WeWow on the Weekend

Grown ups, this message is for you. Hey grown up. And before we jump into today's adventure, we want to share something important with you. Something we've never asked in our entire nine years of making this show. That's right. For nine years, WoW in the world has been free. Every teacher, every curious kid, and every grown up who listens. And we've been able to keep it going through partnerships, sponsors, distributors,

readers, and honestly, a whole lot of scrappy ingenuity. But the truth is The media industry has changed a lot since we launched this show in 2017. And it's becoming a lot harder to financially sustain a show like WoW in the World without additional help. And that's because every episode you hear, every silly character voice, every story twist, every science Writers, producers. Imposer's research. And one lady who keeps extra

Exploding beakers in the studio. Mindy! What? Science is messy, Gyroz! Every single episode. It starts with us searching far and wide for real scientific discoveries, sometimes buried in complex scientific journals. And then we try to Translate that science into an adventure story that kids and grown-ups can enjoy together. After that, we send it to science experts for free. So you know what you're hearing. Accurate, trustworthy, and full of integrity. And then we record all the voices from

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This is Okay. Hello and welcome to Wee Wow on the Weekend! I'm AstroDennis, and this is my cowhouse! A giant space pigeon! This is the show where we hang out in the spacement and talk about whatever we want. And today I want to talk about how they don't actually. Okay, for those of you who missed yesterday's episode, we played WoW in the World Spaced Out Pen Pel Part 1.

And Mindy go to the mall and buy spacesuits. And I don't know what mall they went to, but the one near me didn't have oxygen tanks or Or helmets that look like gumballs! And now my first segment is Rowan! Ruined! Well the first segment was going to be me showing off my new space suit! And now what am I gonna do? Reggie, you're right! We could make our own spacesuit!

You're a genius! Oh how hard can All we have to do is make a highly engineered multimillion dollar suit that can withstand the cold of void of space. It's easy. Plus you know what That's right, Reggie! It's a CraftNoo!

Crafternoon. Okay, today's crafternoon. Is making our own spacesuits. part of the spacesuit. Let's see, what can we use that would be totally impenetrable by freezing cold temperatures and flying space debris? Oh! How about my onesie pajami jams with the feeties? Yeah, they're just in the dryer. Let me grab them. Found him! Okay, Reggie, do you want race cars or lightning bolts? What? No! That's the one I wanted! You have this one. And I'll take this one. Slip it on here. Yes, Reggie, I'm

Space is chilly. I need layers. There. Okay. Now we need oxygen. Uh oxygen, oxygen. That's a good point. There's a lot of oxygen down here in the spacement. But what are we gonna put it in so we can take it to outer space? Fox, we have lots of those. We can just stuff em full of oxygen and bring'em to space. Okay, here's a Right here. Let's see what's in the right. Hi, big Dennis! Baby Dennis!

You scared me! Tee hee! Oh hey! Are you wearing a spacesuit? Yeah! Baby Dennis is ready for blast-off! What? Where'd you get that? At the mall! What mall? Baby Dennis! Never time! I'm just gonna unceremoniously dump you on the floor here. Cow Okay, now we just gotta fill this box with oxygen. I don't know, Reggie. Just grab oxygen and stuff it in there. Okay, I think it's full. Quick, tape up the box. A box of ox Sajen. Um baby Janice doesn't think that will work.

Well, fine then, Mr. Smarty Dummy. Tell me where the secret space ball is. No! Okay, you're no help. Hee hee! Reggie, how are we doing? What's next for our spacesuit? Alright, how do we get the oxygen out of the box and into our lungs? Uh okay, I got it. We use the silly straws! Yeah, we just poke the straws in like a juice box. the oxygen through the straws. Like this. That's good. Okay.

I think bike helmets will do, don't you? Here, here's one for you. And I'll put this one on. space suits Uh baby Dennis does not think those were And perfect space suit. Oh boy! and Reggie are all suited up. Let's move on to a little segment I like to call Inside Tinkercast Studios in space. This is the part where we revisit an episode of one of my favorite Tinkercast shows. And today, we're listening to season two, episode. Spaced out pen pal.

Hooray for space! Now we'll finally find out how Mindy and God At the space! And Mika! Pan pal? Exactly! Everyone ready? Baby donuts is ready! No, you're not, baby Dennis. You need to close your helmet. Oh, right. Baby Dennis is ready now. Okay, here we go. Um.

Wow in the world, we'll be right back. Grown-ups, this message is for you. Hello. It's me, Carly Q, from Who When Wow Mystery Edition. Big news to share. I've learned a lot on my time traveling adventures. Like what to pack when you're traveling to Victorian England, or the money. Five foods when you're visiting the Viking Age.

Spoiler alert, the food is pretty good, but they don't have pie yet, which is a bummer. I can't wait to share my time travel tips and tricks with you all. You can listen to my new bite-sized episodes in the Who When Wow Podcast feed starting next week. Looks like lunch break is over. Now let's get on with the show. Hey grown-ups, it's Mindy and Guy Ross, and we have an important message to share with you.

For nine years, WoW in the World has been free for every family, teacher, curious kid, and grown-up who listens. And we've kept it going through partnerships. Sponsors, distributors, and honestly, a whole lot of scrappy ingenuity. But the truth is, the media industry has changed a lot since we launched this show in 2017.

And it's becoming a lot harder to financially sustain a show like WoW in the World without additional help. And that's because every episode you hear is handcrafted by an entire team. Of real humans. So for the first time ever, we are asking our listeners, you, to support the show. If your family values what we create, if you've laughed or learned something new.

Or if the show has inspired curiosity in your home, we're asking you to consider making a contribution. Your support goes directly to paying our team and keeps WOW in the world free for everyone who listens to it. If you can just visit Tinkercast. Slash support to see the thank you packages that we've put together for your support. Once again, you can visit Tinkercast.com/slash support.

We'll put all this information in the podcast show notes. Thanks for helping to power the WOW at Tinkercast, and now let's get on with the show.

That's it!Back to the show Previously on Wow and the World. I was just about to deliver this letter to my pen pal. What you have other Friends besides me and Reggie? This pen pal happens to be on the International Space Station. Well, if you're going to deliver your space

Snail mail to the International Space Station Guy, Roz? Well, but then I'm going with you. What? I think you're gonna need something a little more um substantial to protect you from the elements. I never thought I'd say this, Mindy, but I think I might need a new suit. A spacesuit. A motor pickle. Okay, are we good to go? Good to go. Now let's go deliver that letter to your pen pal on the international sphere.

Mindy. Yeah? Uh it says here that there's a thrilling conclusion. Just read the cue cards, Jed. No no no no. I will, I will, I will. It just seems really dramatic and I wanted to make sure we were gonna deliver the thrilling conclusion at the end. Yeah. Okay, all gussied up in our brand new

spacesuits which are surprisingly comfy. I know, right? Comfy and stylish. Hey, why is everybody in this mall staring at us like we're from another planet? Hey, take a picture. It'll last longer. No, don't really take a pi Anywho, you got that letter for your pen pal guy rods? Check. Okay, well then I guess all we need now is a way up to the International Space Station so we can deliver this cosmic communication of yours.

Well I I thought we might be able to take those jetpacks that you've got. Oh Eat my jet packs. I guess I should have said something earlier. They're in the shop. What? Yeah, I'm getting these sweet flame decals airbrushed down the sides of them. They're gonna look awesome, but it's gonna take a little more time. Aww. Hmm. Wait a minute. Yeah? I think I know someone who can help. Oh. Hand me your phone, Gyroz. Okay.

Hello, SpaceX? Yeah, it's me, Mindy. Yeah, no, I'm calling in my favor. Because you owe me for the thing, remember? Yeah, the rocket. You got one ready today? Uh great. Be there soon. Bye! Fear not, Gyroz, I scored us a sweet ride. Okay. A little company called SpaceX owes me a favor. They build rockets. That's right, reusable rockets. So you have heard of them. Well, SpaceX is a private space company that plans to send people like us into space as early.

This year. You got it. But let me tell you, Gyros, these reusable rockets SpaceX is developing are great. I had no idea how expensive and wasteful space travel can be. It's really true. I mean the space shuttle program had a budget of around$1.5 billion for every launch. And that was with a crew of three, so

That's about five hundred million dollars per person. What? You can buy like a million five hundred dollar tacos for that much money. And the main reason why space travel is so expensive Is because traditional rockets are a one use machine, meaning that once the rocket has launched the astronauts into space, it just

Falls back down to earth and usually lands in the ocean or something and never gets used again. So it's like filling your car up with gas and then once it runs out, you just throw the whole car in the trash? But what companies like SpaceX are trying to do is to make a rocket that can be refueled.

And that would make space travel much more affordable. Oh, so people like us could just go to space whenever we want? Well, I don't know about people like us, Mindy, but some scientists are saying that within 10 years, It might cost as little as$10,000 a person to travel into space, which means Some people might be able to go. Wow, only that's still a lot of money. I mean compared to five hundred million dollars, that's like a trip on a budget airline. Well spaceline?

And I bet it's a lot easier than becoming an actual astronaut. True. Speaking of real astronauts, Mindy, we should really get going. My pen pal is gonna get really angsty if we don't get there soon. Oh, right. Um, come on, let's kick it. So where exactly is the space Anyway, Mindy. Oh, it's in Cape Canaveral. Cape Canaveral in Florida? We're never gonna make it there on time. Don't you worry your little head about it, Gyroz? Reggie'll take us. Reggie!

Oh he's over there. He's he's all the way down in the food court. standing in line at the seed check. Reggie! Mindy, Mindy, don't scream. You'll draw attention to us. Just let's just walk down and get him like normal people. Oh yeah, like normal people. Normal people wearing spacesuits. Uh you can't just fly away from us like that, Reg. You gotta tell us where you're going. Oh, what, this whole thing? Oh well it's just an

Extra vehicular mobility suit. Well that's very flattering, Reggie. Gotta say you don't look so bad yourself. Did you get a feather cut or yes? Mindy! Oh, right, sorry. So, um, Reggie, we need a quick trip to Florida. You think you could fly us there? But we're inside the mall. I mean, how is Reggie gonna fly us out of here? Look, there's a set of automatic doors right over there by the Cinnabon.

Okay, I hope you know what you're doing. Of course I don't know what I'm doing, Guy Roz. What? Hop on to Reggie here and hold on tight. Okay. Because here, we Look Mindy there it is Cape Canaveral Right there, right there. Hey, thanks for the ride, Reg! Ladies and gentlemen, one minute to launch. One minute to launch. Come on! Run! Run! You wanna miss the takeoff? Up the stairs as fast as we can. We can board the rocket at the top. Oh, wait, look, Mindy, an elevator, hurry!

Okay, pressing the up button a million times, even though you already just did. Mindy! Seconds to launch. We're gonna miss it! Excuse me. Uh sorry, pardon me. Excuse excuse me. Pardon me. We're sorry, Group. Oh, thank you. Stop. Sorry, ma'am. This is a restricted area. Oh, it's okay. SpaceX said we could hitch your ride.

I hope this doesn't get us into trouble. Psh. When have any of my ideas ever gotten us into trouble? Well, for one, there was that one time when you got us into trouble by not to change the The subject, but why is this rocket capsule filled with food and Well, that's what these reusable rockets are being used for at the moment, Mindy. Resupply missions. They're gonna bring new supplies to the astronauts that are on board the International Space Station. I'll say this must be like 6,400.

Pounds of this stuff in here. Mindy, what? You want some of this dehydrated beef jerky? Mindy, this food is for the astronauts. Oops. By the way, you mentioned there are 6,400 pounds of stuff in here. That's a pretty specific guess. Hmm, yeah, it's a weird talent I have. She I was once the three-time reigning champ of the Nebraska State Fairs guess.

Yes, the jelly beans in the jar competition. Ah, well, you happen to be exactly right, Mindy. There's about 6,400 pounds or 2,900 kilograms worth of supplies in here. 6,400? hundred pounds that's like that's like as heavy as seven grand pianos right and this rocket will supply the station with all kinds of things like uh let's see what have we got here what are you finding we have some medicine Uh there's some stuff for all the experiments they're doing up there on the

Food, including Ice Cream! Come to mama! Easy, easy, easy, Mindy. Vanilla Nobody wants vanilla Well what were you expecting? I don't know, something exciting like cosmic cranberry or something. Launch in ten nine eight. Ignition sequence start five. Oh boy. Oh, here we go, Gyroz. Two, one, one.

Whoa! Guy Roz, check it out! All of the food is floating around the cabin! Whoa! Does this mean we're in zero gravity right now? Well. I mean, I would think we were still close enough to the Earth to feel its gravitational pull, but You know, Mindy, I think we might be experiencing microgravity, which is actually what the astronauts on board the International Space Station experience as well. Oh yeah, astronauts are doing experiments in microgravity all the time. So that must be

What some of this stuff is for, right? Oh, watch out, there's a beaker floating past your head. Quick, get in my armpit for cover! Yeah, well imagine what it would be like if it was a thorny rose flying at you. A rose? Yep. So one of the coolest experiments I've ever heard conducted was when these astronauts tried growing a rose in microgravity. Why would they do that? Well they wanted

to see how it would react and even how it would smell. Smell? Uh-huh. So it turns out a plant's smell is already affected by things like um like temperature and humidity. and even what time of day they pollinate. So Astronaut scientists wanted to find out how gravity might affect the way a plant smells. So did they have an expert sniffer on board? What? No, they couldn't get the funding, but they did have something else. But when you smell a rose.

smelling are the oils in the rose, and the rose makes those oils to attract insects to it like a secret luring potion. Of course, so that the insects move from rose to rose and spread the pollen. Exactly. Doritos. So scientists were able to see how these oils changed in microgravity? Yeah, so using a tiny measuring device smaller than a pinhead, scientists were able to collect microscopic

Of oil off the flowers' petals, and then when they got back down to Earth, they carefully studied how they changed. So what did they find? So they found that these flowers actually make less oil in microgravity. Than they do back down on Earth. Interesting. But, and this is a big but. What? The oils that the flower created in microgravity smell way stronger than any they've ever created on Earth. That's incre- Incredible. Yeah, and the best part is that NASA was able

Captured this scent, and then later, when the astronauts got back to Earth, that scent was turned into a perfume. Wow, a scent sent from the stars. Prepare for arrival at the International Space Station.

Initiating docking sequence. Oh, hold on tight, Gyroz. Okay. Lock engaged. Yes, I think that means we're good to go. We're on the International Space Station! Wow, okay, let me just undo my seatbelt here. Here goes nothing. Ross! Look at me! I'm flying! I'm flying! Wind. And technically we're actually floating. Whatever. I'm going inside the International Space Station guy. See ya there! Mindy, Mindy, be careful. Watch out for all the

Scientific equipment! Stay there, Mindy. I'm coming to give you a hand. Hmm, snacks. Think I'm gonna live, Guy Roz. I see you found the kitchen. Hello? Whoa, what was that? Oh hi, Lulu, it's me, it's Guy. I decided to take you up on your offer to visit. Hello, Guy Roz. Space station. What in the wow, look at that! What an amazing view you have here, Lulu. I can see the whole planet from here. Wait a minute, Gyroz. This is your pen pal? Yes. named Lulu on the International Space Station?

Giving me a heads up. That's right. Actually, my smart fridge put me in contact with her. You know, robots need friends too. Wait a minute, Lulu. You know Guy Raz's smart fridge? Affirmative? They're actually related. Huh. But Lulu here doesn't look like a little bit. look anything like your smart fridge, Gyroz. I mean, she looks almost Almost human. Well, that makes sense because Lulu is what's known as a humanoid robot. A humanoid robot? Yeah. Humanoid robot is a

That's designed to have the same sort of body shape as a human. Well, I guess that would explain the arms. Uh, actually, they're climbing manipulators. And the hands tendon controller. And those suspicious-looking eyes. Wait, are those cameras? And those are its image recognition systems. Well, I gotta admit, Lulu, you look like one impressive piece of tech. And processing?

Expect her to be Mindy because she was designed by some of the smartest minds in robotics back down on Earth. And she was designed to perform a lot of the basic tasks here on the space station. Or I'm guessing some of the more dangerous tasks. Exactly. And the idea being that say the International Space Station needed some repair work done.

Like the outside, they could send Lulu out there instead of putting a human astronaut in danger. Oh which reminds me, you know what? What? So that's actually not the only repair work that Lulu over here can do. Oh yeah? Well what do you mean? So Lulu here also happens to be a qualified surgeon. A qualified surgeon? Yeah, I looked her up online while you were talking. Mindy, wait a minute, how did you get on the internet up here? Oh, Lulu gave-

Me the Wi-Fi password. Right. Anywho, so as I was saying, Lulu over here is a surgeon, but also an expert in telemedicine. Telemedicine? What's that? Well, it's when an actual human on Earth Earth takes remote control of a machine or a robot like Lulu on the International Space Station and then helps it to perform certain medical tasks like giving shots or even surgery. So kinda like when a puppeteer Takes control of a puppet. Yeah, exactly like

Only with this kind of medical technological puppetry, you don't even have to be in the same room as your patient. You don't even have to be in the same country as your patient. You don't even have to be on the same planet as your patient. Wow, and I guess the idea. Control of Lulu up here on the space station. Yeah, and by using her robotic hands and cameras. Lulu and the doctor on Earth can work together to give medical care to the astronauts aboard the space station.

Incredible, a robot doctor on call. It's pretty bonker balls. Yeah. I mean, even though the astronauts that go to the space station know how to do some pretty basic medical tricks, it's good to know that robots like Lulu here have got their back just in case things get crazy. Yeah, it sure is. And speaking of having their back

We should probably start heading back ourselves. Nice segue, Gyroz! What's the fastest way out of here, Lulu? Reusable rocket returning to Earth in ten. What? Nine. Uh-oh. Eight. Hurry up, Gyroz! We're gonna miss it! Six. Bye Lulu, it was lovely finally meeting you! Three. Get in the rocket! We gotta strap in! Quick! Got it. One. Here? We mood by. Don't burn up when we re-enter! Oh really? Now we

Now Guy Raz, get ready for the reusable rocket boosters to start off. Okay. The scary part's over, you can stop screaming now. Can you believe it, Gairaz? We made it! Attention, fugitives. We have you surrounded. Um, Indy? Everything's fine. You have ten seconds to exit the rocket. Ten Oh no. Again with the countdowns, yeesh. Six and a half. Six and a quarter. Alright, alright, I'm coming out. Easy.

Look at all these serious faces. Looks like somebody could use a little pick-me-up. Um hey, do you guys like ice cream? Mindy, take it easy. Ma'am, you are in serious trouble. This is no Time for ice cream. Did I mention that we have 6,400 pounds of it? Shhh. I know it's a lot, Dennis. Uh is it vanilla? Why, yes, it is. Wait, is vanilla your favorite too? Because It's vanilla. Ice cream. Is there I can't believe we went through all that and forgot to give your pen pal her letter. Uh

I know Dennis. I brought a lactate. I can't believe guy Roz was friend Robot Surgeon! And wasn't that big Dennis at the end? Yeah, I ate so many astronaut ice creams that day. Baby, Dennis wants astronaut ice cream! Okay, okay, let's wrap up the show and then Astronaut Ice Cream. Thanks to all you listeners out there for tuning in to Wee Wow on the weekend. If you have a question for me, 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. Or maybe baby Dennis. Well, uh, we'll see about that. Okay, let's go get some freeze-dried ice cream! Oh boy! But wait! What? Freeze-dried? Baby Dennis thought it was astronaut ice cream! Well, technically freeze-dried ice cream wasn't a popular food for the astronauts and

Probably never made it to space. Oh, that is so interesting. Yeah, and I always wondered to get freeze-dried ice cream, do they freeze it and then dry it? Or dry it and then freeze it? Because I think that Thanks for joining us for this edition of Wee Wow on the Weekend. Our show is written by Ruth Morrison and Jed Anderson. The role of baby Dennis. Jed Anderson. Ah, well then who plays the role of Pict Dennis? Never you mind? Kee! Original sound design and production.

With contributions from Jed Anderson and Original music. Wee Wow is composed and performed. Special thanks to Jessica Boney, Rebecca. Natasha Crandall, Kenny Kurtz. Lizzie Freilich, Kristen Yang. Meredith Helpin Ranzer! Medina Jody Nusbaum, Ali Paksima, Kairaz. Steph Sosa, Mindy Thomas, Joanna Weber, Anna Z. All of the other Tinkerers at Tinkercast HQ. Be sure to visit Tinkercast.com where you can become an official member.

Learn about And learn about all the other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast. Thanks again for hanging out. in the basement this week. Check out episodes of Wow in the W. And remember Oh no! No, baby Dennis! We wow! Oh right! We wow! Well in the world was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.