, it took 130 million years for us to see it here from Earth.

[Mindy]

Wow. That's sort of like when we were looking at the stars earlier tonight.

[Reggie]

Exactly. We were looking at the star Proxima Centauri, And.

[Mindy]

And that star's light took four years for us to see it now.

[Reggie]

Right, because Proxima Centauri is a star that's about four light years away from.

[Mindy]

Earth, which, by my calculations, would take us about 165,000 human years to get to on the space shuttle.

[Reggie]

Wow. Really?

[Mindy]

Well, yeah, because we humans don't have the technology to travel as fast as light does.

[Reggie]

Mindy, what happened 130 million years ago was so powerful, so incredibly huge, that it created a gravitational wave, just like on the trampoline Just like in my birthday.

[Mindy]

So what caused the explosion?

[Reggie]

Well, two giant neutron stars collided. An explosion so big, it's called a kilonova.

[Mindy]

And neutron stars are small stars, but very, very powerful stars.

[Reggie]

So powerful, Mindy, that in that moment when those two neutron stars crashed into each other, it produced an explosion more powerful than all of the energy our own sun could make in 10 billion years.

[Mindy]

You're talking about a gamma ray burst.

[Reggie]

That's exactly what astrophysicists believe they all witnessed. And even though that explosion has long passed, the energy from that explosion just reached us here on Earth in 2017.

[Mindy]

That's bonkerballs.

[Reggie]

And it's not just bonker balls. It's beyond bonker balls, Mindy, because this discovery has helped. Helped astrophysicists get one step closer to understanding just how our universe was created.

[Mindy]

Color me impressed.

[Reggie]

And it gets better, Mindy. Because this gravitational wave wasn't just detected by the special lasers astrophysicists use, a NASA satellite up in space called Fermi was also able to see that massive explosion.

[Mindy]

Wow. So. So what happened after the explosion?

[Reggie]

This is where it gets even more amazing.

[Mindy]

What?

[Reggie]

Well, that explosion created 1,000 trillion tons of gold.

[Mindy]

Gold. Quick, Guy, Raz, get into the time machine. We're gonna be rich. We're gonna be rich.

[Reggie]

Well, well, hold on just a minute there, Mindy, because even if we could get up there, we'd probably get turned into dust simply because that explosion was hot. Hotter than anything we've ever known.

[Mindy]

But 1000 trillion tons of gold? I mean, at today's price of gold, okay, so one gram is about $40. One ton is 907,000 grams. So 907,000 grams times a trillion. Mindy, that would be.

[Reggie]

Mindy, don't. Don't. That calculation is too big for your calc.

[Mindy]

Nah, don't worry, little buddy. Just a few more adjustments and.

[Reggie]

Mindy, it's too big a number. You're gonna.

[Mindy]

Whoa.

[Reggie]

Short circuit.

[Mindy]

Ugh. Better start saving for a new calculator. Man, if I just had some gold to buy one with.

[Reggie]

Oh, no. I'm going to bet. Cause I know where this adventure's gonna end.

[Mindy]

But if we just put on our heat shield in the time machine.

[Reggie]

No way. No way. Besides. Besides, if I don't get eight hours of sleep, I get really grumpy in the morning.

[Mindy]

Come on, don't be a party pooper. Just one little trip in the time machine.

[Reggie]

No way.

[Mindy]

Come on. Just one teeny, tiny, itsy bitsy journey to the greatest gold rush in history.

[Reggie]

I think I'll stick with staying here on Earth for now.

[Mindy]

Okay, well, how about a good night lullaby, huh?

[Reggie]

That sounds really nice. What do you got?

[Mindy]

Oh, my Pots and Pans band wrote something special for this very occasion. No, Boys, hit it.

[Reggie]

No, no, no.

[Mindy]

We call it the Sweet Supernova Sonata. You like it? Wow.

[Dennis]

That was so cool. Can you believe there used to be no universe like there used to be no Wee Wow on the weekend. Just a big empty space in the cosmos where an incredible podcast should be. And then, boop, there we were. It really makes you think. Hey, Reggie, should we get the Pots and Pans Band back together? Yeah, you're right. That was a horrible band. Well, let's wrap this up. Thanks to all you listeners out there for tuning in to Wee Wow on the weekend. You have a question for me, right? Or a name for the Goldfish? 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. Should we do the Goodbye song? All right, let's do it. That's the end of the show. I need to go and contemplate the fabric of existence and they miss Goldfish. But I'll do another show tomorrow. But for now, that's the end of the show. Bye.

[Mindy]

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.

[Mindy]

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