WeWow on the Weekend (4/26/25) - Wow in the World

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[00:01]
Guy Raz
Hey, Wowzer fams. It's Guy, Raz and Mindy here, and before we start the show, Earth Day is finally here.
[00:07]
Mindy
Happy Earth Day to you. Happy Earth Day to you. Happy. I'm so excited.
[00:12]
Guy Raz
Our planet Earth is full of so much wow. And we need your help to find and share the wows with our community.
[00:21]
Mindy
Because after all, if we want our planet to take care of us, we have to take care of our planet.
[00:26]
Guy Raz
So this week, we made a special mini episode of wow in the World just for you all about our amazing Planet Earth.
[00:34]
Mindy
Or as we like to call it, Planet Wow. And after you're done listening to the mini episode this Tuesday, Grown Ups Don't Forget to visit Tinkercast.com PlanetWow when you.
[00:45]
Guy Raz
Visit Tinkercast.com PlanetWow, you'll find information on how you can join us on our epic Geocaching Eco Adventure and find our exclusive Planet Wow geocache boxes in places that wow near you.
[01:01]
Mindy
Now, we could tell you where some of these geocaches are hidden, but we'd rather show you. Guy, Raz and I have placed some secret clues in the three episodes from last week's Wewow Earth Week.
[01:13]
Guy Raz
Give those episodes a listen to find out where we've placed some of our Planet Wow geocaches and then see if you can go find one of them out in the world.
[01:24]
Mindy
We can't wait to see what wows you find out in the world. Grown ups. Don't forget to share with us@tinkercast.com planetwow that's it. And now let's get back to the show.
[01:38]
Dennis
Hey grown ups. Are you and your kids seeking a bit of adventure excitement? How about a water park, arcade and restaurants all under one roof? Well, at Great Wolf Lodge, there's adventure nearby for the whole family. Suit up for the complete indoor water park experience. Water slides, wave pool, lazy river. There's something for everyone and the water's always just right. Once you dry off, explore great dining options and complimentary events like nightly dance parties to keep the excitement rolling. With 23 lodges across the country, you're always just a short drive away from adventure. So bring your pack together at a lodge near you. Book your stay today@greatwolf.com and strengthen the pack. You can save up to 40% off on any stay at Great Wolf Lodge from now through August 31st. When you book at participating lodges, just visit greatwolf.com and enter the promo code world when you book@greatwolf.com hey, grown ups. Want to Give your kids the best possible advantage in their education, no matter where they are in their learning journey. IXL can help. IXL is an online learning program that fits seamlessly into a homeschool curriculum. It offers interactive practice in math, English, language arts, science, and social studies. At Tinkercast, we know that kids learn at their own pace and follow their own interests. So we like that IXL allows kids to study at any learning level and adapt to their specific needs. And we appreciate that with ixl, kids have agency to choose the activities and educational games that they like make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and WOW in the world. Listeners can get an exclusive, 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. Hey grown ups. This spring, take some time for personal growth by listening to inspiring and motivational audio titles from audible. Explore over 1 million audiobooks and exclusive originals to help you set and reach goals for your well being. There are titles to help you establish new fitness and nutrition habits, prioritize relaxation, improve relationships in your work and personal lives, and more. At Tinkercast, we're tapping into our latent talents and listening to insights from Adam Grant and a long list of impressive guests in the audiobook Hidden the Science of Achieving Greater Things. Feed your curiosity and learn about the area of self improvement that matter most to you. There's something for everyone in Audible's growing list of titles. See for yourself. You can sign up for a free 30 day trial@Audible.com wow. So what are you waiting for? Start listening today. Sign up for your free 30 day trial at audible.com wow.
[04:56]
Reggie
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. Laugh, laugh. 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 Reggie. Oh, nothing. Reggie. I'm fine. Well, it's just I was gonna start the episode off with a Snoop scoop, but. But, but everyone's being really boring today. No, no kooky. She no wacky. Hi jinks. Everyone's just sitting around enjoying their day. It's horrible. Oh, you're right. I could still do the Snoop scoop. I just have to Jazz it up a little. Okay, let's get Jazzy Snoop Scoop. Baddaloo Snoop scoop. Sneakiest Snoopidy.
[06:25]
Guy Raz
Nooo.
[06:26]
Dennis
Snoop.
[06:26]
Mindy
Yeah.
[06:27]
Reggie
Okay, that felt good. Ahem. Welcome to the Snoop Scope. The part of the show where I tell you everything I've seen going on around the neighborhood. All right, Reggie, get this. Today I saw Guy Raz buying groceries. Oh, right, I gotta jazz it up. Um, can you play saxophone?
[06:51]
Mindy
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, do that.
[06:53]
Reggie
Oh, this is gonna be so great. Jazzy Snoop scoop. Here we go. Ahem. Today was boring. Almost too boring, I thought, huh? Where is everyone? And then there he was, out of the nowhere. Guy Raz with a bag of groceries. I wondered what was in that bag of groceries. Cheese, bread, vegetables. And that's when I saw her Mindy, off in the distance, reading a book.
[07:34]
Guy Raz
Wow.
[07:36]
Reggie
I know. Just when I thought this day couldn't get any more boring. Oh, but what's this? Why, it's Reggie. That's right, Reggie. You. You were coming, right for me. Walking with purpose. But what purpose could that. What business could Reggie possibly have with me, Dennis? Oh, that's right. You were just coming over to record the podcast. Okay, well, that's been today's Snoop Scoop jazz edition. All right, let's do a reading reviewsies segment, because, Reggie, I want to hear from my adoring fans. I'm reading reviewsies for me and for Uzies. We've got us some doozies, so let's read reviews. Z's. This is the part where I print off a bunch of comments that people left us on Apple Music or Spotify or wherever, and I read them aloud. Or I go off on a tangent and forget what the comment was. Well, I don't know. It's definitely one of the two. Okay, here we go. This first review Z, comes from username lion. And lion asks, what is your favorite type of sneaker? Good question. Well, of course, we snoops are excellent sneakers. We have to sneak around, all sneaky when we listen to people's conversations. But there are other kinds of sneakers, right? Like, foxes are pretty sneaky. Oh, and spies are also very sneaky. Spies are kind of like snoops, but they have more gadgets, which is very cool. Also on the sneaky is lion meant sneakers, like the kind of shoe. Well, in that case, my answer is red ones. Next reviewsy. This next reviewsy is from username Cool. Now Reggie Cool. Not coo. Close enough. Cool asks, do you like cake? Oh, yeah, I love cake. I love the different flavors, and I love the frosting And I love the decorating. Cakes with sprinkles. Oh, great idea, Reggie. We should bake a cake on Dishing it Up with Dennis. Okay, listeners, let us know in the comments what kind of cake we should bake next. Rabuzzi. Okay, this one's from Yuanyu, who asks what is inside a bug's body. Huh? I believe the scientific term for what is inside a bug's body is icky squishy bug guts. Okay, fine, that's not the scientific term. Well, what would you call the inside of a bug? Delicious. Ew, I forget how many bugs you eat. Yeah, okay, this conversation is making me itchy. Thanks for all your reviewsies, listeners. Keep them coming. If you leave me a comment on Apple podcasts or Spotify, I just might read it on WEWI on the weekend. Five stars or more, please. Okey doke. Up next is a little segment I like to call Inside Tinkercast Studios.
[11:02]
Guy Raz
Ahem.
[11:03]
Reggie
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 two, episode 12 called Spaced Out. Pen pal part one. Oh, a space one. Yay. And a two parter, which means we can make this whole weekend a spanx weekend. Okay, here we go. And play wow in the World.
[11:40]
Mindy
We'll be right back.
[11:41]
Reggie
Grown ups.
[11:42]
Mindy
This message is for you. That's it. Back to the show.
[11:49]
Guy Raz
Wow in the World. Hope things are things are going well for you up there on the International Space Station. Hope to see you soon. Yours sincerely, Guy Raz. There, all done. Come in.
[12:22]
Mindy
Good morning, Guy Raz, where are you?
[12:26]
Guy Raz
Hi, Mindy. Wow, you're even cheerier and happier than normal. What's up?
[12:31]
Mindy
Well, for starters, this morning I found some shrimp in my pocket that I forgot I put there a couple of weeks ago and it's still kind of fresh. Here, you want some?
[12:40]
Guy Raz
What? Eat it.
[12:41]
Mindy
Eat it.
[12:41]
Guy Raz
Well, I was just about to deliver this letter to my pen pal.
[12:45]
Mindy
Your pen pal? What, you have other friends besides me and Reggie?
[12:51]
Guy Raz
Well, Mindy, I happen to be a very popular guy Raz. What?
[12:55]
Mindy
You happen to be a very popular guy Raz.
[12:59]
Guy Raz
Oh, yeah, right. So this pen pal I was writing to, well, she happens to be on the International Space Station.
[13:06]
Mindy
The International Space Station? The iss?
[13:11]
Guy Raz
Yep. In her last letter to me, she signed off and wrote, see you later.
[13:16]
Mindy
See you later.
[13:18]
Guy Raz
Yeah.
[13:19]
Mindy
Raz, you know what this means? She wants you to come visit.
[13:22]
Guy Raz
What?
[13:23]
Mindy
Oh, my one eyed cat. Guy Raz, you're going to the International Space Station.
[13:30]
Guy Raz
I don't know, Mindy. I suppose it would be a nice gesture to deliver this letter in person.
[13:37]
Mindy
Well, if you're going to deliver your snail mail to the International Space Station, Guy Raz, then I'm going with you. Come on, grab your stuff. Let's go.
[13:46]
Guy Raz
But, Mindy, I'm not sure see you later literally means I'll see you later. I mean, I think she was just being polite.
[13:53]
Mindy
Uh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. She said specifically, I'll see you later, as in, I'll see you later on the International Space Station. P.S. bring your best friend. Especially if her name rhymes with Wendy.
[14:09]
Guy Raz
Are you sure about this, Mindy?
[14:11]
Mindy
Of course I'm not sure about this, Guy Raz. Now go suit up and get ready to go.
[14:16]
Guy Raz
But I'm already wearing a suit, Guy Raz.
[14:20]
Mindy
A spacesuit.
[14:22]
Guy Raz
Okay, well, let me just run upstairs and put on my spacesuit. Just give me two seconds. Okay? Just wait right here.
[14:28]
Mindy
Just make it snappy. Okay. All right. Guy Raz, what is taking you so long? We're gonna hit traffic on the way up.
[14:41]
Guy Raz
All right, good to go.
[14:43]
Mindy
Guy Raz.
[14:44]
Guy Raz
Uh, yeah?
[14:45]
Mindy
You're wearing the exact same thing as you were before.
[14:50]
Guy Raz
That's not true. I'm now wearing my fancy Saturn cufflinks and my paisley bow ties. See, look, it spins. It's my spacesuit.
[15:00]
Mindy
Okay, Guy Raz, so you and I both know that space can be a seriously dangerous place. I mean, with all of that space junk just flying around up there, I think you're gonna need something a little more substantial to protect you from the elements.
[15:18]
Guy Raz
Substantial? Like what?
[15:21]
Mindy
Well, you know how you need a big fluffy jacket in the winter to protect you against snow or rain?
[15:27]
Guy Raz
Yeah.
[15:27]
Mindy
Well, in space, you need a special kind of suit to protect you against the dangers of space. One that doesn't involve cufflinks or a spinning bow tie.
[15:37]
Guy Raz
The dangers of space? Like. Like, like what?
[15:41]
Mindy
Well, instead of snow and rain, in space, you have to protect yourself against things like cosmic radiation and space dust.
[15:49]
Guy Raz
Space dust? Ah, Mindy, I hate dust. That's why I get sick every time I visit your house.
[15:55]
Mindy
Oh, you're just allergic to Dusty.
[15:57]
Guy Raz
Who?
[15:58]
Mindy
Dusty, my pet dust bunny.
[15:59]
Guy Raz
That's what that thing is.
[16:01]
Mindy
And if you think the dust in my house is bad, just wait until you get a load of some space dust, because that stuff can be deadly.
[16:09]
Guy Raz
But dust particles are so small, Mindy. I mean, how can something so small be so deadly?
[16:16]
Mindy
Well, because some of these particles can orbit or float around the planet at up to 10,000 miles per hour.
[16:24]
Guy Raz
10,000 miles per hour? That's like five times faster than a speeding bullet.
[16:30]
Mindy
I know, right? And when these little pieces of space rock are traveling that fast, they can cause some serious damage.
[16:38]
Guy Raz
Whoa.
[16:39]
Mindy
In fact, some scientists actually refer to these tiny bits of space dust as micrometeorites.
[16:47]
Guy Raz
Micro meaning really, really, really small. And meteorites, meaning bits of space rock.
[16:55]
Mindy
You know it.
[16:56]
Guy Raz
I never thought I'd say this, Mindy, but I think I might need a new suit guy.
[17:01]
Mindy
Raz, let's go shopping. No, really. I've been meaning to get a new spacesuit anyway, ever since I grew out of my old one. Come on.
[17:08]
Guy Raz
Wait, you already have a spacesuit?
[17:11]
Mindy
Well, yeah. You want to see it?
[17:13]
Guy Raz
Of course I want to see it.
[17:14]
Mindy
Okay, you wait right here. I'll be right back.
[17:16]
Guy Raz
What?
[17:18]
Mindy
Found it.
[17:20]
Guy Raz
Ta da.
[17:23]
Reggie
What is that?
[17:24]
Guy Raz
Mindy?
[17:24]
Mindy
You like it?
[17:25]
Guy Raz
It's so bright, it's hurting my eyes. It's like a disco ball.
[17:29]
Mindy
I know. Pretty retro, huh? This is my old spacesuit.
[17:32]
Guy Raz
I'll say. Why is it so shiny?
[17:35]
Mindy
Oh, well, the first ever American spacesuits were made out of a reflective material called aluminized nylon. It's meant to reflect thermal radiation.
[17:45]
Guy Raz
Thermal radiation? Oh, that's the type of energy the sun gives off that makes us hot.
[17:52]
Mindy
Exact. Oritos. So this shiny material is actually used to reflect that energy back into space so that the astronaut wearing it doesn't overheat.
[18:02]
Guy Raz
Ah, I get it. Kind of like how you put a reflective sun visor on your car's dashboard to keep it cool on hot summer days.
[18:11]
Mindy
You know it. In fact, this is actually the same suit that astronaut John Glenn wore.
[18:18]
Guy Raz
The John Glenn? The first American to orbit the Earth?
[18:22]
Mindy
Yep, that's the one. My Aunt Mojo gave it to me. She used to cat sit for him when he went off on his space missions, and he gave it to her as a thank you present.
[18:32]
Guy Raz
Yeah, Maybe you should get a new space suit, Mindy. I think that one kind of belongs in a museum or something.
[18:41]
Mindy
I think you belong in a museum, guy Raz.
[18:43]
Guy Raz
What?
[18:44]
Mindy
What?
[18:44]
Guy Raz
So are we gonna go to the mall or what?
[18:46]
Mindy
Yeah, I'm ready when you are.
[18:48]
Guy Raz
Okay, Let me just lock up the house. Ah, fresh air. Another beautiful day. Mindy, do you really think they're gonna have spacesuits at the mall?
[19:04]
Mindy
Oh, yeah. They just opened up this new store called the Black Hole. And I hear the fashion in there is out of this world.
[19:12]
Guy Raz
Well, I think I'll be the judge of that Reggie.
[19:17]
Mindy
Oh, we can't ride Reggie to the mall, Guy Raz.
[19:20]
Guy Raz
Why not? His taekwondo land aren't for another four hours.
[19:23]
Mindy
There's no pigeon parking at the mall.
[19:25]
Guy Raz
Oh, right. Sorry, Reg. Looks like you're gonna have to hang back this time. Mindy and I are. Mindy? Mindy. What in the.
[19:39]
Mindy
Hop on back, Guy Raz. But first, put this helmet on your head.
[19:43]
Guy Raz
Mindy, this is a coconut shell. And now what is this thing you're sitting on? A. Is this a.
[19:50]
Mindy
It's a motor pickle, Guy Raz.
[19:52]
Guy Raz
A motor what?
[19:54]
Mindy
A motor pickle. So last summer I grew this monster cucumber that I later pickled and then realized it was too big to eat. So I just added a motor, some handlebars and the wheels from your car. And now it's a motor pickle. And I built it all by myself. First and only one of its kind.
[20:14]
Guy Raz
Do you think it's safe to ride?
[20:16]
Mindy
Of course I don't think it's safe to ride.
[20:19]
Guy Raz
What?
[20:20]
Mindy
But I bet it tastes great.
[20:22]
Guy Raz
Did she just eat her motor?
[20:25]
Mindy
Now hop on back and hold on for your life, Guy Raz. You too, Reg. It's a three seater, Mindy.
[20:32]
Reggie
I.
[20:33]
Mindy
Here we go. Look at all these people checking out my sweet ride.
[20:45]
Guy Raz
I thought it was a sour pickle.
[20:47]
Mindy
Yeah, I went with bread and butter.
[20:48]
Guy Raz
Wow, everyone here really is looking at us, Mindy.
[20:52]
Mindy
I know. Isn't it great?
[20:54]
Guy Raz
Excuse me, everybody. Excuse me. Nothing to see here. Nothing to see here. Just me and Mindy and a carrier pigeon riding on a motor pickle.
[21:05]
Mindy
Take a picture, folks. It'll last longer.
[21:08]
Guy Raz
Mindy, can we go go anywhere without causing a scene? No, let's just get inside the mall, okay? Come on, Reggie. Ah, the mall Christmas music already.
[21:21]
Mindy
Now we can just get out all these teens.
[21:27]
Guy Raz
Excuse me, sorry, sorry. Coming through, coming through.
[21:32]
Mindy
Wait, wait. Hey, Reggie, where are you going? Well, just meet us back here when you're done, alright? And don't take any wooden nickels.
[21:38]
Guy Raz
Where's he going, Mindy?
[21:39]
Mindy
He says he has a job interview at Foot Locker.
[21:42]
Guy Raz
What does Reggie know about shoes? Oh, well, where is this black hole shop you were telling me about, Mindy?
[21:50]
Mindy
Oh, yeah, so apparently you know you're there when you see it. Or rather don't see it. I don't know. It's the only store that light can't escape from.
[21:57]
Guy Raz
Wait, is that it there where? That store is pitch black.
[22:02]
Mindy
Yeah, this is it. Come on, let's go inside. Whoa, check this place out, Guy Raz. Look at all these awesome Spacesuits for sale. Yeah. Which one do you think would make the best impression with your new pen pal on the International Space Station?
[22:20]
Guy Raz
You know, I hear you can't really go wrong with the emu.
[22:23]
Mindy
Emu?
[22:23]
Guy Raz
What?
[22:24]
Mindy
Guy Raz, we're shopping for space station, not flightless birds.
[22:28]
Guy Raz
I know, Mindy. Emu. Emu. It stands for extra mobility unit, and it's the name of the spacesuit that astronauts at NASA have been using since 1983.
[22:40]
Mindy
Oh, yeah, the classic spacesuit. Yeah, well, I guess life saving technology never really goes out of style.
[22:47]
Guy Raz
And unlike any of the suits in my closet, the EMU space suit has built in technology that keeps its astronauts from getting too hot because of the.
[22:58]
Mindy
Sun'S thermal radiation and from getting too cold. Too cold? What? Let me check the weather forecast up there. Oh, yeah, it says here the forecast for space for the next several billion years so is minus 454.
[23:23]
Guy Raz
So you can see why it's important for that suit to keep the astronauts nice and warm.
[23:28]
Mindy
Oh, check this out. Another cool feature on the tag here says that it will also provide the astronaut with oxygen to breathe, while also removing the carbon dioxide that the astronaut breathes out.
[23:41]
Guy Raz
Which is important because as the astronaut breathes out, she fills up the suit with. With carbon dioxide. And if you don't get rid of it, the astronaut can breathe it in, which, if she does it for too long, can be deadly.
[23:55]
Mindy
Yikes. So air filtration, or some kind of a feature that helps to remove the carbon dioxide from the suit is a must, right?
[24:04]
Guy Raz
Exactly. And check this out, Mindy. The suit even has a special gold lined visor that protects the wearer's eyes from bright sunlight.
[24:14]
Mindy
Like one massive pair of sunglasses.
[24:16]
Guy Raz
Yep.
[24:17]
Mindy
Cool.
[24:17]
Guy Raz
Well, I have to say, Mindy, I am sold. Sold. Hey, you want to check and see if it's on sale? Mindy? Mindy.
[24:26]
Mindy
Oh, Guy. Raz, I'm over here. Check out this rack of prototype suits. They're bonker balls, Mindy.
[24:33]
Guy Raz
I'm not looking for any bunker balls and whistles. I just want whatever suit is going to keep me the safest.
[24:38]
Mindy
Oh, well, there's a ton of research that goes into safety. And look, these suits are new and improved.
[24:45]
Guy Raz
Yeah, I don't know. You know what I always say? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
[24:49]
Mindy
No, you don't. You always say if you can't find quinoa, chia seeds are a good substitute.
[24:56]
Guy Raz
Well, it is true.
[24:58]
Mindy
Ooh, check this one out. The tag here says it uses liquid Armor technology.
[25:04]
Guy Raz
Liquid armor.
[25:06]
Mindy
Yeah, I was just reading about this. So remember that space dust we were talking about earlier?
[25:11]
Guy Raz
Yeah, the micrometeorites.
[25:14]
Mindy
Right. So those micrometeorites can sometimes puncture or put holes in an astronaut's suit.
[25:21]
Guy Raz
Kind of like when your bike tire goes flat.
[25:23]
Mindy
Yeah, but only like a thousand times worse, because the air that escapes the suit is the same air that the astronaut needs to breathe.
[25:32]
Guy Raz
And so this liquid armor makes these suits unpuncturable.
[25:38]
Mindy
Yeah. Looking at the tag here, it says this new suit is made with a new kind of liquid armor technology. It was invented by scientists over at the University of Delaware.
[25:50]
Guy Raz
So what do you know about this unpuncturable technology?
[25:53]
Mindy
Well, from what I understand, the scientists start with a special kind of gloop.
[25:59]
Reggie
Ugh, yuck.
[26:01]
Mindy
Which is made up of a mixture of a chemical compound called silica and another chemical called polyethylene glycol, which would.
[26:09]
Guy Raz
Make a pretty rubbery type of liquid. Right?
[26:12]
Mindy
You know it. But the researchers found out that this gloop had a very interesting power.
[26:19]
Guy Raz
Huh, what's that?
[26:21]
Mindy
Well, when they hit this gloop with a fast moving object, it immediately hardened.
[26:29]
Guy Raz
Wow.
[26:29]
Mindy
Then after it was all over, the gloop softened and went back to being a liquid.
[26:35]
Guy Raz
That's incredible, Mindy. But what does all this have to do with this swanky new space suit?
[26:40]
Mindy
Well, the space fabric that this suit is made of has been soaked in that gloop. It's just gloop, Guy Raz. The researchers soaked and smothered the fabric in this gloop and let it suck it all in. And then they let it set in.
[27:00]
Guy Raz
That's it. And then the material suddenly becomes puncture proof. Like you couldn't even poke a pencil through it.
[27:07]
Mindy
Well, sort of. So when the suit gets hit by.
[27:10]
Guy Raz
A fast moving object, like that micrometeorite space dust you were telling me about.
[27:15]
Mindy
Yeah, exactly. So when it's hit by something like space dust or a micrometeorite, it immediately hardens, and then once it's over, it turns back into a liquid so that the material can be flex.
[27:29]
Guy Raz
That's amazing. And I suppose this sort of poke proof fabric could be used on all sorts of space related gadgets, like future inflatable off world habitats.
[27:41]
Mindy
Uh, you mean space tents, Guy Raz.
[27:44]
Guy Raz
Exactly. The kind of tents that will make up the labs and the living quarters for the astronauts that may one day live on Mars.
[27:53]
Mindy
That is literally some out of this world camping.
[27:56]
Guy Raz
So how, how far off is this technology, Mindy?
[27:59]
Mindy
Well, it Might be a little while before we see a poke proof moon bounce, but the results should be in pretty soon. In fact, last November, NASA sent a sample of this fabric and put it on the outside of the space station.
[28:13]
Guy Raz
And they're just gonna leave it there?
[28:15]
Mindy
Yeah, they're gonna go back in a year to see how it's been able to handle all of the space dust and the micrometeorites coming at it.
[28:22]
Guy Raz
TAD is thorough.
[28:24]
Mindy
Okay, let's see what else we've got here. Looks like they've only got an extra large in this one. Ooh, purple. Really? Dior.
[28:35]
Guy Raz
That's not.
[28:35]
Mindy
I didn't even know they did space suits.
[28:37]
Guy Raz
Ooh, what about this one, Mindy?
[28:40]
Mindy
What? Oh, let me see that tag. Shrink wrapping spacesuit. Huh?
[28:46]
Guy Raz
Oh, yeah, I've heard about this. This is from the folks at mit, right?
[28:51]
Mindy
Yeah, but what is it?
[28:53]
Guy Raz
Well, Mindy, it's essentially a spacesuit that shrinks to fit to your body. You simply put it on, press a button, and the suit literally shrink wraps to your body.
[29:08]
Reggie
Whoa.
[29:08]
Mindy
It's like one of those vacuum sucking space bags. Only for your body and for actual space.
[29:15]
Guy Raz
Well, sort of, but not really.
[29:18]
Mindy
So how does it work?
[29:20]
Guy Raz
Well, the fabric that this suit is made out of is interwoven with metal coils, like springs. And they get tighter when they heat up, and then they get looser when they cool down.
[29:32]
Mindy
Right, so once you suit up, you press a button, which heats up these metal coils, which makes the suit tighten to your body. And then when you want to take it off again, you just cool them off.
[29:46]
Guy Raz
The coils loosen, and you're able to take the suit off.
[29:49]
Mindy
Well, how do you cool them off? I mean, do you have to step into a giant refrigerator?
[29:54]
Guy Raz
Well, I'm guessing there's a reason this suit's still on the prototype section of the store.
[29:58]
Mindy
Yeah, might need a little more time to work out the kinks. You know, Guy Raz, I think I'm gonna just go with the extra vehicular mobility unit just to standard old emu. Yeah, it's a great space suit, and it gets the job done.
[30:12]
Guy Raz
Yeah, me too. You can't go wrong with a classic.
[30:15]
Mindy
Okay, I'm gonna grab these suits for us and I'll meet you at the register. Wait, what size do you wear?
[30:20]
Guy Raz
Let's see. Europe 48, but generally 36R. And US size is Canadian. Not so sure.
[30:28]
Mindy
Got it. I'll just grab the smallest one they've got. Man, these suits are so happy.
[30:45]
E
Ma'am, do you want help with what?
[30:47]
Mindy
No, no, no. I got it.
[30:49]
E
Okay.
[30:50]
Mindy
Hi.
[30:51]
Guy Raz
Hi. Excuse me. Yes. Just the two extra vehicular mobility units.
[30:56]
E
Okay, let's see here. That one and that one. Now, did anyone help you out with your purchase today?
[31:06]
Guy Raz
No.
[31:07]
E
Have you heard about our out of this World Christmas sale?
[31:11]
Guy Raz
Christma whaty. It's March.
[31:14]
E
When you purchase two or more NASA certified spacesuits, you can purchase a lunar rover at 25% off.
[31:23]
Guy Raz
I. I think we're. I think we're fine with just that.
[31:26]
E
Would you care to donate $5 towards SETI? That's the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Every dollar makes a difference.
[31:37]
Guy Raz
Sure.
[31:37]
E
Thank you very much, sir. Now if I could just get your email address.
[31:42]
Guy Raz
What? What for?
[31:43]
E
Okay, no email address. Your total comes to $24 million.
[31:52]
Guy Raz
$24 million and 32 cents.
[31:56]
Mindy
And space travel is surprisingly expensive.
[31:59]
Guy Raz
I'll say.
[32:01]
E
How will you be paying, sir? Cash, credit or fact?
[32:05]
Guy Raz
Fact.
[32:05]
E
Yes, fact. It's a promotion we're running this month. You can pay with fun out of this world facts.
[32:14]
Guy Raz
Okay, well, I guess I'll take that.
[32:17]
Mindy
I got this one. Guy Raz.
[32:19]
Guy Raz
What?
[32:19]
Mindy
It's my treat. Excuse me, sir. I'd like to pay with a fact.
[32:23]
E
Okay.
[32:24]
Mindy
Did you know that there are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on all of the beaches on Earth?
[32:33]
Guy Raz
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
[32:36]
E
Really?
[32:37]
Guy Raz
Huh?
[32:38]
E
All the same. That is really fun.
[32:43]
Guy Raz
Fact.
[32:44]
E
Do you want a receipt?
[32:45]
Mindy
Ah, no thanks. Save the paper, Guy Raz. Hold my bag while I suit up. That's gonna squeeze into this thing.
[32:52]
Guy Raz
I don't.
[32:54]
Mindy
Uh, excuse me, sir. Is it okay if we wear these out of the store or.
[32:58]
Reggie
Yes, yeah, of course.
[32:59]
Mindy
Come on, suit up, Guy Raz. Next stop, space.
[33:03]
Guy Raz
Ah, okay. Let me just get this. Can you zip me up, please?
[33:11]
Mindy
Of course I can, little buddy. Now hold your breath.
[33:16]
Guy Raz
Thanks. Okay, are we good to go?
[33:18]
Mindy
Good to go. Now let's go deliver that letter to your pen pal on the International Space Station.
[33:27]
Reggie
Wow. That was so cool. Did you hear the motor Pickle? Reggie. I know. I want a spacesuit. Or I mean I want an extra vehicular mobility unit too. Let's go to the mall and get some. Ah, right. We gotta wrap up the show. 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 1-8887-WOW-WOW. I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the weekend. Okay, should we do the good. Alright, let's do it.
[34:09]
Guy Raz
Ahem.
[34:10]
Reggie
That's the end of the show. I need to go and buy a spacesuit and some jeans and a cinnamon pretzel. But I'll do another show tomorrow. But for now, that's the end of the show.
[34:26]
Guy Raz
Ee.
[34:27]
Reggie
Bye.
[34:32]
Mindy
Grown ups. If you like wow in the world, you can listen early and ad free right now on Wondry.
[34:38]
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.
[34:48]
Mindy
And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short survey@wondery.com survey.

Summary5 min read

Wow in the World: "WeWow on the Weekend" Summary

Episode Information:

Title: WeWow on the Weekend
Release Date: April 26, 2025
Hosts: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz
Description: A special mini-episode celebrating Earth Day, featuring engaging stories about Planet Earth, interactive geocaching adventures, and the entertaining "Wee Wow on the Weekend" segment.

1. Earth Day Celebration and Planet Wow Promotion

Timestamp: [00:00] - [01:37]

The episode kicks off with hosts Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas celebrating Earth Day. They emphasize the importance of taking care of our planet to ensure its well-being.

Guy Raz: "Our planet Earth is full of so much wow. And we need your help to find and share the wows with our community." [00:12]
Mindy Thomas: "Because after all, if we want our planet to take care of us, we have to take care of our planet." [00:21]

To engage their audience, Mindy and Guy introduce a special mini-episode titled "Planet Wow", encouraging listeners to participate in an epic Geocaching Eco Adventure. They invite grown-ups to visit Tinkercast.com PlanetWow for more information and to find exclusive geocache boxes hidden in awe-inspiring locations.

Mindy Thomas: "Or as we like to call it, Planet Wow." [00:33]
Guy Raz: "Visit Tinkercast.com PlanetWow, you'll find information on how you can join us on our epic Geocaching Eco Adventure and find our exclusive Planet Wow geocache boxes in places that wow near you." [00:44]

The hosts also tease the inclusion of secret clues in previous episodes to locate these geocaches, fostering a sense of community adventure and exploration.

2. "Wee Wow on the Weekend" Segment

Timestamp: [04:56] - [34:47]

Overview: The "Wee Wow on the Weekend" segment is a humorous and creative skit featuring characters Dennis, Reggie, Guy Raz, and Mindy. This segment blends science, imagination, and comedy to engage both kids and their grown-up listeners.

Key Highlights:

a. Introduction and Snoop Scoop

Dennis & Reggie: The segment begins with Dennis and Reggie setting up the scene, with Dennis introducing the concept of "Snoop Scoop" where Reggie humorously narrates mundane observations turned into exciting news.
- Dennis: "Hello and welcome to Wee Wow on the Weekend. I'm your host, Dennis and that's Reggie." [04:56]
- Reggie: "Today I saw Guy Raz buying groceries...[00:06]... and then I saw her Mindy, off in the distance, reading a book." [06:50]

b. Reading Reviewsies

Reggie: Engages with listener comments, presenting questions in a fun and exaggerated manner.
- Reggie: "What is your favorite type of sneaker?" [06:25]
Guy Raz: Provides playful and imaginative answers, connecting scientific concepts with everyday items.
- Guy Raz: "Red ones." [07:33]

c. Inside Tinkercast Studios

Reggie: Introduces a segment where they revisit previous episodes, linking back to the main "Wow in the World" podcast.
- Reggie: "Today we're listening to wow in the World, season two, episode 12 called Spaced Out. Pen pal part one." [11:02]
Guy Raz & Mindy: Engage in a fictional conversation that leads to a comedic adventure involving space exploration and spacesuits.

d. The Spacesuit Adventure

Mindy & Guy Raz: Embark on a humorous quest to obtain a new spacesuit to deliver a letter to Guy's pen pal at the International Space Station (ISS).
- Mindy: "You know the forecast for space for the next several billion years is minus 454." [23:22]
- Guy Raz: "That's incredible, Mindy. But what does all this have to do with this swanky new space suit?" [25:04]
Discussion on Spacesuit Technology:
- Mindy: Explains advanced spacesuit features like liquid armor technology, which instantly hardens upon impact to protect against micrometeorites.
  - "When they hit this gloop with a fast moving object, it immediately hardened." [26:19]
- Guy Raz: Connects the technology to real-world applications and future space missions.
  - "So that means this suit is unpuncturable, like you couldn't even poke a pencil through it." [26:34]
Humorous Interactions:
- Mindy: Introduces her "motor pickle," a whimsical vehicle made from a pickled cucumber, handlebars, and car wheels.
  - "This is a motor pickle. First and only one of its kind." [19:52]
- Guy Raz: Reacts humorously to the unconventional transportation method.
  - "It's like a disco ball." [17:23]
Spacesuit Shopping Trip:
- Mindy & Guy Raz: Visit a fictional store called "The Black Hole" to purchase NASA-certified spacesuits, leading to comical misunderstandings and playful banter.
  - Mindy: "Did you know that there are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on all of the beaches on Earth?" [32:24]
  - Guy Raz: "That's incredible!" [32:32]
- Transaction Comedy:
  - Salesperson: "Would you care to donate $5 towards SETI?" [31:36]
  - Mindy: "It's my treat." [32:19]
  - Guy Raz: "$24 million and 32 cents." [31:51]
  - Mindy: "Space travel is surprisingly expensive." [31:59]

e. Conclusion of the Adventure

Mindy & Guy Raz: Successfully acquire the spacesuits and prepare to embark on their mission to deliver the letter to the ISS, wrapping up the skit with their characteristic humor.
- Reggie: "Wow. That was so cool. Did you hear the motor Pickle?" [33:02]
- Mindy: "Grown ups. If you like wow in the world, you can listen early and ad free right now on Wondery." [34:32]

3. Notable Quotes with Timestamps

Mindy Thomas: "If we want our planet to take care of us, we have to take care of our planet." [00:21]
Guy Raz: "Or better yet, let's go shopping. Mindy, we need a new suit." [17:00]
Mindy Thomas: "These suits are so happy." [30:28]
Guy Raz: "That's like five times faster than a speeding bullet." [16:23]
Mindy Thomas: "Space travel is surprisingly expensive." [31:59]

4. Insights and Themes

Environmental Stewardship: The episode emphasizes the importance of caring for Planet Earth, aligning with Earth Day celebrations and promoting eco-friendly adventures.
Science and Technology Humor: Through the "Wee Wow on the Weekend" skit, the hosts creatively blend scientific concepts with humor, making complex topics like spacesuit technology accessible and entertaining for young audiences.
Imagination and Creativity: The whimsical elements, such as the "motor pickle" and humorous interactions, encourage listeners to think creatively and embrace imaginative storytelling.
Community Engagement: By incorporating interactive segments like geocaching adventures and reading listener reviews, the episode fosters a sense of community and participation among listeners.

5. Conclusion

"WeWow on the Weekend" serves as a delightful blend of educational content and entertaining storytelling. Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz skillfully engage their audience by celebrating Earth Day, promoting interactive adventures, and delivering a humorous skit that integrates science with imaginative fun. This episode not only provides valuable insights into environmental stewardship and advanced technology but also ensures that listeners, both young and old, remain captivated and inspired to explore the wows of our world.

Loading summary

Transcript273 lines

[00:01]
Guy Raz
Hey, Wowzer fams. It's Guy, Raz and Mindy here, and before we start the show, Earth Day is finally here.
[00:07]
Mindy
Happy Earth Day to you. Happy Earth Day to you. Happy. I'm so excited.
[00:12]
Guy Raz
Our planet Earth is full of so much wow. And we need your help to find and share the wows with our community.
[00:21]
Mindy
Because after all, if we want our planet to take care of us, we have to take care of our planet.
[00:26]
Guy Raz
So this week, we made a special mini episode of wow in the World just for you all about our amazing Planet Earth.
[00:34]
Mindy
Or as we like to call it, Planet Wow. And after you're done listening to the mini episode this Tuesday, Grown Ups Don't Forget to visit Tinkercast.com PlanetWow when you.
[00:45]
Guy Raz
Visit Tinkercast.com PlanetWow, you'll find information on how you can join us on our epic Geocaching Eco Adventure and find our exclusive Planet Wow geocache boxes in places that wow near you.
[01:01]
Mindy
Now, we could tell you where some of these geocaches are hidden, but we'd rather show you. Guy, Raz and I have placed some secret clues in the three episodes from last week's Wewow Earth Week.
[01:13]
Guy Raz
Give those episodes a listen to find out where we've placed some of our Planet Wow geocaches and then see if you can go find one of them out in the world.
[01:24]
Mindy
We can't wait to see what wows you find out in the world. Grown ups. Don't forget to share with us@tinkercast.com planetwow that's it. And now let's get back to the show.
[01:38]
Dennis
Hey grown ups. Are you and your kids seeking a bit of adventure excitement? How about a water park, arcade and restaurants all under one roof? Well, at Great Wolf Lodge, there's adventure nearby for the whole family. Suit up for the complete indoor water park experience. Water slides, wave pool, lazy river. There's something for everyone and the water's always just right. Once you dry off, explore great dining options and complimentary events like nightly dance parties to keep the excitement rolling. With 23 lodges across the country, you're always just a short drive away from adventure. So bring your pack together at a lodge near you. Book your stay today@greatwolf.com and strengthen the pack. You can save up to 40% off on any stay at Great Wolf Lodge from now through August 31st. When you book at participating lodges, just visit greatwolf.com and enter the promo code world when you book@greatwolf.com hey, grown ups. Want to Give your kids the best possible advantage in their education, no matter where they are in their learning journey. IXL can help. IXL is an online learning program that fits seamlessly into a homeschool curriculum. It offers interactive practice in math, English, language arts, science, and social studies. At Tinkercast, we know that kids learn at their own pace and follow their own interests. So we like that IXL allows kids to study at any learning level and adapt to their specific needs. And we appreciate that with ixl, kids have agency to choose the activities and educational games that they like make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and WOW in the world. Listeners can get an exclusive, 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. Hey grown ups. This spring, take some time for personal growth by listening to inspiring and motivational audio titles from audible. Explore over 1 million audiobooks and exclusive originals to help you set and reach goals for your well being. There are titles to help you establish new fitness and nutrition habits, prioritize relaxation, improve relationships in your work and personal lives, and more. At Tinkercast, we're tapping into our latent talents and listening to insights from Adam Grant and a long list of impressive guests in the audiobook Hidden the Science of Achieving Greater Things. Feed your curiosity and learn about the area of self improvement that matter most to you. There's something for everyone in Audible's growing list of titles. See for yourself. You can sign up for a free 30 day trial@Audible.com wow. So what are you waiting for? Start listening today. Sign up for your free 30 day trial at audible.com wow.
[04:56]
Reggie
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. Laugh, laugh. 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 Reggie. Oh, nothing. Reggie. I'm fine. Well, it's just I was gonna start the episode off with a Snoop scoop, but. But, but everyone's being really boring today. No, no kooky. She no wacky. Hi jinks. Everyone's just sitting around enjoying their day. It's horrible. Oh, you're right. I could still do the Snoop scoop. I just have to Jazz it up a little. Okay, let's get Jazzy Snoop Scoop. Baddaloo Snoop scoop. Sneakiest Snoopidy.
[06:25]
Guy Raz
Nooo.
[06:26]
Dennis
Snoop.
[06:26]
Mindy
Yeah.
[06:27]
Reggie
Okay, that felt good. Ahem. Welcome to the Snoop Scope. The part of the show where I tell you everything I've seen going on around the neighborhood. All right, Reggie, get this. Today I saw Guy Raz buying groceries. Oh, right, I gotta jazz it up. Um, can you play saxophone?
[06:51]
Mindy
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, do that.
[06:53]
Reggie
Oh, this is gonna be so great. Jazzy Snoop scoop. Here we go. Ahem. Today was boring. Almost too boring, I thought, huh? Where is everyone? And then there he was, out of the nowhere. Guy Raz with a bag of groceries. I wondered what was in that bag of groceries. Cheese, bread, vegetables. And that's when I saw her Mindy, off in the distance, reading a book.
[07:34]
Guy Raz
Wow.
[07:36]
Reggie
I know. Just when I thought this day couldn't get any more boring. Oh, but what's this? Why, it's Reggie. That's right, Reggie. You. You were coming, right for me. Walking with purpose. But what purpose could that. What business could Reggie possibly have with me, Dennis? Oh, that's right. You were just coming over to record the podcast. Okay, well, that's been today's Snoop Scoop jazz edition. All right, let's do a reading reviewsies segment, because, Reggie, I want to hear from my adoring fans. I'm reading reviewsies for me and for Uzies. We've got us some doozies, so let's read reviews. Z's. This is the part where I print off a bunch of comments that people left us on Apple Music or Spotify or wherever, and I read them aloud. Or I go off on a tangent and forget what the comment was. Well, I don't know. It's definitely one of the two. Okay, here we go. This first review Z, comes from username lion. And lion asks, what is your favorite type of sneaker? Good question. Well, of course, we snoops are excellent sneakers. We have to sneak around, all sneaky when we listen to people's conversations. But there are other kinds of sneakers, right? Like, foxes are pretty sneaky. Oh, and spies are also very sneaky. Spies are kind of like snoops, but they have more gadgets, which is very cool. Also on the sneaky is lion meant sneakers, like the kind of shoe. Well, in that case, my answer is red ones. Next reviewsy. This next reviewsy is from username Cool. Now Reggie Cool. Not coo. Close enough. Cool asks, do you like cake? Oh, yeah, I love cake. I love the different flavors, and I love the frosting And I love the decorating. Cakes with sprinkles. Oh, great idea, Reggie. We should bake a cake on Dishing it Up with Dennis. Okay, listeners, let us know in the comments what kind of cake we should bake next. Rabuzzi. Okay, this one's from Yuanyu, who asks what is inside a bug's body. Huh? I believe the scientific term for what is inside a bug's body is icky squishy bug guts. Okay, fine, that's not the scientific term. Well, what would you call the inside of a bug? Delicious. Ew, I forget how many bugs you eat. Yeah, okay, this conversation is making me itchy. Thanks for all your reviewsies, listeners. Keep them coming. If you leave me a comment on Apple podcasts or Spotify, I just might read it on WEWI on the weekend. Five stars or more, please. Okey doke. Up next is a little segment I like to call Inside Tinkercast Studios.
[11:02]
Guy Raz
Ahem.
[11:03]
Reggie
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 two, episode 12 called Spaced Out. Pen pal part one. Oh, a space one. Yay. And a two parter, which means we can make this whole weekend a spanx weekend. Okay, here we go. And play wow in the World.
[11:40]
Mindy
We'll be right back.
[11:41]
Reggie
Grown ups.
[11:42]
Mindy
This message is for you. That's it. Back to the show.
[11:49]
Guy Raz
Wow in the World. Hope things are things are going well for you up there on the International Space Station. Hope to see you soon. Yours sincerely, Guy Raz. There, all done. Come in.
[12:22]
Mindy
Good morning, Guy Raz, where are you?
[12:26]
Guy Raz
Hi, Mindy. Wow, you're even cheerier and happier than normal. What's up?
[12:31]
Mindy
Well, for starters, this morning I found some shrimp in my pocket that I forgot I put there a couple of weeks ago and it's still kind of fresh. Here, you want some?
[12:40]
Guy Raz
What? Eat it.
[12:41]
Mindy
Eat it.
[12:41]
Guy Raz
Well, I was just about to deliver this letter to my pen pal.
[12:45]
Mindy
Your pen pal? What, you have other friends besides me and Reggie?
[12:51]
Guy Raz
Well, Mindy, I happen to be a very popular guy Raz. What?
[12:55]
Mindy
You happen to be a very popular guy Raz.
[12:59]
Guy Raz
Oh, yeah, right. So this pen pal I was writing to, well, she happens to be on the International Space Station.
[13:06]
Mindy
The International Space Station? The iss?
[13:11]
Guy Raz
Yep. In her last letter to me, she signed off and wrote, see you later.
[13:16]
Mindy
See you later.
[13:18]
Guy Raz
Yeah.
[13:19]
Mindy
Raz, you know what this means? She wants you to come visit.
[13:22]
Guy Raz
What?
[13:23]
Mindy
Oh, my one eyed cat. Guy Raz, you're going to the International Space Station.
[13:30]
Guy Raz
I don't know, Mindy. I suppose it would be a nice gesture to deliver this letter in person.
[13:37]
Mindy
Well, if you're going to deliver your snail mail to the International Space Station, Guy Raz, then I'm going with you. Come on, grab your stuff. Let's go.
[13:46]
Guy Raz
But, Mindy, I'm not sure see you later literally means I'll see you later. I mean, I think she was just being polite.
[13:53]
Mindy
Uh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. She said specifically, I'll see you later, as in, I'll see you later on the International Space Station. P.S. bring your best friend. Especially if her name rhymes with Wendy.
[14:09]
Guy Raz
Are you sure about this, Mindy?
[14:11]
Mindy
Of course I'm not sure about this, Guy Raz. Now go suit up and get ready to go.
[14:16]
Guy Raz
But I'm already wearing a suit, Guy Raz.
[14:20]
Mindy
A spacesuit.
[14:22]
Guy Raz
Okay, well, let me just run upstairs and put on my spacesuit. Just give me two seconds. Okay? Just wait right here.
[14:28]
Mindy
Just make it snappy. Okay. All right. Guy Raz, what is taking you so long? We're gonna hit traffic on the way up.
[14:41]
Guy Raz
All right, good to go.
[14:43]
Mindy
Guy Raz.
[14:44]
Guy Raz
Uh, yeah?
[14:45]
Mindy
You're wearing the exact same thing as you were before.
[14:50]
Guy Raz
That's not true. I'm now wearing my fancy Saturn cufflinks and my paisley bow ties. See, look, it spins. It's my spacesuit.
[15:00]
Mindy
Okay, Guy Raz, so you and I both know that space can be a seriously dangerous place. I mean, with all of that space junk just flying around up there, I think you're gonna need something a little more substantial to protect you from the elements.
[15:18]
Guy Raz
Substantial? Like what?
[15:21]
Mindy
Well, you know how you need a big fluffy jacket in the winter to protect you against snow or rain?
[15:27]
Guy Raz
Yeah.
[15:27]
Mindy
Well, in space, you need a special kind of suit to protect you against the dangers of space. One that doesn't involve cufflinks or a spinning bow tie.
[15:37]
Guy Raz
The dangers of space? Like. Like, like what?
[15:41]
Mindy
Well, instead of snow and rain, in space, you have to protect yourself against things like cosmic radiation and space dust.
[15:49]
Guy Raz
Space dust? Ah, Mindy, I hate dust. That's why I get sick every time I visit your house.
[15:55]
Mindy
Oh, you're just allergic to Dusty.
[15:57]
Guy Raz
Who?
[15:58]
Mindy
Dusty, my pet dust bunny.
[15:59]
Guy Raz
That's what that thing is.
[16:01]
Mindy
And if you think the dust in my house is bad, just wait until you get a load of some space dust, because that stuff can be deadly.
[16:09]
Guy Raz
But dust particles are so small, Mindy. I mean, how can something so small be so deadly?
[16:16]
Mindy
Well, because some of these particles can orbit or float around the planet at up to 10,000 miles per hour.
[16:24]
Guy Raz
10,000 miles per hour? That's like five times faster than a speeding bullet.
[16:30]
Mindy
I know, right? And when these little pieces of space rock are traveling that fast, they can cause some serious damage.
[16:38]
Guy Raz
Whoa.
[16:39]
Mindy
In fact, some scientists actually refer to these tiny bits of space dust as micrometeorites.
[16:47]
Guy Raz
Micro meaning really, really, really small. And meteorites, meaning bits of space rock.
[16:55]
Mindy
You know it.
[16:56]
Guy Raz
I never thought I'd say this, Mindy, but I think I might need a new suit guy.
[17:01]
Mindy
Raz, let's go shopping. No, really. I've been meaning to get a new spacesuit anyway, ever since I grew out of my old one. Come on.
[17:08]
Guy Raz
Wait, you already have a spacesuit?
[17:11]
Mindy
Well, yeah. You want to see it?
[17:13]
Guy Raz
Of course I want to see it.
[17:14]
Mindy
Okay, you wait right here. I'll be right back.
[17:16]
Guy Raz
What?
[17:18]
Mindy
Found it.
[17:20]
Guy Raz
Ta da.
[17:23]
Reggie
What is that?
[17:24]
Guy Raz
Mindy?
[17:24]
Mindy
You like it?
[17:25]
Guy Raz
It's so bright, it's hurting my eyes. It's like a disco ball.
[17:29]
Mindy
I know. Pretty retro, huh? This is my old spacesuit.
[17:32]
Guy Raz
I'll say. Why is it so shiny?
[17:35]
Mindy
Oh, well, the first ever American spacesuits were made out of a reflective material called aluminized nylon. It's meant to reflect thermal radiation.
[17:45]
Guy Raz
Thermal radiation? Oh, that's the type of energy the sun gives off that makes us hot.
[17:52]
Mindy
Exact. Oritos. So this shiny material is actually used to reflect that energy back into space so that the astronaut wearing it doesn't overheat.
[18:02]
Guy Raz
Ah, I get it. Kind of like how you put a reflective sun visor on your car's dashboard to keep it cool on hot summer days.
[18:11]
Mindy
You know it. In fact, this is actually the same suit that astronaut John Glenn wore.
[18:18]
Guy Raz
The John Glenn? The first American to orbit the Earth?
[18:22]
Mindy
Yep, that's the one. My Aunt Mojo gave it to me. She used to cat sit for him when he went off on his space missions, and he gave it to her as a thank you present.
[18:32]
Guy Raz
Yeah, Maybe you should get a new space suit, Mindy. I think that one kind of belongs in a museum or something.
[18:41]
Mindy
I think you belong in a museum, guy Raz.
[18:43]
Guy Raz
What?
[18:44]
Mindy
What?
[18:44]
Guy Raz
So are we gonna go to the mall or what?
[18:46]
Mindy
Yeah, I'm ready when you are.
[18:48]
Guy Raz
Okay, Let me just lock up the house. Ah, fresh air. Another beautiful day. Mindy, do you really think they're gonna have spacesuits at the mall?
[19:04]
Mindy
Oh, yeah. They just opened up this new store called the Black Hole. And I hear the fashion in there is out of this world.
[19:12]
Guy Raz
Well, I think I'll be the judge of that Reggie.
[19:17]
Mindy
Oh, we can't ride Reggie to the mall, Guy Raz.
[19:20]
Guy Raz
Why not? His taekwondo land aren't for another four hours.
[19:23]
Mindy
There's no pigeon parking at the mall.
[19:25]
Guy Raz
Oh, right. Sorry, Reg. Looks like you're gonna have to hang back this time. Mindy and I are. Mindy? Mindy. What in the.
[19:39]
Mindy
Hop on back, Guy Raz. But first, put this helmet on your head.
[19:43]
Guy Raz
Mindy, this is a coconut shell. And now what is this thing you're sitting on? A. Is this a.
[19:50]
Mindy
It's a motor pickle, Guy Raz.
[19:52]
Guy Raz
A motor what?
[19:54]
Mindy
A motor pickle. So last summer I grew this monster cucumber that I later pickled and then realized it was too big to eat. So I just added a motor, some handlebars and the wheels from your car. And now it's a motor pickle. And I built it all by myself. First and only one of its kind.
[20:14]
Guy Raz
Do you think it's safe to ride?
[20:16]
Mindy
Of course I don't think it's safe to ride.
[20:19]
Guy Raz
What?
[20:20]
Mindy
But I bet it tastes great.
[20:22]
Guy Raz
Did she just eat her motor?
[20:25]
Mindy
Now hop on back and hold on for your life, Guy Raz. You too, Reg. It's a three seater, Mindy.
[20:32]
Reggie
I.
[20:33]
Mindy
Here we go. Look at all these people checking out my sweet ride.
[20:45]
Guy Raz
I thought it was a sour pickle.
[20:47]
Mindy
Yeah, I went with bread and butter.
[20:48]
Guy Raz
Wow, everyone here really is looking at us, Mindy.
[20:52]
Mindy
I know. Isn't it great?
[20:54]
Guy Raz
Excuse me, everybody. Excuse me. Nothing to see here. Nothing to see here. Just me and Mindy and a carrier pigeon riding on a motor pickle.
[21:05]
Mindy
Take a picture, folks. It'll last longer.
[21:08]
Guy Raz
Mindy, can we go go anywhere without causing a scene? No, let's just get inside the mall, okay? Come on, Reggie. Ah, the mall Christmas music already.
[21:21]
Mindy
Now we can just get out all these teens.
[21:27]
Guy Raz
Excuse me, sorry, sorry. Coming through, coming through.
[21:32]
Mindy
Wait, wait. Hey, Reggie, where are you going? Well, just meet us back here when you're done, alright? And don't take any wooden nickels.
[21:38]
Guy Raz
Where's he going, Mindy?
[21:39]
Mindy
He says he has a job interview at Foot Locker.
[21:42]
Guy Raz
What does Reggie know about shoes? Oh, well, where is this black hole shop you were telling me about, Mindy?
[21:50]
Mindy
Oh, yeah, so apparently you know you're there when you see it. Or rather don't see it. I don't know. It's the only store that light can't escape from.
[21:57]
Guy Raz
Wait, is that it there where? That store is pitch black.
[22:02]
Mindy
Yeah, this is it. Come on, let's go inside. Whoa, check this place out, Guy Raz. Look at all these awesome Spacesuits for sale. Yeah. Which one do you think would make the best impression with your new pen pal on the International Space Station?
[22:20]
Guy Raz
You know, I hear you can't really go wrong with the emu.
[22:23]
Mindy
Emu?
[22:23]
Guy Raz
What?
[22:24]
Mindy
Guy Raz, we're shopping for space station, not flightless birds.
[22:28]
Guy Raz
I know, Mindy. Emu. Emu. It stands for extra mobility unit, and it's the name of the spacesuit that astronauts at NASA have been using since 1983.
[22:40]
Mindy
Oh, yeah, the classic spacesuit. Yeah, well, I guess life saving technology never really goes out of style.
[22:47]
Guy Raz
And unlike any of the suits in my closet, the EMU space suit has built in technology that keeps its astronauts from getting too hot because of the.
[22:58]
Mindy
Sun'S thermal radiation and from getting too cold. Too cold? What? Let me check the weather forecast up there. Oh, yeah, it says here the forecast for space for the next several billion years so is minus 454.
[23:23]
Guy Raz
So you can see why it's important for that suit to keep the astronauts nice and warm.
[23:28]
Mindy
Oh, check this out. Another cool feature on the tag here says that it will also provide the astronaut with oxygen to breathe, while also removing the carbon dioxide that the astronaut breathes out.
[23:41]
Guy Raz
Which is important because as the astronaut breathes out, she fills up the suit with. With carbon dioxide. And if you don't get rid of it, the astronaut can breathe it in, which, if she does it for too long, can be deadly.
[23:55]
Mindy
Yikes. So air filtration, or some kind of a feature that helps to remove the carbon dioxide from the suit is a must, right?
[24:04]
Guy Raz
Exactly. And check this out, Mindy. The suit even has a special gold lined visor that protects the wearer's eyes from bright sunlight.
[24:14]
Mindy
Like one massive pair of sunglasses.
[24:16]
Guy Raz
Yep.
[24:17]
Mindy
Cool.
[24:17]
Guy Raz
Well, I have to say, Mindy, I am sold. Sold. Hey, you want to check and see if it's on sale? Mindy? Mindy.
[24:26]
Mindy
Oh, Guy. Raz, I'm over here. Check out this rack of prototype suits. They're bonker balls, Mindy.
[24:33]
Guy Raz
I'm not looking for any bunker balls and whistles. I just want whatever suit is going to keep me the safest.
[24:38]
Mindy
Oh, well, there's a ton of research that goes into safety. And look, these suits are new and improved.
[24:45]
Guy Raz
Yeah, I don't know. You know what I always say? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
[24:49]
Mindy
No, you don't. You always say if you can't find quinoa, chia seeds are a good substitute.
[24:56]
Guy Raz
Well, it is true.
[24:58]
Mindy
Ooh, check this one out. The tag here says it uses liquid Armor technology.
[25:04]
Guy Raz
Liquid armor.
[25:06]
Mindy
Yeah, I was just reading about this. So remember that space dust we were talking about earlier?
[25:11]
Guy Raz
Yeah, the micrometeorites.
[25:14]
Mindy
Right. So those micrometeorites can sometimes puncture or put holes in an astronaut's suit.
[25:21]
Guy Raz
Kind of like when your bike tire goes flat.
[25:23]
Mindy
Yeah, but only like a thousand times worse, because the air that escapes the suit is the same air that the astronaut needs to breathe.
[25:32]
Guy Raz
And so this liquid armor makes these suits unpuncturable.
[25:38]
Mindy
Yeah. Looking at the tag here, it says this new suit is made with a new kind of liquid armor technology. It was invented by scientists over at the University of Delaware.
[25:50]
Guy Raz
So what do you know about this unpuncturable technology?
[25:53]
Mindy
Well, from what I understand, the scientists start with a special kind of gloop.
[25:59]
Reggie
Ugh, yuck.
[26:01]
Mindy
Which is made up of a mixture of a chemical compound called silica and another chemical called polyethylene glycol, which would.
[26:09]
Guy Raz
Make a pretty rubbery type of liquid. Right?
[26:12]
Mindy
You know it. But the researchers found out that this gloop had a very interesting power.
[26:19]
Guy Raz
Huh, what's that?
[26:21]
Mindy
Well, when they hit this gloop with a fast moving object, it immediately hardened.
[26:29]
Guy Raz
Wow.
[26:29]
Mindy
Then after it was all over, the gloop softened and went back to being a liquid.
[26:35]
Guy Raz
That's incredible, Mindy. But what does all this have to do with this swanky new space suit?
[26:40]
Mindy
Well, the space fabric that this suit is made of has been soaked in that gloop. It's just gloop, Guy Raz. The researchers soaked and smothered the fabric in this gloop and let it suck it all in. And then they let it set in.
[27:00]
Guy Raz
That's it. And then the material suddenly becomes puncture proof. Like you couldn't even poke a pencil through it.
[27:07]
Mindy
Well, sort of. So when the suit gets hit by.
[27:10]
Guy Raz
A fast moving object, like that micrometeorite space dust you were telling me about.
[27:15]
Mindy
Yeah, exactly. So when it's hit by something like space dust or a micrometeorite, it immediately hardens, and then once it's over, it turns back into a liquid so that the material can be flex.
[27:29]
Guy Raz
That's amazing. And I suppose this sort of poke proof fabric could be used on all sorts of space related gadgets, like future inflatable off world habitats.
[27:41]
Mindy
Uh, you mean space tents, Guy Raz.
[27:44]
Guy Raz
Exactly. The kind of tents that will make up the labs and the living quarters for the astronauts that may one day live on Mars.
[27:53]
Mindy
That is literally some out of this world camping.
[27:56]
Guy Raz
So how, how far off is this technology, Mindy?
[27:59]
Mindy
Well, it Might be a little while before we see a poke proof moon bounce, but the results should be in pretty soon. In fact, last November, NASA sent a sample of this fabric and put it on the outside of the space station.
[28:13]
Guy Raz
And they're just gonna leave it there?
[28:15]
Mindy
Yeah, they're gonna go back in a year to see how it's been able to handle all of the space dust and the micrometeorites coming at it.
[28:22]
Guy Raz
TAD is thorough.
[28:24]
Mindy
Okay, let's see what else we've got here. Looks like they've only got an extra large in this one. Ooh, purple. Really? Dior.
[28:35]
Guy Raz
That's not.
[28:35]
Mindy
I didn't even know they did space suits.
[28:37]
Guy Raz
Ooh, what about this one, Mindy?
[28:40]
Mindy
What? Oh, let me see that tag. Shrink wrapping spacesuit. Huh?
[28:46]
Guy Raz
Oh, yeah, I've heard about this. This is from the folks at mit, right?
[28:51]
Mindy
Yeah, but what is it?
[28:53]
Guy Raz
Well, Mindy, it's essentially a spacesuit that shrinks to fit to your body. You simply put it on, press a button, and the suit literally shrink wraps to your body.
[29:08]
Reggie
Whoa.
[29:08]
Mindy
It's like one of those vacuum sucking space bags. Only for your body and for actual space.
[29:15]
Guy Raz
Well, sort of, but not really.
[29:18]
Mindy
So how does it work?
[29:20]
Guy Raz
Well, the fabric that this suit is made out of is interwoven with metal coils, like springs. And they get tighter when they heat up, and then they get looser when they cool down.
[29:32]
Mindy
Right, so once you suit up, you press a button, which heats up these metal coils, which makes the suit tighten to your body. And then when you want to take it off again, you just cool them off.
[29:46]
Guy Raz
The coils loosen, and you're able to take the suit off.
[29:49]
Mindy
Well, how do you cool them off? I mean, do you have to step into a giant refrigerator?
[29:54]
Guy Raz
Well, I'm guessing there's a reason this suit's still on the prototype section of the store.
[29:58]
Mindy
Yeah, might need a little more time to work out the kinks. You know, Guy Raz, I think I'm gonna just go with the extra vehicular mobility unit just to standard old emu. Yeah, it's a great space suit, and it gets the job done.
[30:12]
Guy Raz
Yeah, me too. You can't go wrong with a classic.
[30:15]
Mindy
Okay, I'm gonna grab these suits for us and I'll meet you at the register. Wait, what size do you wear?
[30:20]
Guy Raz
Let's see. Europe 48, but generally 36R. And US size is Canadian. Not so sure.
[30:28]
Mindy
Got it. I'll just grab the smallest one they've got. Man, these suits are so happy.
[30:45]
E
Ma'am, do you want help with what?
[30:47]
Mindy
No, no, no. I got it.
[30:49]
E
Okay.
[30:50]
Mindy
Hi.
[30:51]
Guy Raz
Hi. Excuse me. Yes. Just the two extra vehicular mobility units.
[30:56]
E
Okay, let's see here. That one and that one. Now, did anyone help you out with your purchase today?
[31:06]
Guy Raz
No.
[31:07]
E
Have you heard about our out of this World Christmas sale?
[31:11]
Guy Raz
Christma whaty. It's March.
[31:14]
E
When you purchase two or more NASA certified spacesuits, you can purchase a lunar rover at 25% off.
[31:23]
Guy Raz
I. I think we're. I think we're fine with just that.
[31:26]
E
Would you care to donate $5 towards SETI? That's the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Every dollar makes a difference.
[31:37]
Guy Raz
Sure.
[31:37]
E
Thank you very much, sir. Now if I could just get your email address.
[31:42]
Guy Raz
What? What for?
[31:43]
E
Okay, no email address. Your total comes to $24 million.
[31:52]
Guy Raz
$24 million and 32 cents.
[31:56]
Mindy
And space travel is surprisingly expensive.
[31:59]
Guy Raz
I'll say.
[32:01]
E
How will you be paying, sir? Cash, credit or fact?
[32:05]
Guy Raz
Fact.
[32:05]
E
Yes, fact. It's a promotion we're running this month. You can pay with fun out of this world facts.
[32:14]
Guy Raz
Okay, well, I guess I'll take that.
[32:17]
Mindy
I got this one. Guy Raz.
[32:19]
Guy Raz
What?
[32:19]
Mindy
It's my treat. Excuse me, sir. I'd like to pay with a fact.
[32:23]
E
Okay.
[32:24]
Mindy
Did you know that there are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on all of the beaches on Earth?
[32:33]
Guy Raz
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
[32:36]
E
Really?
[32:37]
Guy Raz
Huh?
[32:38]
E
All the same. That is really fun.
[32:43]
Guy Raz
Fact.
[32:44]
E
Do you want a receipt?
[32:45]
Mindy
Ah, no thanks. Save the paper, Guy Raz. Hold my bag while I suit up. That's gonna squeeze into this thing.
[32:52]
Guy Raz
I don't.
[32:54]
Mindy
Uh, excuse me, sir. Is it okay if we wear these out of the store or.
[32:58]
Reggie
Yes, yeah, of course.
[32:59]
Mindy
Come on, suit up, Guy Raz. Next stop, space.
[33:03]
Guy Raz
Ah, okay. Let me just get this. Can you zip me up, please?
[33:11]
Mindy
Of course I can, little buddy. Now hold your breath.
[33:16]
Guy Raz
Thanks. Okay, are we good to go?
[33:18]
Mindy
Good to go. Now let's go deliver that letter to your pen pal on the International Space Station.
[33:27]
Reggie
Wow. That was so cool. Did you hear the motor Pickle? Reggie. I know. I want a spacesuit. Or I mean I want an extra vehicular mobility unit too. Let's go to the mall and get some. Ah, right. We gotta wrap up the show. 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 1-8887-WOW-WOW. I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the weekend. Okay, should we do the good. Alright, let's do it.
[34:09]
Guy Raz
Ahem.
[34:10]
Reggie
That's the end of the show. I need to go and buy a spacesuit and some jeans and a cinnamon pretzel. But I'll do another show tomorrow. But for now, that's the end of the show.
[34:26]
Guy Raz
Ee.
[34:27]
Reggie
Bye.
[34:32]
Mindy
Grown ups. If you like wow in the world, you can listen early and ad free right now on Wondry.
[34:38]
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.
[34:48]
Mindy
And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short survey@wondery.com survey.