¶ Intro / Opening
Grownups, Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to Wow in the World early and ad-free right now. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids Plus on Apple Podcasts. Hey, Wowzer fans! Mindy here. And before we start the show, did you know that you could receive pigeon mail? From Reggie? That's right. Reggie has been very hard at work in his new position as ambassador to the World Organization of Wowzers, the not-so-secret organization for wow seekers and super fans everywhere.
Grownups, when you sign up for a membership, your Wowzer receives a package in the mail with Wow in the World gear and top secret missions to complete all year long. That's right, Reg. But... And this is a... big butt. There's more! You'll receive quarterly messages that we sometimes call pigeon droppings and a birthday card delivered directly to your mailbox by... So what are you waiting for? Unlock the wow today at Tinkercast.com slash membership. That's Tinkercast.com slash membership.
¶ Welcome to Two What's and a Wow
And now, for everyone's second favorite game show after having a staring contest with a fish, it's Two What's in the Wild! You're amazing. The scientific game show that separates the wows from the what? And the category or theme for today is... whales! Mindy, why don't you refresh our contestants on how the game works? You know it. Wowzers, in each of our three rounds today, Guy Raz and I will present you with three scientific statements about whales.
And this is a big but. Only one of those statements will be a true wow. The other two, just a couple of made-up what? Now, in each round, if you guess correctly... Congratulations, you win a point. But if you guess incorrectly, you must stop, drop, and do a redonkulous physical challenge. All right, everyone ready to start the game? Great, then let's get started.
¶ Round One: Whale Earwax Secrets
Round one. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A. Whales are the largest fish on the planet. Or is it B. Bowhead whales like to wear fancy hats. Or is it C? You can tell how old a blue whale is by their earwax. When you think you have the correct answer, yell... There she blows! Hey, Reg, we need thinking music. And time is up. Let's now reveal the winning wow. And to do just that, it's Lola from Texas. Lola from Texas, tell us, what's the winning wow? Hello.
Lola in my wow is you can tell how old the blue wow lives by the earwax. Contestants, if you guessed the answer C, that you can tell how old a blue whale is by their earwax, well, congratulations. You found the winning wow. All whales have earwax. And some species of whale have earwax that stays in their ear canal and forms a kind of ear...
This can actually help them hear better because it blocks out the water while letting sounds pass through. These earplugs form in layers and can become up to 10 inches long. And by counting the number of layers, scientists can tell the age of the whale. Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop, and put your elbow in your ear.
¶ Round Two: Humpback Hunting Bubbles
Okay, round two. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A, pilot whales don't have dorsal fins? Or is it B, Humpback whales use bubbles to hunt. Or is it C. Orcas have long and beautiful eyelashes. When you think you have the correct answer, yell, Whale up! Hey, Reggie! Cue the thinking music! And joining us by phone for the answer, it's Jackson from Maryland. Jackson, please reveal the winning wow. Hi, Mindy and Guy Ross. My wow in the world is that humpback whales...
use bubbles to hunt. Winner, winner, bubbles for dinner. You got it, Jackson. Wowzers, if you guessed B, that humpback whales use bubbles to hunt. Well, congratulations. You found the winning wow. Pumpback whales eat mostly small fish and krill, and they eat a lot of it. Roughly one and a half tons of fish. And they have a pretty unusual way of going fishing. Groups of whales or pods work together by swimming in a circle around schools of fish.
bubbles by splashing and blowing through their blowholes. This traps the fish in a kind of net of bubbles, which is why this way of hunting is called bubble net feeding. Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop, and shoot bubbles out of your blowhole. Okay, time for round three.
¶ Round Three: Beluga Whale Necks
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A, beluga whales are the only whales that can turn their heads? Or is it B? Narwhals use only their tusks for fighting each other. Or is it C? All whales speak Welsh. When you think you have the correct answer, yell, I have the correct answer! Uh, thinking? And joining us by phone, it's Theodore from California. Theodore, please tell us the winning wow. Hi, my name is Theodore, and my wow is that beluga whale...
are the only whales that can turn their heads. Winner, winner, fish heads for dinner. That's right, Theodore. Wowzers, if you guessed A, that beluga whales are the only whales that can turn their heads. Turn their heads? Well, congratulations. You've found the winning wow. Most whales cannot turn their heads because their neck vertebrae or neck bones are fused. Scientists think that this kind of neck...
helps whales to support the weight of their ginormous heads. But belugas do not have fused neck vertebrae. So their necks are more flexible. They're able to turn their heads up and down and side to side, kind of like humans. Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop, and spin your head. around and around and around. And now it's time to take a moment to thank our sponsors.
Today's show is brought to you in part by Now That's What I Call Whale Songs, Volume 12. This deluxe compilation has songs from all of your favorite artists, Whaler Swift, Fluke Combs, Bailene Dion, and more. We've got classic hits like this. And who could forget this one? Order now, and you'll also... Okay, thank you, whale songs. Now, let's take a quick break and hear some other important messages for grown-ups.
Two once in a while. We'll be right back. Grownups, this message is for you. That's it. Now back to the show. Back to Two What's and a Wow. Two What's and a Wow. The scientific game show that separates the wows from the what's. What was that? Oh, guy wrong.
¶ Bonus Round and Wrap Up
That sound can mean only one thing. Land ho? Nope. It is time for today's Bunker Balls bonus round. If you listen to our Wow in the World episode, Om Sweet Om, You'll know the answer to this one. And the Bunker Ball's bonus question is, what happens almost immediately after an Ulm is born? Is it... A. It turns inside out with all of its guts showing on the outside. Or is it B. Skin grows over its eyes.
Or is it C? It does a little dance to let the underground animal kingdom know it's arrived. And now to reveal the winning wow, it's Reggie. Reggie? Tell us, what's the winning wow? And the correct answer is B. When an ohm is born, it's... are almost immediately covered in skin, leaving its face basically featureless and ready for a life underground.
Well, congratulations to all of our winning Wowsers. Mindy, what's today's prize? Guy Raz, today's winning Wowsers will all be receiving their very own giant pile of... Reggie, use a prize cannon. I don't think you should. Bye, Earl. That's about all the time we have for today, but if you want to keep the fun going... then become a member of the World Organization of Wowsers and unlock hundreds of activities. And for any teachers in our listening audience, consider joining Tinker Class.
our free brand new learning platform that helps get kids wild about science. Just visit Tinkercast.com slash membership. That's Tinkercast.com slash membership. And be sure to come back on Monday for a brand new episode of Wow in the World this weekend for some Wee Wow in the Weekend with Dennis. And again. on Friday for a new episode of Two What's in a Wow. Until then, keep on wowing!
You can listen early and ad-free right now on Wondery Plus. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Wondery Kids Plus. On Apple Podcasts, Prime members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short survey at wondery.com slash survey.
Two What's in a Wow is executive produced by Meredith Halpern-Ranzer, Mindy Thomas, and me, Guy Raz. Our writers are Ruth Morrison and Anna Zagorski with collaboration from our head writer, Kenny Curtis. Sound production and design is by Marion Lozano.
help from Jet Anderson and Tyler Thole. Special thanks to Rebecca Caban, Dr. Natasha Crandall, Lizzie Freilich, Kristen Yang, Twee Mack, Erica Medina, Henry Moskal, Jodi Nussbaum, Ali Paxima, Linda Rothenberg, Steph Sosa, Joanna Weber, Anna Zagorski, and all of the other tinkerers at Tinkercast HQ. Our theme song was written and composed by The Pop-Ups. For more on their three-time Grammy-nominated all-ages music, find them at thepopups.com. And to keep the wow rolling,
After you finish this episode, you can visit us at Tinkercast.com. There you can become a member of the World Organization of Wowsers to get year-round mailings and weekly activities, shop our wow shop, get tickets for upcoming events, find our best-selling books, and learn all about the other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast. Grownups, you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at wowintheworld, and our email address is hello at tinkercast.com.
Finally, if you're a kid with a big wow to share, it could be used on an upcoming episode of Two What's in a Wow. Thanks again for listening and playing along. Meet us back here next Friday or every Monday for Wow in the World. The world was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.