RYAN: Correctamundo! Now if you toss me a live capybara and a full cup of coffee, I’ll break my personal record for most news stories juggled at once

PAM: I am impressed but… we’ve got a show to do!

RYAN: Totally! Just one problem!

PAM: What’s that?

RYAN: I’m really good at starting but I don’t actually know how to stop juggling.... Wait! I have an idea!

<SFX loud crash>

PAM: That was your idea? Just to drop everything?

RYAN: It worked, didn’t it? I’m Ryan Willard.

PAM: And I’m Pamela Kirkland. It’s Thursday, October 17th.

RYAN: This is Ten Things You Need to Know.

PAM: Just two weeks after Helene, Hurricane Milton swept through Florida. Milton wasn’t quite as catastrophic as experts feared, but it still left a mess–including mud-filled streets, wrecked houses, and dozens of tornadoes. It knocked out power for over 3 million people, flooded islands, and even tore the roof off of a baseball stadium. Milton brought some really scary storm surges - that’s a rise in water because of a storm - and these surges got up to 10 feet! The storm also brought a foot and a half of rain in some areas. Thousands evacuated, and about 80,000 spent the night in shelters. As the areas affected are trying to recover, Taylor Swift came through with a donation of $5 million to relief efforts! Her contribution will help communities rebuild, and provide them with food, clean water, and other essential supplies.

RYAN: $5 million may sound too good to be true, but the donation is totally legit. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for all of the hurricane news. In addition to the physical destruction that Hurricanes Helene and Milton left, there’s also been a lot of damaging misinformation being spread. This has included AI generated images of the wreckage, old clips from different storms, and even claims that the government was manipulating or “geo-engineering” the weather.

People also have been spreading rumors that the money that was supposed to be for disaster victims was being spent on migrants who crossed into the US illegally. FEMA declared these as false, assuring the public that the money was being spent on disaster relief, as it was intended. This false information is really harmful, because it makes it harder for the government to help the people in need if they have to spend time and energy fighting these claims.

PAM: Our next story is about today! Today, October 17th, is Black Poetry Day. It’s a celebration meant to recognize contributions made by Black poets and show appreciation for Black authors. We can and should do this all the time, but today is special because it commemorates Jupiter Hammon’s birthday. He was the first published Black poet in the US and although he was born into slavery, he got an education, learned to read, and frequented the library at the manor. Born in 1711, he came to be considered the father of African American Literature, so you could say he’s kind of a big deal. The day of celebration was established in 1985, and we’ve since spent it celebrating notable Black poets like Robert Hayden, Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and countless others.

RYAN: While people celebrate these talented artists, earth itself might be celebrating a new friend for about two months, so let’s get …Out. Of. This. World. <SFX NASA 3-2-1 Blastoff> OR <SFX lightspeed jump>. Earth may have a mini-moon! It’s actually an asteroid that will be temporarily trapped by Earth’s gravity, so it will orbit our planet for about two months. The space rock is actually pretty small for something compared to the planets and space bodies we think about. It’s about 33 feet in diameter, about the size of a school bus! Believe it or not, these mini-moons aren’t really uncommon. The last one was detected in 2020, but we rarely see them because they’re small and hard to find. But, technology has gotten to the point where we can see them a little easier. We won’t be able to see the mini-moon with the naked eye or even amateur telescopes, you’re gonna need a research-grade telescope to do the trick.

PAM: On the topic of space, NASA is checking in on an asteroid they knocked off course a couple years ago. In 2022, NASA changed the path of a space rock called Dimorphous by intentionally crashing a probe into it.

RYAN: WOAH. Like a GIANT round of bumper cars?!

PAM: Kind of, but with less cotton candy and stale popcorn.

RYAN: Oh so that means also less cotton candy and stale popcorn tummy aches.

PAM: Almost definitely. This rock wasn’t in danger of hitting Earth, but NASA wanted to see if diverting asteroids was possible if we needed to. When it comes to asteroids hitting Earth, I definitely agree with the “better safe than sorry” approach. Last week, NASA launched the Hera craft, which will look at what happened to Dimorphous when it was hit. Hera will look at the crater it left, and the asteroid’s makeup and mass. All of this will help scientists understand the best way to intercept other asteroids in the future. Dimorphous is about 7 million miles away, so the spacecraft named Hera will hopefully reach it by 2026. Talk about a long road trip.

RYAN: Well you know what they say, good things come to those who wait…which is why we’re going to take a quick break!

RYAN: Psssst, hey Ten’ers! Did you hear about the super secret contest I’m holding? You didn’t? Well, go listen to CREDITS of last week’s Ten Things You Need to Know. Particularly, when we give Ten News Snaps… That’s all I can tell you because it is a super secret contest and all. Back to the show!

RYAN: Pam, you know how sometimes I’m late because I was looking for my keys for like, five…ty minutes? What if I told you that a treasure hunt just ended that lasted 31 years?! That’s right, a 31-year-long treasure hunt finally came to a close last week. The multi-decade search was based on the book “On the Trail of the Golden Owl,” from the early 90s, and drew thousands of fans across France who embarked on the quest for, unsurprisingly, a golden owl. The book was published by author Régis Hauser and artist Michael Becker, and over the years, fans have formed a community of more than 200,000 players known as “owlers.”

Becker did have an owl made, and it was almost 7 pounds of gold and more than 15 pounds of silver, with diamond chips on its face, but Hauser and Becker buried a replica, which fans set out on a hunt to find. To do this, participants had to solve the book’s 11 puzzles, as well as a hidden 12th, to find a token needed to claim the grand prize. And now, after 31 years, there might finally be a winner!

PAM: But who?!

RYAN: Great owl impression, Pamela, but we have to move on to our next story! Quick, Ten’ners, for 10 points, what animal is this? <SFX CAPYBARA sounds> <SFX three second clock tick>

PAM: If you guessed Capybara, you’re right on! An owl of gold and silver and diamonds is cool, but real-life capybaras are some of my favorites. Lucky for Florida, a Capybara Cafe just opened! This is a space where people can learn about and interact with the sweet, adorable capybaras. This cafe is the work of Noah’s Ark Sanctuary, a nonprofit organization, and all proceeds will go to helping build enclosures and making sure there are resources to care for wildlife who need it. There are a couple of these cafes globally, including Japan, Thailand, but this is Florida’s first.

RYAN (getting increasingly excited): A capybara cafe?! I wonder if instead of baristas, they have capybar-istas. Or if they serve capy-cinos. Or or or -

PAM: I think if you go to the cafe, maybe stick to decaf. While capybaras basically hold the record for world’s cutest animal, David Rush isn’t impressed.

RYAN: He’s not?! What is he, a monster?!

PAM: David Rush is an American author, speaker, and entertainer who has broken over 300 Guinness World Records, currently holds 181 of those records, and recently broke 15 in one day!

RYAN: 15 records in one day?! I can barely manage to floss my teeth one time a week -

PAM: Wait, what?! You’re supposed to floss once a day.

RYAN: Gosh, I’m always learning on this show! Well, apparently, David Rush stopped over at the Guinness World Records office to break 15 records, and we have to say, some of these are really creative. For example, he now has the record for the most bites taken from three apples while juggling in one minute. If you’re wondering, that number is 198.

PAM: It turns out, Rush’s records answered a lot of questions I did not know I had. How long would it take to bounce a tennis ball on two bottle caps ten times using alternate hands? Just over two seconds, apparently.

RYAN: What's the most t shirts you can put on in 30 seconds? Who would have thunk, it’s 20!

PAM: But how about the most catches of a bowling ball and two balls, while on a balance board, in a span of one minute? The answer is - Actually Ten’ners, that one is so crazy, we’re going to give you a second to imagine it first. <SFX three-second clock tick> Okay, did you imagine it? He racked up 243 catches!

RYAN: They may not be catching bowling balls but MLB players are working hard, because in the wide world of sports <SFX Soccer Ball Kick, then Baseball Bat Crack, then Basketball Net Swish and a Stadium Crowd Roar> the MLB playoffs are underway! Running from October 1st to November 2nd, the 2024 playoffs is a 12-team postseason bracket competition, and this is its third year since changing formats a bit in 2022. And now, in the National League Championship Series, we have the LA Dodgers going up against the NY Mets. And in the American League Championship series we have the Cleveland Guardians facing off against the NY Yankees. The Yankees are currently leading the Guardians 2 games to Zero in the best of 7 matchup and and at the time of recording, the Mets and Dodgers are tied at 1 game a piece. The winners of each championship will go to the World Series! I’m personally hoping for a Subway Series, aka the NY Mets vs the NY Yankees. But if there’s one thing I know about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen. Though I have a feeling, Shohei Ohtani will be hitting a bunch of home runs.

PAM: Speaking of home runs, you know who always knocks it out of the park? Owen! Let’s kick it - er, pitch it - to him for some trivia. Owen, you’re up to bat!

<SFX Trivia Theme song>

OWEN: Back in the 1980s, researchers found a pristine seed in the Judean Desert. What’s so special about that seed?

It tastes like cotton candy
It’s over 1000 years old
It weighs 3 pounds

<SFX 5-second clock tick>

OWEN: Did ya get it? The answer is B, it’s over 1000 years old! In 2010, Decades after researchers found the seed, Dr. Sarah Sallon planted it to see what would happen, and everyone was pretty excited to find that it grew!

RYAN: That’s pretty incredible considering it’s over 1000 years old! Do you know how much stuff goes downhill after, like, a day? Have you tried leaving your milk out for a week and then drinking it? It is Freaky mcnasty

OWEN: Five weeks after planting, this seed woke up from a 10 century-long nap, and is now thriving. It’s 14 years old and 10 feet tall, but doesn’t grow any flowers or fruit.

RYAN: That’s okay, I’m way older than 14 years old and still can’t grow any flowers or fruit. It’s not in the cards for us, buddy. But Ten’ners, this plant is pretty close to your age and 10 feet tall.

OWEN: Wait, if I sleep for 1000 years, will I grow to be 10 feet tall?

PAM: And that was Ten Things You Need to Know!

RYAN: What a great show. But could you still hand me that live capybara?

PAM: You’re going to try juggling again?

RYAN: Oh no, this is just for cuddling.

PAM: That’s a plan I can get behind, but first, we gotta give Ten News Snaps to one of our listeners!

RYAN: And before that, here’s a quick note for the grownups.

[Ad Break]

RYAN:Time for Ten News Snaps! <Grand fanfare SFX>

PAM: A Ten’er named Camzz90 left us this review on Apple Podcasts: “Great podcast! My kids and I listen together while I’m driving them to school in the morning, we love this podcast and look forward to listening.” Thank you Camzz90, we’re honored to be with you and your family on your drive to school!

RYAN: And since you’re already driving them, maybe you should stop for ice cream on the way to school? PLEASE CAMZZ90, WE WANT OUR ICECREAM? No? Okay, well… Ten Things You Need to Know drops on Thursdays, and our deep dive episodes drop once a month. If you want some bonus content, you could join the Ten’ers Club on our website. And to our grownups, if you want to help support the Ten News, you can make a tax-deductible donation at the link in our show notes. The whole team thanks you for your support!

PAM: “The Ten News” is a co-production of Small But Mighty Media and Next Chapter Podcasts, and part of the Airwave Podcast Network.

RYAN: The Ten News creative team is busy cuddling capybaras and includes Tracey “Not a” Crooks, Adam “The Great Bambino” Bernard, “Captain” Kyle Murdock, Hebba “The Big Cheese” Gouda and Carson “Pitter Patter” Potter. Big thanks to Owen for contributing to this episode..

PAM: Our Production Director is Jeremiah “No Fiddle” Tittle, and our Executive Producers are Donald “Not Dim but” Albright and show creator Tracy “Takes the” Leeds Kaplan.

RYAN: I’m Ryan Willard.

PAM: And I’m Pamela Kirkland, thanks for listening to the Ten News.

Bethany Van Delftpodcastkidskids newsnewslistentriviaInternational Space Stationspaceouter space

Tracy Kaplan

National Black Poetry Day to a Capybara Cafe- 10 Things You Need to Know

LISTEN HERE

The Ten News: Episode 511

The Ten News Election Special -Five Things to Know About Money in Elections - Minisode #3

The Ten News Election Special- Polling! Minisode #2