Sir Wormus is on a quest.
jlmcloughlin/Getty Images/iStockphoto
What’s up with worms? How do they sleep? Why are they slimy? How do they move? Here at Brains On, the only way to find out is to embark on an EPIC QUEST!
Join co-host Ezra and the worm adventurer extraordinaire Sir Wormus on a journey to find the Golden Worm, a magical artifact! On the way, they’ll learn all about the noble earthworm from the Tome of Worms, a magic book containing all the knowledge of worm expert Emma Sherlock from the Natural History Museum in London!
Will our heroes find the Golden Worm? Will they select a squirrel’s perfect snack? Will they solve the riddle of the Mystery Sound? There’s only one way to find out. Come on, friends, it’s time to go a-questing!
Audio Transcript
Download transcript (PDF)
SPEAKER 1: You're listening to Brains On, where we're serious about being curious.
SPEAKER 2: Brains On is supported, in part, by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
MOLLY BLOOM: I am really looking forward to taping this episode with Ezra. A whole episode about worms? Yes, please. Anyway, got to go get the studio ready. Ezra should be here any minute.
SPEAKER 3: Meanwhile, at Ezra's house.
EZRA: Mom, I got to go. I don't want to be late for the taping. I can't believe I get to visit Brains On headquarters. I hope I see gunga door in the hallway. Oh, or maybe we can take a detour through the hollow slides.
SPEAKER 4: I hear there are the kind of slides you can ride down, as well as slide whistles.
[DOORBELL RINGS]
Honey, can you get the door?
EZRA: OK, but I got to go. Hello? Weird. No one is here.
SIR WORMUS: Down here, tall human.
EZRA: A worm? How did you ring the--
SIR WORMUS: Greetings, friend. I am Sir Wormus, earthworm adventurer extraordinaire. Today, I embark on a quest for the golden worm. I have my helmet, and cloak, and my magic worm book. The only thing I lack is a trusty companion to quest with me and to carry the book since I have no arms. You look adventurous and-- arm-having.
EZRA: I do have arms, and I have a little bit of time before I have to record with Molly at Brains On headquarters. Hey, mom, there's a worm on the front step, and he wants me to go on a quest with him. Can I go?
SIR WORMUS: I give you my word, tall human's mother, that no misfortune will befall your offspring.
SPEAKER 4: This worm does have a very shiny helmet. Seems trustworthy. OK, Ezra, I'll call Molly and let her know you're running a little late. She won't mind. A worm quest can only improve the quality of the episode, I'm sure.
EZRA: Cool. Thanks, mom. Let's go, Sir Wormus.
MOLLY BLOOM: You're listening to Brains On from APM Studios. I'm Molly Bloom, and my co-host today is still not here.
[PHONE RINGING]
Oh, hello? Oh, hi, Joanne. What's that you say? The reception isn't great. Ezra, he had to go on-- he's meeting a guest with a perm? Oh. Oh, I lost her. Well, I guess he's delayed a bit. I'll just make sure we have all our listener questions ready for the episode. Here we go.
EMERSON: My name is Emerson from Medford, New Jersey, and my question is, do worms communicate with each other?
LOUISA: Hi. I'm Louisa. I live in Chicago, Illinois, and my question is, do worms sleep?
ESVIE: Hi. My name is Esvie from Bedford, Massachusetts, and my question is, why do worms come out when it rains only?
ANNA JANE: My name is Anna Jane from Maryland, and my question is, how do worms regrow when they have been torn in half?
ANNE: Hi. My name is Anne from Seattle. My question is, how do one see?
NORA: My name is Nora.
ELISE: And my name is Elise. We're from Ashland, Wisconsin.
NORA: Our question is, how do worms eat?
ELISE: And how do they poop?
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, those are such great questions. I wonder how Ezra's perm is going.
EZRA: So, Sir Wormus, what's this quest about anyway?
SIR WORMUS: Long ago, the golden worm was created by the powerful Wizard Wobblestone to help aid wormkind in keeping the planet's soil nice and healthy. He enchanted it to bestow endless delicious compost on the worthy adventurer who can seek it out. I've been studying Wizard Wobblestone's journals with our most learned bookworms, and we have solved the many riddles and clues within. The golden worm is hidden deep within the caves of mud.
EZRA: Sounds squishy.
SIR WORMUS: The journey will be long, the challenges mighty, and the mud plentiful. But fear not, we are prepared to face the dangers. Here, take this book with your handy human hands. This is the tome of worms, an enchanted book that contains all the earth wormly knowledge of Emma Sherlock, worm expert at the Natural History Museum in London.
EMMA SHERLOCK: I can tell you everything you need to know about earthworms. Just don't flip my pages too fast. It tickles.
EZRA: Well, since you mentioned it, I've been dying to know, do worms sleep?
EMMA SHERLOCK: Now earthworms don't sleep quite like we would. In fact, one of the most common earthworms is called the nightcrawler. Because, actually, it's really active during the nighttime and comes to the surface. But also, earthworms will go to sleep or hibernate when conditions aren't too right.
So actually, if it's too cold or too hot and dry, earthworms will then curl up into a ball, cover themselves in, like a mucus blanket and then will sleep out that whole time. So rather than doing day and night sleeping like we would, they might sleep for a certain number of months till things are nice for them again.
EZRA: Wow, the tome knows all, the perfect companion on our quest.
SIR WORMUS: Now, dear young Ezra, prepare yourself. It's starting to rain. And here comes the worms.
EZRA: But how? Why?
SIR WORMUS: Alas, the vibrations of the rain bring them up from underground. It just make it awkward. I have a lot of fans.
WORM 1: Sir Wormus, Sir Wormus, are you on a quest?
WORM 2: Tell us the story of your adventures.
WORM 3: Tell us the one about the bird.
EZRA: Bird? What bird?
SIR WORMUS: A harrowing tale. It was long ago, when I was only Squire Wormus. I was traveling to Castle Worm-a-Lot on a beautiful sunny day, when, out of nowhere, a dark shadow cast overhead. Suddenly, there was a great fluttering of feathers, and I found myself in the beak of a monstrous bird, 100 times bigger than me, and ready to make me its lunch.
EZRA: What did you do?
SIR WORMUS: I wriggled, and squiggled, and jiggled with all my might. And suddenly, I squirmed free. I dove under the ground and tunneled as fast as I could go. I heard the bird above me.
EZRA: Wait a second-- heard? Do you have ears? I can't see them under your helmet.
SIR WORMUS: Excellent question, my friend. I don't have ears like you do or eyes, for that matter, but I can sense vibrations through the ground that tell me when a friend or foe is near. Anyway, I got away from the bird, but I was nearly bitten in half.
EZRA: Yikes. If you were bitten in half, would that make two Sir Wormuses?
SIR WORMUS: I try not to think about that. But the tome of worms, with all the knowledge possessed by worm expert, Emma Sherlock, will surely know the answer.
EMMA SHERLOCK: I'm afraid it wouldn't make two Sir Wormuses, but it could be very, very useful for Sir Wormus. Because, actually, if the worm gets cut in half, the tail end of the worm won't form another worm, but it can twitch for quite a while afterwards.
And it makes the bird think that that's OK to go for, so they'll go for this tail end, where Sir Wormus can then escape and then happily regrow another tail. It takes a little while, but they can easily regrow a tail. In fact, sometimes, they drop their own tails just for that purpose.
SIR WORMUS: A grim tail indeed. Ha, see what I did there? Tail. Yes. OK, we must continue our journey. Farewell, friends.
WORM 4: Good luck.
WORM 5: Bye, Sir Wormus. We love you.
SPEAKER 5: Meanwhile, at Brains On headquarters.
MOLLY BLOOM: I wonder what's taking Ezra so long. Maybe I should try giving him a call.
[PHONE RINGING]
EZRA: Hi. You've reached Ezra's phone. I'm with Sir Wormus on a quest for the golden worm, and I might be underground and stuff. So leave a message, and I'll call you right back.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wait. A quest with a worm? Not a guest with a perm. That makes way more sense. Well, I guess this gives me more time to check the audio files. Well, let's listen to this one. We asked listeners to tell us what they would name a worm, and I could literally listen to these worm names all day.
SPEAKER 6: I would name a warm Jesse Ariel.
SPEAKER 7: I would name mine Slimy because worms are slimy or Stripey because they have stripes.
SPEAKER 8: Professor Squiggles Earth-eater.
SPEAKER 9: Marshall.
SPEAKER 10: Wormby. Wormy.
SPEAKER 11: Squirmy wormy.
SPEAKER 12: And if I had a pet worm, I would name him Mr. Digs.
SPEAKER 13: I think the best name for a worm is definitely Mr. Butter Socks.
SPEAKER 14: I would definitely name it Sausage because our family always names our pets after food, and worms look like little skinny sausages.
SPEAKER 15: If I had a pet worm, it will be called Wayne the worm.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wayne the worm is my new ringtone. I love it so much. I can't wait to play it for Ezra when he gets here, which should be any minute. So keep listening. Also, big thanks to Isaac, Charlotte, Bradley, Robert, Hannah, Grace, Lucia, Sophie, Sylvie, Lulu, Addie, Aya, Ellis, Caden, Sam, Yusef, Micah, and Ellie for those great name ideas.
If you love the earth as much as an earthworm loves the earth, then we've got the books for you. That's right. Marc, Sanden, and I wrote two new books all about our home planet. One is a picture book called Earth Friend Forever. It's about Earth writing a letter to its longtime pals-- us humans. Find out what happens when Earth asks us for a favor.
Our other book is called Road Trip Earth. It follows me, Marc, and Sanden, as we go on an epic Earth-venture through the core of the planet, all around the oceans, across the land, and even up into the stratosphere. Both books are available now. Just go to brainson.org/books to get your copies. And while you're at our website, you can also send us drawings of the worm quest, mystery sounds, or questions like this one.
PHILIP: Hello. My name is Philip. And my question is, how do eyebrows move?
MOLLY BLOOM: You can find the answer to that one on our new podcast moment of um. Be sure to check it out. It's a short burst of awesome information every weekday. And be sure to keep listening past our credits for the latest group to join the Brains Honor Roll. That's coming up. Stay tuned.
This is Brains On. I'm Molly, and our co-host Ezra is--
CHILD [AS RINGTONE]: (SINGING) Wayne the worm. Wayne the worm.
MOLLY BLOOM: It's Ezra calling. Ezra?
EZRA: Hi, Molly. The reception isn't great, but I just wanted to let this is taking a little longer than I anticipated.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, no worries.
EZRA: It's-- [MUFFLED SPEECH].
SPEAKER 5: At this very moment, our heroes, Ezra and Sir Wormus, are passing through a thick forest of trees.
EZRA: Molly? Molly? Oops, I think I lost her.
SIR WORMUS: Oh. Yes, my cell phone gets terrible service here. There's no worm-fi either.
EZRA: Well, my phone may not be working, but Sir Wormus, my ears are great, and I think someone's following us. I hear rustling in those bushes over there.
SIR WORMUS: Oh, who goes there?
EZRA: Oh, it's a squirrel.
SQUIRREL: Sir Wormus, I heard you were going on a quest to find the golden worm and get that sweet, sweet endless compost.
SIR WORMUS: Indeed. The mighty Ezra and I are on our way to the caves of mud.
SQUIRREL: Well, I'm all for more compost because that means more trees and more acorns. So I've got some advice for you both. Beware the fearsome sludge monster that guards the golden worm. He will ask you to solve his mystery sound riddle to prove your worth.
EZRA: Uh-oh, I wonder what the mystery sound will be.
SQUIRREL: Lucky for you, last week, I happened to be climbing in a tree, just above the caves of mud. And I heard the sludge monster muttering to himself. He kept making the mystery sound and wondering why nobody had ever solved it. He seemed glum.
SIR WORMUS: What did it sound like?
SQUIRREL: I'd be happy to tell you, but I need you to do me a favor first.
SIR WORMUS: A side quest. What do you think, Ezra?
EZRA: Sure, why not?
SQUIRREL: I've really been craving something good to chew on. My teeth keep on growing and growing, and I got to chomp on stuff every day to keep them from getting out of control. I was hoping you could find me a really good branch or something.
EZRA: Hey, Sir Wormus, since you sense vibrations so well, how about you climb onto some branches, and I'll tap on them. And you can tell me which one sounds like a nice, tough one for chewing.
SIR WORMUS: Wonderful idea.
[WOOD TAP]
No, too soft.
[CRUNCHING]
That one's too dry.
[HEAVY TAP]
That one's no good.
[GLASS BREAKING]
No idea what that one was.
[BRANCH CRUNCHING]
That's it. That one sounds delectable. Give it a nibble, squirrel friend, and see what you think.
SQUIRREL: Oh, yeah, that's the stuff. Thank you so much. My teeth feel better already. OK, so when I heard the sludge monster muttering his mystery sound the other day, it sounded like this.
[HISSING SOUND]
SIR WORMUS: Ezra, what do you think that might be?
EZRA: Dragging something in a crowded area?
SIR WORMUS: Well, we shall see when we find the sludge monster's lair. We must press onwards, Ezra. We're almost out of the forest, and the caves of mud lie ahead.
EZRA: I didn't realize how much of a quest was just walking through the woods.
SIR WORMUS: Pleasant, isn't it?
EZRA: Yeah, lots of time to chat. You know, I've been wondering, why are earthworms pink, not brown, or blue, or yellow. And why are you slippery and slimy?
SIR WORMUS: I have no idea. Tome, can you help my squire, Ezra?
EMMA SHERLOCK: Well, actually, they can be blue, or green, or all sorts of colors. In fact, in the Philippines, there's an earthworm that's bright blue that then has white patches with yellow circles in the middle. We call it the fried egg worm. And earthworms breathe through their skin. They don't have lungs like we do.
So actually, they have to keep very moist to be able to absorb the oxygen into their bodies. So that's why they've always covered with them slimy, mucousy stuff. Then, that's why, if you do see earthworms stranded on pavements, it's really nice to help them get back into the soil because you don't want earthworms drying out.
EZRA: I promise I'll try to scoop any worms I see on the sidewalk into some nice dirt. Hey, look, Sir Wormus, up ahead. It's the caves of mud. I don't see an opening, though. How do we get in?
SIR WORMUS: This was in the Wizard Wobblestone's journals. There's a giant boulder across the entrance.
EZRA: How do worms deal with big obstacles? I wish I could help move this boulder.
SIR WORMUS: But you can. Tome of worms, bestow the strength of a baby worm upon Ezra.
EZRA: How would that help me? Wow, I, feel so strong.
SIR WORMUS: When worms first hatch, they can push up to 500 times their body weight, not like your puny human babies.
EZRA: I'm as strong as a baby worm, proportionately. Let me have the boulder. There we go. Easy peasy. The caves of mud are open. It looks pretty slippery in there. How do I get through all that goop? Do I need special shoes or something?
SIR WORMUS: Never fear, my friend. The enchanted tome of worms will help you with that. Flip to the page on how worms squirm, and you will be given the ability to travel through mud with the greatest of ease, just like me.
EZRA: Let's see. Worm etiquette, worm dancing, worm jokes. Here we go, worm trouble.
EMMA SHERLOCK: Earthworms have two sets of muscles in their body. They're actually very, very muscular, so they can use those by contracting ones and elongating the others to, then, inch their way through the soil, aided by the fact that, if you look at earthworms really carefully, they've got little bristles.
So as one set of muscles allow them to stretch forward, they can anchor these bristles into their burrows and then go forward again with the next set of muscles. And actually, that's how they just move their way along.
EZRA: Whoa, I'm worming and squirming all over the place. This is so cool.
SIR WORMUS: Onward, we go to the deepest cave, where the golden worm is hidden.
EZRA: We made it, the deepest cave. And there's the golden worm on a pedestal, just like you said it would be.
ERIC: Hold. Who dares enter the golden worm's domain?
SIR WORMUS: It is, Sir Wormus.
EZRA: And me, Ezra. I guess that's the sludge monster?
ERIC: I am the guardian of the golden worm, the fearsome creature also known as Eric. Anyone who wishes to win the golden worm must first answer the riddle of the mystery sound. Here it is.
[HISSING SOUND]
EZRA: I'm sticking with my main guess, but I'm also thinking it's like a bunch of worms in a compost bin or something?
ERIC: This is made by humans, not worms.
EZRA: A bag of chips?
ERIC: What in nature could be making that noise?
EZRA: Leaves?
ERIC: Good. Good. And what could someone be doing to leaves to make that sound?
EZRA: Stepping on them?
ERIC: Let me check with my source.
TROY: Hi. My name is Troy, and I'm from Raleigh, North Carolina. That was the sound of me picking up and crumpling leaves. I like to crumple leaves because the sound is very satisfying.
ERIC: Stepping, crumpling. Close enough for me. You've solved my riddle. I finally get to think of a new one. Thank you. I present to you, golden worm.
EZRA: We did it, Sir Wormus.
SIR WORMUS: I couldn't have completed the quest without you, my friend. Let us hurry back to Castle Worm-a-Lot and celebrate.
EZRA: Actually, can I take a rain check? I got to run. I'm going to be late for a Brains On taping.
SIR WORMUS: Oh, but, of course, my dear Ezra. As a token of my gratitude for your help on this quest, please take the tome of worms with you.
EZRA: Really? For me?
SIR WORMUS: I know you will show the world how noble we worms can be.
EZRA: I will, Sir Wormus. I will do you proud. Goodbye.
SIR WORMUS: Goodbye, my friend. Now, let's get this party started. Anyone want to see me do the worm? It's literally the only dance move I can do.
SPEAKER 6: Brains On.
EZRA: Hi, Molly. Sorry, I'm late. But I learned so much about worms today.
MOLLY BLOOM: That's incredibly serendipitous that you should have a worm quest on the day of our taping of this episode about worms. Amazing.
EZRA: And the best part? I was gifted the enchanted tome of worms by my dear friend, Sir Wormus. And the whole adventure is recorded right here. The perks of having a magical worm book.
MOLLY BLOOM: I cannot wait to hear it.
EZRA: Worms don't sleep like we do, but they go into a hibernation when the conditions aren't right for them.
MOLLY BLOOM: When it rains, worms come up because they hear the vibration of the raindrops on the ground.
EZRA: When the earthworm is split in half, it doesn't become two new worms, but the half with the head can grow a new tail.
MOLLY BLOOM: Worms are very muscular and have little bristles that help them dig into the ground, so they can inch along.
EZRA: And I still have the strength of a baby worm. Watch.
MOLLY BLOOM: Impressive, Ezra. You can put the table down now.
EZRA: This episode of Brains On was produced by Marc Sanchez, Sanden Totten, Molly Bloom, Menaka Wilhelm, Ruby Guthrie, and our fellow Anna Goldfield.
MOLLY BLOOM: We had production help from Anna Weggel, engineering help from Joanne Griffith and Johnny Vince Evans. Our executive producer is Beth Perlman, and the executives in charge of APM Studios are Lilly Kim, Alex Shaffer, and Joanne Griffith. Many special thanks to Naomi Martitius, Grant Miller, and Rosie DuPont.
EZRA: Brains On is a nonprofit public radio program.
MOLLY BLOOM: You can support the show by buying our books, donating, or telling your friends about us.
EZRA: Head to brainson.org for more.
MOLLY BLOOM: And if you want to hear the answer to the question, what are eyebrows for? It's waiting for you right now over at the Moment of Um podcast. This list of names gets an excited eyebrow raise out of me. It's the Brains Honor Roll. These are the incredible kids who keep us going with their drawings, high fives, mystery sounds, and questions.
[LISTING HONOR ROLL]
We'll be back soon with more answers to your questions.
EZRA: Thanks for listening.
SPEAKER 2: Brains On is supported, in part, by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
MOLLY BLOOM: I am really looking forward to taping this episode with Ezra. A whole episode about worms? Yes, please. Anyway, got to go get the studio ready. Ezra should be here any minute.
SPEAKER 3: Meanwhile, at Ezra's house.
EZRA: Mom, I got to go. I don't want to be late for the taping. I can't believe I get to visit Brains On headquarters. I hope I see gunga door in the hallway. Oh, or maybe we can take a detour through the hollow slides.
SPEAKER 4: I hear there are the kind of slides you can ride down, as well as slide whistles.
[DOORBELL RINGS]
Honey, can you get the door?
EZRA: OK, but I got to go. Hello? Weird. No one is here.
SIR WORMUS: Down here, tall human.
EZRA: A worm? How did you ring the--
SIR WORMUS: Greetings, friend. I am Sir Wormus, earthworm adventurer extraordinaire. Today, I embark on a quest for the golden worm. I have my helmet, and cloak, and my magic worm book. The only thing I lack is a trusty companion to quest with me and to carry the book since I have no arms. You look adventurous and-- arm-having.
EZRA: I do have arms, and I have a little bit of time before I have to record with Molly at Brains On headquarters. Hey, mom, there's a worm on the front step, and he wants me to go on a quest with him. Can I go?
SIR WORMUS: I give you my word, tall human's mother, that no misfortune will befall your offspring.
SPEAKER 4: This worm does have a very shiny helmet. Seems trustworthy. OK, Ezra, I'll call Molly and let her know you're running a little late. She won't mind. A worm quest can only improve the quality of the episode, I'm sure.
EZRA: Cool. Thanks, mom. Let's go, Sir Wormus.
MOLLY BLOOM: You're listening to Brains On from APM Studios. I'm Molly Bloom, and my co-host today is still not here.
[PHONE RINGING]
Oh, hello? Oh, hi, Joanne. What's that you say? The reception isn't great. Ezra, he had to go on-- he's meeting a guest with a perm? Oh. Oh, I lost her. Well, I guess he's delayed a bit. I'll just make sure we have all our listener questions ready for the episode. Here we go.
EMERSON: My name is Emerson from Medford, New Jersey, and my question is, do worms communicate with each other?
LOUISA: Hi. I'm Louisa. I live in Chicago, Illinois, and my question is, do worms sleep?
ESVIE: Hi. My name is Esvie from Bedford, Massachusetts, and my question is, why do worms come out when it rains only?
ANNA JANE: My name is Anna Jane from Maryland, and my question is, how do worms regrow when they have been torn in half?
ANNE: Hi. My name is Anne from Seattle. My question is, how do one see?
NORA: My name is Nora.
ELISE: And my name is Elise. We're from Ashland, Wisconsin.
NORA: Our question is, how do worms eat?
ELISE: And how do they poop?
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, those are such great questions. I wonder how Ezra's perm is going.
EZRA: So, Sir Wormus, what's this quest about anyway?
SIR WORMUS: Long ago, the golden worm was created by the powerful Wizard Wobblestone to help aid wormkind in keeping the planet's soil nice and healthy. He enchanted it to bestow endless delicious compost on the worthy adventurer who can seek it out. I've been studying Wizard Wobblestone's journals with our most learned bookworms, and we have solved the many riddles and clues within. The golden worm is hidden deep within the caves of mud.
EZRA: Sounds squishy.
SIR WORMUS: The journey will be long, the challenges mighty, and the mud plentiful. But fear not, we are prepared to face the dangers. Here, take this book with your handy human hands. This is the tome of worms, an enchanted book that contains all the earth wormly knowledge of Emma Sherlock, worm expert at the Natural History Museum in London.
EMMA SHERLOCK: I can tell you everything you need to know about earthworms. Just don't flip my pages too fast. It tickles.
EZRA: Well, since you mentioned it, I've been dying to know, do worms sleep?
EMMA SHERLOCK: Now earthworms don't sleep quite like we would. In fact, one of the most common earthworms is called the nightcrawler. Because, actually, it's really active during the nighttime and comes to the surface. But also, earthworms will go to sleep or hibernate when conditions aren't too right.
So actually, if it's too cold or too hot and dry, earthworms will then curl up into a ball, cover themselves in, like a mucus blanket and then will sleep out that whole time. So rather than doing day and night sleeping like we would, they might sleep for a certain number of months till things are nice for them again.
EZRA: Wow, the tome knows all, the perfect companion on our quest.
SIR WORMUS: Now, dear young Ezra, prepare yourself. It's starting to rain. And here comes the worms.
EZRA: But how? Why?
SIR WORMUS: Alas, the vibrations of the rain bring them up from underground. It just make it awkward. I have a lot of fans.
WORM 1: Sir Wormus, Sir Wormus, are you on a quest?
WORM 2: Tell us the story of your adventures.
WORM 3: Tell us the one about the bird.
EZRA: Bird? What bird?
SIR WORMUS: A harrowing tale. It was long ago, when I was only Squire Wormus. I was traveling to Castle Worm-a-Lot on a beautiful sunny day, when, out of nowhere, a dark shadow cast overhead. Suddenly, there was a great fluttering of feathers, and I found myself in the beak of a monstrous bird, 100 times bigger than me, and ready to make me its lunch.
EZRA: What did you do?
SIR WORMUS: I wriggled, and squiggled, and jiggled with all my might. And suddenly, I squirmed free. I dove under the ground and tunneled as fast as I could go. I heard the bird above me.
EZRA: Wait a second-- heard? Do you have ears? I can't see them under your helmet.
SIR WORMUS: Excellent question, my friend. I don't have ears like you do or eyes, for that matter, but I can sense vibrations through the ground that tell me when a friend or foe is near. Anyway, I got away from the bird, but I was nearly bitten in half.
EZRA: Yikes. If you were bitten in half, would that make two Sir Wormuses?
SIR WORMUS: I try not to think about that. But the tome of worms, with all the knowledge possessed by worm expert, Emma Sherlock, will surely know the answer.
EMMA SHERLOCK: I'm afraid it wouldn't make two Sir Wormuses, but it could be very, very useful for Sir Wormus. Because, actually, if the worm gets cut in half, the tail end of the worm won't form another worm, but it can twitch for quite a while afterwards.
And it makes the bird think that that's OK to go for, so they'll go for this tail end, where Sir Wormus can then escape and then happily regrow another tail. It takes a little while, but they can easily regrow a tail. In fact, sometimes, they drop their own tails just for that purpose.
SIR WORMUS: A grim tail indeed. Ha, see what I did there? Tail. Yes. OK, we must continue our journey. Farewell, friends.
WORM 4: Good luck.
WORM 5: Bye, Sir Wormus. We love you.
SPEAKER 5: Meanwhile, at Brains On headquarters.
MOLLY BLOOM: I wonder what's taking Ezra so long. Maybe I should try giving him a call.
[PHONE RINGING]
EZRA: Hi. You've reached Ezra's phone. I'm with Sir Wormus on a quest for the golden worm, and I might be underground and stuff. So leave a message, and I'll call you right back.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wait. A quest with a worm? Not a guest with a perm. That makes way more sense. Well, I guess this gives me more time to check the audio files. Well, let's listen to this one. We asked listeners to tell us what they would name a worm, and I could literally listen to these worm names all day.
SPEAKER 6: I would name a warm Jesse Ariel.
SPEAKER 7: I would name mine Slimy because worms are slimy or Stripey because they have stripes.
SPEAKER 8: Professor Squiggles Earth-eater.
SPEAKER 9: Marshall.
SPEAKER 10: Wormby. Wormy.
SPEAKER 11: Squirmy wormy.
SPEAKER 12: And if I had a pet worm, I would name him Mr. Digs.
SPEAKER 13: I think the best name for a worm is definitely Mr. Butter Socks.
SPEAKER 14: I would definitely name it Sausage because our family always names our pets after food, and worms look like little skinny sausages.
SPEAKER 15: If I had a pet worm, it will be called Wayne the worm.
MOLLY BLOOM: Wayne the worm is my new ringtone. I love it so much. I can't wait to play it for Ezra when he gets here, which should be any minute. So keep listening. Also, big thanks to Isaac, Charlotte, Bradley, Robert, Hannah, Grace, Lucia, Sophie, Sylvie, Lulu, Addie, Aya, Ellis, Caden, Sam, Yusef, Micah, and Ellie for those great name ideas.
If you love the earth as much as an earthworm loves the earth, then we've got the books for you. That's right. Marc, Sanden, and I wrote two new books all about our home planet. One is a picture book called Earth Friend Forever. It's about Earth writing a letter to its longtime pals-- us humans. Find out what happens when Earth asks us for a favor.
Our other book is called Road Trip Earth. It follows me, Marc, and Sanden, as we go on an epic Earth-venture through the core of the planet, all around the oceans, across the land, and even up into the stratosphere. Both books are available now. Just go to brainson.org/books to get your copies. And while you're at our website, you can also send us drawings of the worm quest, mystery sounds, or questions like this one.
PHILIP: Hello. My name is Philip. And my question is, how do eyebrows move?
MOLLY BLOOM: You can find the answer to that one on our new podcast moment of um. Be sure to check it out. It's a short burst of awesome information every weekday. And be sure to keep listening past our credits for the latest group to join the Brains Honor Roll. That's coming up. Stay tuned.
This is Brains On. I'm Molly, and our co-host Ezra is--
CHILD [AS RINGTONE]: (SINGING) Wayne the worm. Wayne the worm.
MOLLY BLOOM: It's Ezra calling. Ezra?
EZRA: Hi, Molly. The reception isn't great, but I just wanted to let this is taking a little longer than I anticipated.
MOLLY BLOOM: Oh, no worries.
EZRA: It's-- [MUFFLED SPEECH].
SPEAKER 5: At this very moment, our heroes, Ezra and Sir Wormus, are passing through a thick forest of trees.
EZRA: Molly? Molly? Oops, I think I lost her.
SIR WORMUS: Oh. Yes, my cell phone gets terrible service here. There's no worm-fi either.
EZRA: Well, my phone may not be working, but Sir Wormus, my ears are great, and I think someone's following us. I hear rustling in those bushes over there.
SIR WORMUS: Oh, who goes there?
EZRA: Oh, it's a squirrel.
SQUIRREL: Sir Wormus, I heard you were going on a quest to find the golden worm and get that sweet, sweet endless compost.
SIR WORMUS: Indeed. The mighty Ezra and I are on our way to the caves of mud.
SQUIRREL: Well, I'm all for more compost because that means more trees and more acorns. So I've got some advice for you both. Beware the fearsome sludge monster that guards the golden worm. He will ask you to solve his mystery sound riddle to prove your worth.
EZRA: Uh-oh, I wonder what the mystery sound will be.
SQUIRREL: Lucky for you, last week, I happened to be climbing in a tree, just above the caves of mud. And I heard the sludge monster muttering to himself. He kept making the mystery sound and wondering why nobody had ever solved it. He seemed glum.
SIR WORMUS: What did it sound like?
SQUIRREL: I'd be happy to tell you, but I need you to do me a favor first.
SIR WORMUS: A side quest. What do you think, Ezra?
EZRA: Sure, why not?
SQUIRREL: I've really been craving something good to chew on. My teeth keep on growing and growing, and I got to chomp on stuff every day to keep them from getting out of control. I was hoping you could find me a really good branch or something.
EZRA: Hey, Sir Wormus, since you sense vibrations so well, how about you climb onto some branches, and I'll tap on them. And you can tell me which one sounds like a nice, tough one for chewing.
SIR WORMUS: Wonderful idea.
[WOOD TAP]
No, too soft.
[CRUNCHING]
That one's too dry.
[HEAVY TAP]
That one's no good.
[GLASS BREAKING]
No idea what that one was.
[BRANCH CRUNCHING]
That's it. That one sounds delectable. Give it a nibble, squirrel friend, and see what you think.
SQUIRREL: Oh, yeah, that's the stuff. Thank you so much. My teeth feel better already. OK, so when I heard the sludge monster muttering his mystery sound the other day, it sounded like this.
[HISSING SOUND]
SIR WORMUS: Ezra, what do you think that might be?
EZRA: Dragging something in a crowded area?
SIR WORMUS: Well, we shall see when we find the sludge monster's lair. We must press onwards, Ezra. We're almost out of the forest, and the caves of mud lie ahead.
EZRA: I didn't realize how much of a quest was just walking through the woods.
SIR WORMUS: Pleasant, isn't it?
EZRA: Yeah, lots of time to chat. You know, I've been wondering, why are earthworms pink, not brown, or blue, or yellow. And why are you slippery and slimy?
SIR WORMUS: I have no idea. Tome, can you help my squire, Ezra?
EMMA SHERLOCK: Well, actually, they can be blue, or green, or all sorts of colors. In fact, in the Philippines, there's an earthworm that's bright blue that then has white patches with yellow circles in the middle. We call it the fried egg worm. And earthworms breathe through their skin. They don't have lungs like we do.
So actually, they have to keep very moist to be able to absorb the oxygen into their bodies. So that's why they've always covered with them slimy, mucousy stuff. Then, that's why, if you do see earthworms stranded on pavements, it's really nice to help them get back into the soil because you don't want earthworms drying out.
EZRA: I promise I'll try to scoop any worms I see on the sidewalk into some nice dirt. Hey, look, Sir Wormus, up ahead. It's the caves of mud. I don't see an opening, though. How do we get in?
SIR WORMUS: This was in the Wizard Wobblestone's journals. There's a giant boulder across the entrance.
EZRA: How do worms deal with big obstacles? I wish I could help move this boulder.
SIR WORMUS: But you can. Tome of worms, bestow the strength of a baby worm upon Ezra.
EZRA: How would that help me? Wow, I, feel so strong.
SIR WORMUS: When worms first hatch, they can push up to 500 times their body weight, not like your puny human babies.
EZRA: I'm as strong as a baby worm, proportionately. Let me have the boulder. There we go. Easy peasy. The caves of mud are open. It looks pretty slippery in there. How do I get through all that goop? Do I need special shoes or something?
SIR WORMUS: Never fear, my friend. The enchanted tome of worms will help you with that. Flip to the page on how worms squirm, and you will be given the ability to travel through mud with the greatest of ease, just like me.
EZRA: Let's see. Worm etiquette, worm dancing, worm jokes. Here we go, worm trouble.
EMMA SHERLOCK: Earthworms have two sets of muscles in their body. They're actually very, very muscular, so they can use those by contracting ones and elongating the others to, then, inch their way through the soil, aided by the fact that, if you look at earthworms really carefully, they've got little bristles.
So as one set of muscles allow them to stretch forward, they can anchor these bristles into their burrows and then go forward again with the next set of muscles. And actually, that's how they just move their way along.
EZRA: Whoa, I'm worming and squirming all over the place. This is so cool.
SIR WORMUS: Onward, we go to the deepest cave, where the golden worm is hidden.
EZRA: We made it, the deepest cave. And there's the golden worm on a pedestal, just like you said it would be.
ERIC: Hold. Who dares enter the golden worm's domain?
SIR WORMUS: It is, Sir Wormus.
EZRA: And me, Ezra. I guess that's the sludge monster?
ERIC: I am the guardian of the golden worm, the fearsome creature also known as Eric. Anyone who wishes to win the golden worm must first answer the riddle of the mystery sound. Here it is.
[HISSING SOUND]
EZRA: I'm sticking with my main guess, but I'm also thinking it's like a bunch of worms in a compost bin or something?
ERIC: This is made by humans, not worms.
EZRA: A bag of chips?
ERIC: What in nature could be making that noise?
EZRA: Leaves?
ERIC: Good. Good. And what could someone be doing to leaves to make that sound?
EZRA: Stepping on them?
ERIC: Let me check with my source.
TROY: Hi. My name is Troy, and I'm from Raleigh, North Carolina. That was the sound of me picking up and crumpling leaves. I like to crumple leaves because the sound is very satisfying.
ERIC: Stepping, crumpling. Close enough for me. You've solved my riddle. I finally get to think of a new one. Thank you. I present to you, golden worm.
EZRA: We did it, Sir Wormus.
SIR WORMUS: I couldn't have completed the quest without you, my friend. Let us hurry back to Castle Worm-a-Lot and celebrate.
EZRA: Actually, can I take a rain check? I got to run. I'm going to be late for a Brains On taping.
SIR WORMUS: Oh, but, of course, my dear Ezra. As a token of my gratitude for your help on this quest, please take the tome of worms with you.
EZRA: Really? For me?
SIR WORMUS: I know you will show the world how noble we worms can be.
EZRA: I will, Sir Wormus. I will do you proud. Goodbye.
SIR WORMUS: Goodbye, my friend. Now, let's get this party started. Anyone want to see me do the worm? It's literally the only dance move I can do.
SPEAKER 6: Brains On.
EZRA: Hi, Molly. Sorry, I'm late. But I learned so much about worms today.
MOLLY BLOOM: That's incredibly serendipitous that you should have a worm quest on the day of our taping of this episode about worms. Amazing.
EZRA: And the best part? I was gifted the enchanted tome of worms by my dear friend, Sir Wormus. And the whole adventure is recorded right here. The perks of having a magical worm book.
MOLLY BLOOM: I cannot wait to hear it.
EZRA: Worms don't sleep like we do, but they go into a hibernation when the conditions aren't right for them.
MOLLY BLOOM: When it rains, worms come up because they hear the vibration of the raindrops on the ground.
EZRA: When the earthworm is split in half, it doesn't become two new worms, but the half with the head can grow a new tail.
MOLLY BLOOM: Worms are very muscular and have little bristles that help them dig into the ground, so they can inch along.
EZRA: And I still have the strength of a baby worm. Watch.
MOLLY BLOOM: Impressive, Ezra. You can put the table down now.
EZRA: This episode of Brains On was produced by Marc Sanchez, Sanden Totten, Molly Bloom, Menaka Wilhelm, Ruby Guthrie, and our fellow Anna Goldfield.
MOLLY BLOOM: We had production help from Anna Weggel, engineering help from Joanne Griffith and Johnny Vince Evans. Our executive producer is Beth Perlman, and the executives in charge of APM Studios are Lilly Kim, Alex Shaffer, and Joanne Griffith. Many special thanks to Naomi Martitius, Grant Miller, and Rosie DuPont.
EZRA: Brains On is a nonprofit public radio program.
MOLLY BLOOM: You can support the show by buying our books, donating, or telling your friends about us.
EZRA: Head to brainson.org for more.
MOLLY BLOOM: And if you want to hear the answer to the question, what are eyebrows for? It's waiting for you right now over at the Moment of Um podcast. This list of names gets an excited eyebrow raise out of me. It's the Brains Honor Roll. These are the incredible kids who keep us going with their drawings, high fives, mystery sounds, and questions.
[LISTING HONOR ROLL]
We'll be back soon with more answers to your questions.
EZRA: Thanks for listening.
Transcription services provided by 3Play Media.
