A Shark Tail: Can a Yoga Class Learn the Secrets of the Thresher Shark?

A

Hey, Wowzer fams. Mindy here. And before we start the show, did you know that you can listen to your favorite songs from wow in the World all summer long? That's right, Reg. Whether you can't stop singing Oops, I slipped on a Penguin, or you can't stop dancing to the scientifically most danceable song in the world, you can now listen again and again and again on your favorite music player. Just search wow in the World in your music app. Oh, good point, Reg. And if you're looking for more more summer jams from your favorite Tinkercast podcasts, you can find songs from Flippin Mosey and Once Upon a Beat. Wherever you get your music, that's it. And now a quick ad break. And then back to the show. Proceeded.

B

Three, two, one.

C

Mission.

D

The Buddies are an adventure of magnificent proportion.

A

I don't know what you've been told in a golden age. So many discoveries that are jumping off the page.

E

Hello and welcome, everyone, to my very first inaugural class called Stretching with Sandy. Thank you. No woohooing, please. Thank you.

A

Stretching With Sandy. Sorry, I'm so excited. I've never been to a Stretching with Sandy class before. I mean, I keep seeing her commercials on TV and I just can't believe how flexible she is. Are you that flexible? How long have you been coming here, Sandy?

F

What?

C

Shh.

A

Be quiet.

E

Now, let's begin. Everyone take a look. Deep breath in. And exhale. Let it out.

C

Excuse me, Thomas Fingerling.

F

He said.

A

Scuse me.

F

Grubs.

C

Grandma G Force. Keep your voice down.

F

Yeah.

G

Everyone be quiet.

B

Shh.

G

You shush.

E

Okay, getting back to it. Now, to loosen up our bodies, our first stretch is going to be a free stretch, meaning that you can stretch however you'd like.

A

Oh, oh, excuse me, I'd like to go first. Sorry, I'd like to go first.

E

No, no. A free stretch means I call this

A

stretch the Sloppy spaghetti. Because I make my body all floppy and flexible like an overcooked spaghetti noodle. Here, watch.

F

She ain't got no bones. Okay.

E

Yes, very nice. Now, if you'll all just quietly stretch on your own.

A

Oh, oh, oh.

C

I've got a stretch. May I go next?

E

Okay, sure, why not? If the chakras call you, go ahead.

G

Guy Raz.

A

Yeah. Go, Guy Raz.

C

Okay, okay. I call this stretch the Guy in the Sky. And in this stretch, I lift my entire body and reach my hands up for the sky like this.

F

That boy's gonna catch a bird someday.

C

Thank you.

E

Very, very nice. Now, if you'll all please quiet down and go back to your mats.

B

We can.

G

Okay, Dennis, turn. Excuse me. Stretching with Sandy. May I use your mat here as I address the class?

A

What? No.

B

All right.

G

Just gonna scooch in here. My stretch is called Dennis Super Snooper.

B

Stretch sounds super.

G

It is. Snooping requires a lot of flexibility.

A

Let's see the stretch, Dennis.

G

Okay, for this stretch, first you're gonna elongate your neck like this.

F

Oh, that don't look good.

G

And then you're gonna rotate your head a full 360 degrees like this.

F

Ah, no, no, no, no, no, no.

E

That is extremely unsafe.

C

Is Dennis neck made of rubber?

A

I don't know. It might be.

E

Please, Mr. Dennis, unrubber your neck.

G

Okay.

A

Well, that was awful, Dennis. I can't believe you can do that.

G

Thank you. Thank you.

E

Okay, okay. Now let's move on with the class.

B

Okay, fine. I'll go next.

C

What?

E

No, sir, please. This isn't show and tell.

B

Excuse me, Cindy.

A

Oh, my peppers.

B

Now, this is a mysterious ancient stretch. It's called.

C

Yes.

B

It's called.

C

Yes.

F

Spit it out, Fingerling.

B

It's not called anything. It's just a stretch.

C

Aw.

B

Okay, here goes.

G

I just got hit in the face with a bone.

E

Sir, sir, please stop. Your bones are falling out of your body.

B

Oh, it's okay. Happens all the time.

A

Wow, you are super duper not flexible, Thomas. Fingerling.

C

Mr. Fingerling, are you okay?

B

Oh, yeah. Come here, Bones.

G

Ew, Tommy.

F

Well, I always knew your body was just a skeleton made out of dried up old twigs and branches.

B

What? My bones ain't twigs. Oh, what do you know? This one is a twig. How'd you get in there,

F

Sir Fingerling,

A

you and your bones.

F

Get out of the way. Grandma G Force is gonna show everybody the Thrasher.

C

The Thrasher?

F

Yeah.

G

Is this one of your old wrestling moves or something?

F

No.

B

Oh, I've seen the Thrasher stretch before. It's a multi stepper. You kids might want to step back for this one.

E

I'm sorry. Yoo hoo. It's me, Sandy, the actual teacher of this class.

A

And we need to. Shh. Sandy.

G

Don't interrupt Sandy.

C

Excuse me. Show us what you've got, Grandma G Force.

A

Yeah, show us the Thrasher Stretch.

F

Okay, everyone, now pay attention. This is serious business.

A

Ooh.

F

Step number one, I lock eyes on my prey like this.

C

Your prey?

G

You mean us?

B

Gee, Forrest, quit looking at us like that.

F

Step number dose, I lower my head like this.

A

Wow, that head is real low.

E

Yeah, that's actually terrible for her posture.

F

Step number three, the full body flex.

A

Look at those muscles.

B

What where you talking about? Those lumps of potatoes bulging from her arms?

C

I think those are biceps.

B

Biceps? What is that, French fruit potato.

F

Step number four, I flap my tail over my head like a whip.

C

Her tail?

A

Oh, she means her butt.

C

Oh.

F

Hey,

A

See, that guy ran.

C

I don't know how she did that.

E

That was amazing.

F

Step number five, after you thwap your prey, you're gonna gobble em up for lunch.

D

What?

F

Come here, prey. Gobble, gobble.

B

Quit it, G Force.

A

Stop chasing me a dwarf.

F

Now you're lunch.

B

No, I ain't.

F

Yeah, you are.

A

No, I ain't.

F

Yeah, you are.

C

Heavens, what just happened?

G

Yeah, how did Grandma G Force thrash her body like that?

A

Wait a minute, wait a minute. What did she call that? Stretch, Dennis.

G

Um, the thrasher.

A

The thrasher. The thrasher.

G

The.

A

I got it.

C

Oh, no. Mindy, you're not gonna try to eat us too, are you?

A

What?

F

No.

G

Oh, whew.

A

What I mean is, I know where I've heard of Grandma G Force's thrasher technique. Where from the thresher shark.

G

The thrasher shark?

A

No, the thrasher shark.

G

Oh, thresher shark. What is it?

A

Okay, so the thresher shark is a long, big eyed mackerel shark that lives in temperate and tropical ocean waters. Okay, but what really sets this shark apart from other sharks is its tail.

G

What about its tail, Mindy?

A

Well, I'm so glad you asked. You see, the thresher shark has an extra long, extra flexible whip like tail that not only helps it to be a super speedy ocean swimmer, but it can flex, bend and stretch. Super swimming.

G

Wow. Wow.

A

The thresher shark hunts by herding whole schools of little fishy prey into a small area. And then snap. It whips its tail and stuns the little fishy prey.

G

Oh, no.

C

Ah, so then the stunned fish can't move.

A

Exact orito. And that's when the thresher shark moves in and gobbles up its fishy prey in a single gulp.

G

Wow.

C

So let me get this straight, Mindy. The thresher shark doesn't just use its powerful jaws to attack its prey like other sharks.

A

Well, why would you when you have the fastest whip cracking tail in the entire ocean?

B

Hey, horse, would you quit chasing me?

F

I'm hurting you with my flexible tail. And now I'm gonna.

B

I'm stunned.

G

Wow. You're right, Mindy. Grandma G Force's thrasher stretch looks just like how you described the thresher shark.

F

Well, that's on account I was trained by one.

C

You Were trained by a thresher shark,

A

but they're super rare and rarely ever seen in the wild. Yeah, and the thresher sharks that are out there have to be protected or they could go extinct.

E

Yeah, and the human spine isn't supposed to be able to stretch that way.

F

Well, I have my ways.

A

Hey.

F

Ouch.

B

Deep force quitting. I'm already stunned.

C

Okay.

E

Hi, excuse me. Um, I'm very curious how you know so much about this thresher shark.

A

Oh, well, it's because I just read this fascinating new study on them in the journal Royal Society of Open Science.

E

Oh, science.

G

No, complaining about science. Stretching with Sandy.

A

Dennis, you complain about science all the time.

G

What? No, I don't. I love when you two talk about boring old science.

A

Dennis.

C

Ooh, look, I just found this study on my guy phone here. This is fascinating.

E

Well, I am curious about how this thresher shark is so flexible.

A

Oh, you're not alone. Stretching with Sandy. See, in this study, a team of biologists from Florida Atlantic University led by Dr. Mary Ann Porter, had the same curiosity.

G

Ha ha. Twins.

A

They wanted to find out what made the backbone and the tail of the thresher shark, so.

B

Wow.

A

Oh, wow.

C

And it says here that the researchers got their hands on 10 different specimens or samples from thresher sharks that had been stranded on shore.

A

And these sample specimens range from teeny tiny embryos or unborn baby thresher sharks to full grown threshers the length of a medium sized car.

G

Wow, this is so interesting.

E

I agree, it is.

G

Don't interrupt, Sandy. What happened next, Guy Raz?

C

Well, from there, they examine the skeletons of these sharks by taking lots of X ray photos and creating 3D digital or computer models of their vertebrae.

G

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

E

Time out.

C

Uh, yes, Dennis?

G

What are vertebrae?

A

Oh, vertebrae are the bones that make up the spine or backbone of something. We can even feel our own vertebrae by reaching to the center of our backs and feeling those bumpy little bones that run down the middle of it.

G

Ooh, I want to feel. Oh, I can feel my vertebrae. Anyone else want to feel them?

E

No.

C

No.

A

Yeah, I'll pass.

G

Fine, suit yourselves.

B

Oh, G force, come here. I want to see your weird vertebrae GeForce.

E

Oh, my.

A

Anywho, when Dr. Porter and her team studied the thresher shark's vertebrae, or backbone, they discovered these bony plates that spread out evenly like the spokes on a bike wheel.

F

Huh.

G

I wonder if Granny G has similar vertebrae.

E

That's exactly what I was thinking.

F

Quit talking about me. I'm normal.

C

So the Scientists continued to study these plates and found that the plates started out long in the body of the shark and got shorter and shorter as they reached the top of the tail.

A

And they wondered how the different lengths and structure of these bony plates, or vertebrae work together to help these sharks move the way they do. Tee hee.

G

Scientists are such little snoops.

A

Well, yeah, kinda. I mean, these scientists knew that these bony plates held all the secrets to the thresher sharks. Imagine amazing flexibility.

C

That's right. And it says here that as they studied the bones of these sharks, they looked for clues. Clues that could help explain how the thresher shark could be so flexible. Or how it's able to move the way it does.

A

Or how it's able to swing its body from side to side to help it speed swim. Or how it's able to thrash and thwack, its whip crack and fish snapping tail.

E

Fascinating. So what secrets were revealed to the snoop?

G

Bup, bup, bup, bup, bup, bup. Sorry, Sandy. I was just gonna say what secrets were revealed to the snooping scientist, Mindy.

E

Really, Dennis?

A

Well, I'll tell you, but first. Excuse me, Miss Stretchin with Sandy.

E

You can just call me Sandy.

A

No, that's okay, Ms. Stretchin with Sandy, can you turn on your meditation music, please?

E

Oh, sure.

A

Okay, now I want you to close your eyes and imagine a shark.

G

Oh, I see it.

A

Very good, Dennis. Now imagine you have X ray vision and can see the vertebrae or backbone of this shark. Okay, now imagine the vertebrae looking like a bridge, a bridge of shark bones connecting the body of the shark to the tail of the shark. Okay, now imagine yourself standing on the end of the bridge at the body of the shark, its belly and back. The bridge here is strong, steady, and

E

stable, like a firm, sturdy foundation planted on solid ground.

G

Mm, I agree. Solid ground.

A

But as you follow that strong and steady bridge out to the tail, things start getting more flexible. Suddenly the bridge is able to twist and turn in unexpected and exciting ways.

G

Ah.

E

So tell me, what happens to the vertebrae when it reaches the tail?

A

Well, basically, that vertebrae, or backbone, gets stronger and stronger throughout the length of the shark. And once it reaches the tail, the vertebrae is so strong that the tail is able to act almost like a catapult, giving the shark the power to launch its tail over its head.

C

So in other words, the thresher shark is able to move in the same ways that Grandma G Force did in the stretching class because of the way its vertebrae or backbone is structured or connected in its body.

A

That's right. The Structure of the vertebrae in the thresher shark's main body gives it stability, while the structure of the vertebrae in the tail gives it the power and flexibility to whip its tail over its head.

B

Cool, dude.

A

And what's really wow about this is that the more scientists understand about these sharks, the more they understand about how all shark backbones work.

C

And who knows, maybe this new discovery could lead to new inventions modeled after the way the thresher shark's backbone is built.

F

Well, you could have just taken me apart to see for yourselves.

E

Or maybe I could invent a new stretchin with some sandy class modeled after the thresher shark and your grandma G force here.

G

And maybe we could turn your classroom into an aquarium.

A

And maybe we can all dress up like sharks in shark costumes.

C

Or maybe we should all call it a day and just go home before things get even more out of hand.

B

No way, dude.

E

Say grandma G force. You think you could help me lead the class in your thresher shark inspired flexibility stretch?

F

Well, don't mind if I do. Okay, first you gotta approach the school of fish. You mean the class or whatever. And then you gotta flex your body like this.

E

Ooh, very nice. Very nice.

F

And then you gotta take your tail.

B

He means your butt.

F

And

A

smack his tail.

F

Stone your prey.

B

Quit it, G force.

F

And then you gotta gobble em up like this. Gobble, gobble.

C

What just happened?

F

I don't know.

A

I guess class is dismissed.

C

Sure seems like it. Come on, Mindy, let's get out of here.

A

Good idea, guy Raz. Wow in the world. We'll be right back. Grown ups, this message is for you. Hey, grown ups, Mindy here. And it should come as no surprise that I love talking to people. I do it every Friday on two. What's in a while? People who watch. And I've got to tell you about something else designed to bring the joy of conversation back to kids. It's called Pinwheel Home, and it's a modern take on the landline phone. The Pinwheel Home is just like the phones you remember, except it connects using your wifi and plugs into a regular wall outlet. Plus, adults approve all contacts so you don't get strangers or spam calls. And calls to other Pinwheel Homes are free, so you can talk to all your friends. Pinwheel Home lets kids safely connect with their friends and family. Plus it builds conversation skills and promotes independence. Visit pinwheel.com wow. To learn more. That's P-I N W H E-E-L.com wow to learn more. Hey, wow fams. Mindy here. And before we start the show, did you know that you can listen to your favorite songs from wow in the World all summer long? That's right, regular. Whether you can't stop singing oops, I slipped on a penguin or you can't stop dancing to the scientifically most danceable song in the world, you can now listen again and again and again on your favorite music player. Just search wow in the World in your music app. Oh, good point, Reg. And if you're looking for more summer jams from your favorite tinkercast podcasts, you can find songs from Flippin Mosey and Once Upon a Beat. Wherever you get your music, that's it. And now a quick ad break and then back to the show.

F

That's it.

A

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

D

Hi, Mindy and Lyra. My name is Lucy, and my wow in the world is that the biggest mammal living on earth is the blue whale. And Dennis, I have an important message for you. Everybody knows that you are sponge man.

G

Floods and rain don't stand a chance against spongeman.

D

Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. My name is Kuze and I live in Bellbrook, Ohio. My wow is that the first computer mounted or made of wood? Bye. Hi, my name is Oliver, and my wow in the world is that kiwis can stick their bill into the ground and sense vibrations and sound. And Dennis, I know you're static man. Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. My name's Claire and I'm from Texas. And my wow in the world is that scientists have discovered signs of water on Mars, so they're trying to figure out how to get humans to live on Mars. I love your show. Say hi to Reggie, Dennis. Hi, Grandma Gforce. Oh, yeah, and Mr. Fingerling for me.

B

Oh, what are you doing all that?

D

Bye. Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. I'm Declan and I'm seven from Vancouver, Canada. My wow in the world is that the first airplane flight was only 12 seconds long. Say hi to Mindy, Sky Robb, Dennis Snoop and Seek Robot Baby Dennis, Bucky Thomas Fingerling, Grandma G Force and the slay cat.

B

Greetings.

A

What is up?

D

Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. My name is Isabella and my name is Teresa and we live in Mountain View, California. And our wow is that when a seagull steps in from a wormhole, it stomps its feet so the worms think it's raining. And when the worms come out, the seagull is in for a tasty feast. Say hi to Reggie, Grandma G Force. Oh and the very very very very very very very very very annoying Dennis.

A

End of messages.

C

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

A

Original sound design and music editing is done by our senior Production Director Jed Anderson and Audio Producer Tyler Thompson. You can also hear Jed Anderson in the voices of Dennis, Thomas, Fingerling, Reggie and many of the other silly characters that you hear on our show. And Lizzie Froehlich can also be heard as some of the silly characters on our show.

C

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

A

Our theme song was composed and performed by three time Grammy nominees the Pop Ups.

C

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A

And to keep the wow rolling after you finish this episode, visit us@tinkercast.com There you can become a member of the World Organization of wowzers to get year round mailings and weekly activities. Shop our wow. Shop, get tickets for upcoming events, find our best selling books and learn about some of the other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast Grown Ups.

C

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A

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C

Thanks again for listening. We're here every Monday or you can check out two what's in a wow Every Friday right here in the wow in the World podcast feed.

A

And don't forget we WOW on the weekend with Dennis Saturday and Sunday.

D

Keep on wowing.

A

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