What Happened to the Dinosaurs?! (10/6/25)

Summary

Podcast Summary: "What Happened to the Dinosaurs?!"

Podcast: Wow in the World
Episode Date: October 6, 2025
Hosts: Mindy Thomas & Guy Raz

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Overview

In this lively, science-packed episode, Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz use humor, adventure, and clever storytelling to explore one of science’s greatest mysteries: what really happened to the dinosaurs? Through a wild time-travel journey to the Yucatan Peninsula, the duo unpacks new research that sheds light on where the infamous dinosaur-killing asteroid came from, making the story both engaging and accessible for kids.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Taco Tuesday Turns Science Adventure (02:00–03:47)

• The hosts set off in the "Wow Machine" to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula — officially to get guacamole, but the destination is key to dinosaur history.
• Notable Quote:
  • Guy Raz (03:47): “The Yucatan Peninsula? Isn't that where the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs hit?”

2. An Accidental Trip: Time Travel to the Era of Dinosaurs (05:05–08:07)

• A mishap with spilled horchata in the control panel sends them back in time — specifically to 66 million BCE.
• They are nearly caught in the infamous asteroid strike that led to the dinosaurs’ extinction, barely escaping via the Wow Machine.
• Memorable Moment:
  • Mindy Thomas (06:18): “Well, it looks like we did make it to the Yucatan Peninsula, but... I think we might have gone just a teeny tiny bit back in time.”

3. The Dinosaur Extinction Asteroid — New Clues! (09:13–13:39)

• Back in the present, they discover a street party celebrating the “impact anniversary” of the dino-killing asteroid.

• Guy Raz introduces new scientific findings:

  • The asteroid was a C-type asteroid (carbonaceous).
  • Most C-type asteroids are in the belt between Mars and Jupiter, particularly its outer edge.
  • Past belief: large asteroids from the outer belt were hard to knock off course.
  • New NASA supercomputer simulations show these big asteroids are ten times more likely to be shifted toward Earth than previously thought.

• Key Explanation:

  • Mindy Thomas (13:08): “And a simulation is when scientists plug in the size, the weight, and the speed of an object floating through space and then let the computer crunch the numbers to find out what it would do.”

• Notable Quote:

  • Guy Raz (09:39): “There are a lot of different theories about what killed off the dinosaurs, but yes, the majority of scientists agree that it was most likely a large asteroid that hit the Earth right here on the Yucatan Peninsula about 66 million years ago… But there's still a lot of mystery about where in the solar system this asteroid came from.”

4. Detective Work — Solving the Space Mystery (11:05–13:39)

• The pair discusses the detective work involved in tracing the asteroid’s origins, using playful voices and dialogue.
• Quotes:
  • Mindy Thomas (11:15): “Ah, C type asteroid, you say? You mean the kind that's made up of mostly carbon?”
  • Guy Raz (13:31): “These kinds of asteroids are ten times more likely to be knocked off course than we previously thought.”

5. Celebration and Science Collide — The Pinata Experiment (14:17–16:55)

• At the fiesta, the hosts encounter a massive Earth piñata to be smashed by a “wrecking ball” asteroid. Mindy is chosen to reenact the asteroid impact, resulting in an eruption of guacamole.
• Memorable Moment:
  • Guy Raz (16:47): “Mindy, what in the wow is coming out of that pinata? Is that — It's the guacamole, Guy Raz!”

6. Listener Wows (17:28–19:59)

• Kids call in with their favorite “wows,” ranging from dinosaur facts to interesting biology tidbits (e.g., the biggest muscle in the human body, dinosaur claws, and the number of Earths that fit in the Sun).

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• 03:47 — Guy Raz: “The Yucatan Peninsula? Isn't that where the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs hit?”
• 06:18 — Mindy Thomas: “Well, it looks like we did make it to the Yucatan Peninsula, but... I think we might have gone just a teeny tiny bit back in time.”
• 09:39 — Guy Raz: “There are a lot of different theories about what killed off the dinosaurs, but... the majority of scientists agree that it was most likely a large asteroid... right here on the Yucatan Peninsula about 66 million years ago.”
• 13:08 — Mindy Thomas: “And a simulation is when scientists plug in the size, the weight, and the speed of an object floating through space and then let the computer crunch the numbers...”
• 13:31 — Guy Raz: “These kinds of asteroids are ten times more likely to be knocked off course than we previously thought.”
• 16:47 — Guy Raz: “Mindy, what in the wow is coming out of that pinata? Is that — It's the guacamole, Guy Raz!”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Description | Timestamp | |--------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|----------------| | Taco Tuesday Setup | Initial mission to get guacamole | 02:00–03:47 | | Time Travel Incident | Accidentally go back to dinosaur times | 05:05–08:07 | | Science Investigation | Discuss new asteroid research | 09:13–13:39 | | The Space Mystery Solved | Detective-style breakdown of findings | 11:05–13:39 | | Pinata Impact & Fiesta | Party celebrates asteroid event; piñata spectacle | 14:17–16:55 | | Listener Wows | Kids call in science facts and wonders | 17:28–19:59 |

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Recap & Tone

True to Wow in the World’s energetic and kid-friendly style, Mindy and Guy deliver science with humor (“Bonkerballs!”), role play, and imagination-fueled storytelling, while still grounding the episode in real, up-to-date science. The episode celebrates curiosity and the thrill of new discovery, making the complex science of asteroid origins and dinosaur extinction approachable and memorable for young listeners.

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Summary:
Through a mix of playful adventure and real scientific detective work, the hosts reveal how recent NASA simulations solved the mystery of the dinosaur-killing asteroid’s origins — proving that even the oldest mysteries are only one “WOW!” away from new discovery.

Transcript

[Guy Raz]

Grown Ups Wondery subscribers can listen to wow in the World early and ad free right now. Join Wondery in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hey, Grown Ups Mindy here. And before we start the show, we've got a big surprise for you. Amazon Prime Day is here. And on October 7th and 8th, select wow in the World stem toys will be on sale for up to 40% off. For the kids in your life who love science and for for those that don't know they do yet, we've got the perfect gifts. From the microscopic wonders of our new microscope and biology kit to the two foot long great white shark toy, Our Wow in the World stem toys help connect playing to learning and learning to laughter. Plus, every wow in the World toy comes with exclusive audio from me and my buddy, Guy Raz. So what are you waiting for, grownups? Visit Tinkercast.com Toys this Tuesday and Wednesday for deals that wow on toys that will bring the wows of science to your home. That's Tinkercast.com Toys. That's it. And now let's get back to the show.

[Reggie]

Proceed in 3, 2, 1. The bubbles are an adventure of magnificent proportion. I don't know what you've been told. We're in a golden age. So many discoveries that are jumping off the page. Houston.

[Guy Raz]

It'S Taco Taco time. Everybody's ready for taco time. Taco Taco time.

[Reggie]

Yeah. I wanna be at Taco time. Yeah.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy.

[Reggie]

Guy Rozzie.

[Guy Raz]

Where are you going?

[Mindy Thomas]

Where are you going?

[Guy Raz]

What do you mean? I thought we were doing Taco Tuesday.

[Mindy Thomas]

We are doing Taco Tuesday. I just need to pop over to the store real quick to get some guacamole because it turns out that what I thought was guacamole was really just a whole bunch of wasabi. Lucky for us, Reggie discovered that in a taste test. Uh huh. All right, just open up the hatch on the wow machine here. There we go.

[Guy Raz]

Okay. But you're taking the wow machine to the store? Isn't that a little excessive?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah, but I'm also a little excessive.

[Guy Raz]

You know, Mindy, I do have avocados for guacamole at home. I can just run back and get it for you if you like.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, thanks, Guy Razzie. But I actually have my own special place that I like to go to. It has the best guacamole on the planet.

[Guy Raz]

Really?

[Mindy Thomas]

Really. So you want to come with me?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, I guess so.

[Reggie]

Okay. Hop in, everyone.

[Guy Raz]

All right, so where exactly are we Going again, Mindy?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, we're going to Mexico.

[Guy Raz]

Mexico?

[Reggie]

Uh huh.

[Mindy Thomas]

Let me just punch in the coordinates here.

[Reggie]

The guac shack.

[Mindy Thomas]

Chichalou Puerto, Mexico.

[Guy Raz]

Wait a minute, Mindy, why are we going to Mexico?

[Mindy Thomas]

Because this is where I go to get the best guacamole for Taco Tuesday. Guy Raz, there's this little shop on the Yucatan Peninsula, and let me tell you, the guacamole at this place is muy delicado.

[Guy Raz]

The Yucatan Peninsula? Isn't that where the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs hit?

[Mindy Thomas]

I don't know, Guy Raz. It can't be expected to keep track of every single asteroid that crashes into Earth. Okay, the coordinates are all set. Oh, and before I forget, I made some horchata for the trip. You want some?

[Guy Raz]

I think I'll save mine for when we have our tacos, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, suit yourself. More for me and Reggie. Let me just get out my thermos. Here, here. Hold out your wings, Reg. Make a bowl shape. There we go. Um, Mindy, no closer together. Reg is dripping right through your feathers.

[Reggie]

And onto the control panel. Uh oh, Mindy, that's not. You better hold on to some sky Ras, because here we.

[Mindy Thomas]

That was a rough one, everyone.

[Reggie]

Okay.

[Mindy Thomas]

I'll take that as a yes. All right, let's see what the damage is here.

[Reggie]

Okay. Okay.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, it looks like we did make it to the Yucatan Peninsula, but.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

This is kind of a big butt, Mindy. I think we might have gone just a teeny tiny bit back in time.

[Guy Raz]

A teeny tiny bit? Mindy, what year is it?

[Mindy Thomas]

Uh, 66 million BCE. 66 million BCE is there an echo in here?

[Guy Raz]

Isn't that the time when.

[Reggie]

Dinosaurs.

[Mindy Thomas]

Don't worry, you guys. This happens all the time.

[Reggie]

Really? Yes.

[Mindy Thomas]

As usual, I've got everything out of control. Now I just gotta find a way to get all of that horchata that I spilled in the control panel out of there so I can get it fixed. Ooh, tastes good. In a second, Reg. I'm just trying to fix this control panel real quick. Now I think all I need to do is pull the plug out of the control panel here, let all of the horchata drain out, and we should.

[Reggie]

Be back in modern day before you.

[Mindy Thomas]

Can say, oh, wow, Mindy, this guacamole is really life changing.

[Guy Raz]

Well, just be quick about it, Mindy. I can't put my finger on it, but I have a bad feeling about this place.

[Mindy Thomas]

What is it, Reg? Look out the window.

[Reggie]

Why would I need to get us out of here? Mimby.

[Mindy Thomas]

I'm trying, Guy Raz, but the control panel still needs to drain. Draining, draining, draining, draining.

[Reggie]

Come on.

[Mindy Thomas]

Draining, draining, draining. Hey, where'd the dino go?

[Guy Raz]

And why did it get so dark all of a sudden? Uh, Mindy, is that, uh, a dinosaur extincting asteroid?

[Reggie]

Uh, yes. Mindy, quick, get us out of here.

[Mindy Thomas]

Almost there, Guy Raz.

[Reggie]

Come on. Controlled candle. Dream F. Quick. And there.

[Mindy Thomas]

Just got it together here, Mindy. There we go.

[Reggie]

Hold on, everyone. Cause we are outta here.

[Mindy Thomas]

Did you see that, Guy Raz? We just missed that meteor.

[Reggie]

By us. Hair.

[Mindy Thomas]

Guy Raz. Guy Raz, you can open your eyes now. We're safe. Uh huh.

[Reggie]

And. Yep.

[Mindy Thomas]

Perfect. Back right where we belong.

[Reggie]

Hey, do you hear that?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah. What's that sound?

[Mindy Thomas]

I think it's coming from outside. Reggie, quick, open the drawbridge.

[Guy Raz]

It looks like a giant street party. Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

A correction, Guy Raz. Look at that big banner over there. It's a fiesta Callejera.

[Guy Raz]

Yes, Mindy, that's Spanish for.

[Reggie]

Oh, tacos. Indeed. Hola. Hola. Mie menido cuentos quier muchas tacies. That means thank you. Yeah, I know. Have a nice day. See you. Gente. Woo. Ooh. Eat a so.

[Mindy Thomas]

So.

[Guy Raz]

I wonder what this party is for, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

I don't know, but look at this.

[Reggie]

Flyer I got with my taco.

[Guy Raz]

Let me see that. The 66 millionth 3322nd annual impact anniversary.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, what do you think it means, Mindy?

[Guy Raz]

I think this is a party to celebrate the impact of that meteor we just narrowly avoided.

[Mindy Thomas]

You mean the one that killed off all the dinosaurs?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, I mean, there are a lot of different theories about what killed off the dinosaurs, but yes, the majority of scientists agree that it was most likely a large asteroid that hit the Earth right here on the Yucatan Peninsula about 66 million years ago. But there's still a lot of mystery about where in the solar system this asteroid came from.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah, kind of like an intergalactic whodunit.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, if by it you mean making around 75% of life on Earth go extinct.

[Reggie]

Whoa.

[Mindy Thomas]

This asteroid extinctified 75% of living things on Earth.

[Reggie]

Bonkerballs.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, and it wasn't just animal life either. About 75% of both animals and plants were wiped out when that space rock collided with Earth.

[Mindy Thomas]

And scientists have no idea where it came from?

[Guy Raz]

Well, they didn't until very recently. But now, thanks to some smart technology and a little detective work, they think they've been able to figure out where this killer asteroid came from.

[Mindy Thomas]

You mean they've cracked the case.

[Guy Raz]

That's right.

[Mindy Thomas]

Mindy, I love when we do this.

[Guy Raz]

Well, here are the facts of the case.

[Mindy Thomas]

No, no, no, no, Guy Raz, do it in your detective voice.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, okay. Here are the facts of the case. We know that the asteroid that hit Earth was a C type asteroid.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah, C type asteroid, you say? You mean the kind that's made up of mostly carbon?

[Guy Raz]

Correct. And we know that most of these asteroids live in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah, an asteroid in the asteroid belt, you say? A likely story.

[Reggie]

I love talking Detective Toc, but what.

[Guy Raz]

Confused scientists about this case was that these asteroids were pretty small.

[Mindy Thomas]

The weapon did not not fit the crime. I like a plot twist.

[Guy Raz]

That's right. The asteroid that hit Earth all those years ago was huge. About 10 kilometers or 6.2 miles wide.

[Reggie]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

That's like 30 Empire State Buildings stacked on top of each other.

[Guy Raz]

I know.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, so where did this asteroid even come from?

[Guy Raz]

Well, these kinds of asteroids do exist in the asteroid belt, but they tend to be on the outer part of the belt.

[Mindy Thomas]

You mean the part of the asteroid belt that's furthest away from the sun?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, and furthest away from us.

[Mindy Thomas]

Right.

[Guy Raz]

And up until this study, scientists thought that these asteroids were pretty hard to knock off course.

[Mindy Thomas]

But now they don't.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly.

[Reggie]

Why?

[Guy Raz]

Well, it's all thanks to computer simulations.

[Mindy Thomas]

Computer simulations?

[Guy Raz]

That's right. These scientists went to NASA, and they used the supercomputers there to run a bunch of simulations on how these types of asteroids might have found their way to Earth.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah. And a simulation is when scientists plug in the size, the weight, and the speed of an object floating through space and then let the computer crunch the numbers to find out what it would do.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly. And so these researchers ran these simulations again and again and again. Well, they found that these types of big C type asteroids.

[Mindy Thomas]

The ones from outside of the asteroid belt.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah. These kinds of asteroids are 10 times more likely to be knocked off course than we previously thought.

[Mindy Thomas]

Meaning that it was pretty likely that it was one of these asteroids that collided with Earth all of those millions of years ago.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly.

[Mindy Thomas]

Aha. Well, Detective. Detective Guy Raz, I'd say the case is solved.

[Reggie]

Excuse me.

[Guy Raz]

Sorry, sorry.

[Reggie]

Whoa. Hey.

[Guy Raz]

Looks like something's happening. Mindy.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mindy Thomas]

Where's everyone going?

[Guy Raz]

It seems like they're all going down to the end of the street.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mindy Thomas]

Come on, Guy Raz, let's follow them.

[Reggie]

Wait a. Mindi. Excuse me. Hello, Rabbi.

[Mindy Thomas]

Whoa.

[Guy Raz]

What is that, Mindy?

[Mindy Thomas]

It looks like one big crane. Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, but what's hanging off the end of it? Is that a.

[Mindy Thomas]

A giant Earth pinata.

[Guy Raz]

It's so massive, Mindy. I wonder how they're planning on smashing it open.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, my guess would be with that giant wrecking ball that's backing up over there.

[Reggie]

Look.

[Guy Raz]

That's not just any wrecking ball, Mindy. Look at.

[Mindy Thomas]

You're right, Guy Raz. It looks like there's a giant rock stuck to the end of it.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, I think I get it, Mindy. They must be recreating the Yucatan asteroid impact with this wrecking ball and this pinata.

[Reggie]

Wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Sure looks that way.

[Reggie]

Attention. Algen quiere manjar la bola de Moledora. Wait, what did she say?

[Guy Raz]

She asked who wants to drive the wreck?

[Reggie]

Oh, Mindy, look, he's pointing straight at you. Me?

[Mindy Thomas]

Here, hold on to my extra tacos, Guy Raz. I've got a wrecking ball to drive. Thank you.

[Reggie]

Thank you. Gracias, gracias.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, let me just get up into the driver's seat of this crane here.

[Reggie]

You got this, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, now just gotta get a hang of these levers here.

[Reggie]

Okay. A quibamos tobos listos paradas. It's okay. It's okay. I think I got the hang of it now. Hey, Guy. Razzie. Yeah? Give me a countdown. Okay. Mindy Grace Dos Race for Impact. Mindy, what in the wow is coming out of that pinata? Is that. It's the guacamole, Guy Raz.

[Mindy Thomas]

Quick, scoop it up and put it in your pockets.

[Guy Raz]

If you say so, Mindy.

[Reggie]

Oh, man.

[Mindy Thomas]

This is the best annual Impact anniversary street party on Taco Tuesday. I have ever been to.

[Reggie]

Fiesca. Wow in the World. We'll be right back, grown ups.

[Mindy Thomas]

This message is for you.

[Reggie]

That's it.

[Mindy Thomas]

Back to the show.

[Reggie]

Wow in the World.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hi, thanks for calling wow in the World. After the beep, get ready to record.

[Listener Callers]

Hi, my name is Cypress. I live in the Dallas, Oregon. And my wow is that the gluteus maximus is the biggest muscle in the body. Say hi to Dennis for me.

[Reggie]

What?

[Listener Callers]

Hi, my name is Ellie from Greenville, North Carolina. And my wow in the world is that a Therazinosaurus. A dinosaur from the late cretaceous period. Had 3.2ft long claws. All right, that's it. Say hi to Dennis. Hi there, sled cat Reggie and Grandma G Force.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, I'm sorry, I couldn't hear that.

[Listener Callers]

Bye. Hi, my name is August. I live in Washington. My wow in the world is 1.3 million Earths can sit in the Sun. Say hi to Dennis and Reggie for me. Bye.

[Reggie]

Hi.

[Listener Callers]

Hi. My name is Matilda, I'm six and a half years old and I'm from Portland, Maine. My wow in the world is that some dinosaurs and pterosaurs would swallow rocks to digest some of their food. Isn't that amazing? They hi to Dennis. Howdy Reggie, Grandma G Force and Thomas Fingerling and Mindy for me.

[Reggie]

Oh yeah.

[Mindy Thomas]

Sup?

[Reggie]

Bye.

[Listener Callers]

Hi, my name is Diana and I live in Acton, Massachusetts. My wow in the world is that there's an art museum on the moon. Isn't that bonkerball? Say hi to Reggie, Grandma G Force.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh snipe.

[Listener Callers]

Dennis.

[Reggie]

Ahoy there.

[Listener Callers]

And Static Man.

[Reggie]

Bye.

[Listener Callers]

Hi, my name is Cody and I live in North Andover, Massachusetts. And my wow in the world is that jellyfish have a butt mouth. They poop out of their mouth. Say hi to Grandma G Force. We go way back.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wow.

[Listener Callers]

And Reggie. Say hi to Reggie too. And Thomas Fingerling and Dennis and Mindy Slaycat and Dun dun dun Stack man. Bye.

[Mindy Thomas]

End of messages Grown Ups if you like wow in the World, you can listen early and ad free right now on Wonder.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[Guy Raz]

Wow in the World is written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Kalken with help from from me Guy Raz.

[Mindy Thomas]

Original sound design and music editing is done by our senior producer Jed Anderson and Tyler Thol. You can also hear Jed Anderson in the voices of Dennis Thomas, Fingerling, Reggie and many of the other silly characters you hear on our show.

[Guy Raz]

Jessica Bode keeps our facts straight as our fact checker and Meredith Halpern Ranzer powers the WOW at Tinkercast.

[Mindy Thomas]

Our theme song with composed and performed by three time Grammy nominees the Pop Ups. Find them at thepopups.com Special thanks to.

[Guy Raz]

The rest of our team of tinkerers including Anna Zagorski, Rebecca Kaban, Kit Ballinger and Henry Moskal.

[Mindy Thomas]

To keep the Wows rolling, Visit [e-mail] There you can learn more about becoming an official member of the world Organization of wowzers, learn more about upcoming events and shop our shop and pick up a copy of our new number one New York Times best selling book the how and wow of the Human Body Grown Ups.

[Guy Raz]

You can follow wow in the World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter owintheworld and our email address is hellonkercast.com and if.

[Mindy Thomas]

You'Re a kid with a big wow to share with us, call us at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW for a chance to be featured at the end of our show or an upcoming episode of 2 what's in a wow?

[Guy Raz]

Thanks again for listening, and until next.

[Reggie]

Time, keep on wowing. Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.