02x19 - Potatoes on Mars / Bortron Leprechaun

[bunniefuu]

[together] Ready! Jet! Go!

- ♪ Jet Propulsion ♪

♪ That's his name ♪

♪ Jet Propulsion ♪

♪ He'll rocket to fame ♪

♪ When he arrived, he created a buzz ♪

♪ 'Cause there was no house ♪

♪ And then there was, he said ♪

- ♪ People of Earth! You ain't seen nothing yet! ♪

♪ I'm from Bortron , and my name is Jet! ♪

- ♪ Jet Propulsion ♪

♪ That's his name ♪

♪ He looks like us ♪

♪ But he isn't the same ♪

- ♪ I'm a space tripper and a galaxy crosser ♪

♪ My parents brought me here in a flying saucer ♪

- ♪ And just to prove it was a fact ♪

♪ He flew them out to space and back ♪

♪ Jet Propulsion ♪

[spaceship whirring]

- ♪ Jet Propulsion ♪

[together] Ready! Jet! Go!

- ♪ He showed up, and now it's a blast ♪

♪ Looks like the future really got here fast ♪

- ♪ Nice to meet you, human race ♪

♪ Tell me all about the place ♪

- ♪ Jet Propulsion! ♪

- ♪ Jet Propulsion! ♪

- ♪ Jet Propulsion! ♪

all: Ready! Jet! Go!

[upbeat music]

♪ ♪

- Ah, potatoes,

one of my favorite Earthie words, and things.

Think of what you can make with them.

- Right? Mashed potatoes...

- Hash brown potatoes.

- Don't forget French fries.

- Mmm, can't wait!

So, when do the actual "potatoes" show up?

- They grow under the plants, Jet, down in the dirt.

[gasps] Found one!

- Whoa, Mindy, that was great. - Wow!

- You know what's cool about growing things like this?

- That someday, they're gonna be French fries?

- No. I was just reading about the plan

to send humans to Mars someday.

- What does have to do with French fries?

- Well, if we're gonna survive there,

we'll have to grow on our food.

- Yep, otherwise we'd have to bring all our food from Earth.

- So it's good that we're learning

how to grow our own food.

I may have to do that someday,

when I lead a team of astronauts

to go live on Mars.

- So, will the astronauts just plant a garden,

like we're doing?

- [sighs] It's not that easy.

Earth plants probably would have

a really hard time on Mars. - Why?

- Well, for one thing,

every night, it gets super cold,

much colder than Earth... - [squeaks]

- And who knows what Martian soil is like?

- I bet it's different from this nice, brown Earth soil.

- Ooh, comparing.

I love this idea of comparing

our Earth garden to a Mars garden.

I'm ready to fly up there right now!

both: Yes! - Wait, I said,

"Who knows what Martian soil is like?"

I didn't say, "Let's go to Mars."

- Exactly!

And if we go to Mars and plant potatoes,

we can find out. - Yay!

We're going to grow potatoes on Mars!

And maybe make French fries?

Or, wait, Mars fries?

- But-- - Sean...

♪ These potatoes are doing good ♪

♪ Like an Earthie potato should ♪

♪ But we may live on Mars someday ♪

♪ And it's million miles away ♪

♪ We must grow these potatoes there ♪

♪ Though there's almost no air ♪

♪ As we colonize the planets ♪

♪ Man, it's buggin' me ♪

♪ I've got to know ♪

[crowd cheering]

♪ Can we get something to grow? ♪

[rock music playing]

♪ Like potatoes on Mars ♪

[soft piano music playing]

- ♪ Wait, Jet ♪

♪ Can't we just read a book? ♪

♪ Find the answers we need online? ♪

both: ♪ Oh, Sean,

♪ It's more fun to go and look ♪

♪ Just imagine the answers we'll find ♪

- ♪ Come on ♪

♪ Let's hop in the wagon ♪

♪ Draggin' ♪

♪ Your feet will only spoil the show ♪

[rock music playing]

♪ Sean, you just got to go ♪

♪ ♪

♪ You got to go to Mars ♪

[soft piano music playing]

- [sighs]

♪ Guess I'm going to Mars ♪

[crowd cheering]

[wagon honks]

- Did I just hear Sean singing about going to Mars?

- Yes, he was.

- Well, that's wonderful.

- Thanks. I sing a lot in the shower.

[all cheer]

- What are you waiting for, Sean-zo?

We're going to Mars! Hop in! - [squeaking]

- My very first time on Mars! I'm so excited.

This means a new sticker for my helmet.

- But, come on,

you don't have a downtown sticker yet either,

or a gas station--

- ♪ Five, four, three, two, one ♪

♪ Doors are shut, engines on ♪

♪ Everybody in their place? ♪

♪ Let's go into outer space! ♪

all: Ready! Jet! Go!

[Sean screaming]

[adventurous music]

[jet engines whooshing]

♪ ♪

There it is, Mars, the red planet.

♪ ♪

[all cheer] - Okay, you guys,

we have a ticking clock here.

Remember, by nightfall,

it's gonna be degrees colder than it is now.

- Right. Let's grow some potatoes!

Here are my plants. Sunspot brought two.

Wait, where's Sunspot?

all: Sunspot!

[electric guitar music playing]

♪ ♪

all: Oh! Hey, Boop!

- [chirping]

- Excellent question, Boop.

We're on Mars to try and grow potatoes.

- [whirring]

[laughing]

- Jet, why is Boop laughing?

- Boop says, "Good luck with that."

There's almost no atmosphere,

and it gets really cold on Mars too.

- That's pretty much exactly what I said,

on Earth, sweet Earth.

[light music]

- [whirring]

- Eek! They're already wilting.

- Why?

♪ ♪

- Hm... too cold and not enough air to breathe.

- But we're breathing okay.

- That's because we're safe

inside our space suits and helmets.

- Yeah. Remember? They keep the air inside.

But the potato plants don't have spacesuits.

- Ah! Then let's get 'em some air, quick.

To the saucer! - [whirring]

- Well... that didn't go so hot.

- Are you kidding? It went great!

We experimented and found out

that Earth potatoes don't like the Martian atmosphere

- So, how will future astronauts,

like me, grow our own food on Mars?

- Hey, why not build a greenhouse for potato plants?

- A greenhouse?

What's a greenhouse? - [chatters]

- They're structures made of glass to let the sunlight in.

- But they keep the air closed up inside,

so it can be warm. - What a great idea, Sydney.

A greenhouse can keep a nice, warm atmosphere for the plants.

- Especially useful here on Mars.

- So, a greenhouse

is kinda like a spacesuit for a plant.

- Exactly. It keeps the air inside,

and because it lets the sunlight through,

it also keeps the air warm.

- But why is it called a greenhouse?

- Oh! Because plants grow there, and plants are green?

- What an excellent guess, Jet. Oh! Yes, Sunspot.

And another opportunity for a song.

[upbeat rock music]

♪ Say your taters ain't growing ♪

♪ 'Cause it feels like it's snowing ♪

♪ And the atmosphere is freezing ♪

♪ Trying to breathe and you're just wheezing ♪

- ♪ You thought maybe later ♪

♪ You'd have French fried potaters ♪

♪ But your taters can't take root ♪

♪ 'Cause they need a spacesuit ♪

♪ Poor little tubers ♪

♪ ♪

all: ♪ Get growing ♪

♪ Here's what I know ♪

♪ Build a greenhouse and let the Sun show ♪

♪ Keep the air warm so no icy winds blow ♪

♪ In a greenhouse, your green stuff will grow ♪

♪ Whoa ♪

♪ Get growing ♪

♪ That gets it done ♪

♪ A green greenhouse to capture the Sun ♪

♪ Get growing ♪

♪ That's what I know ♪

♪ Build a greenhouse and green stuff will grow ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Whoa ♪

all: Wow...

- Amazing greenhouse.

[all inhale deeply]

all: Ah...

- Nice, warm greenhouse air.

- Mm-hmm. I connected us up to the saucer.

- Neat! Thanks, Mom.

- Huh. So, I guess, to be scientific,

the next step would be to plant the potato plants

in this Martian soil. - Right.

They've got air now, and it's nice and warm.

But how will they do, once they're planted?

- Why? How is this dirt different

from the dirt on Earth?

- We'll find out.

- There. Some of the plants in the Earth soil,

and some in the Martian soil.

- Add a little water...

Now let's see how they're doing.

[slow music]

Oh, no. Are the plants wilting again?

both: Why? - Hold on a sec.

I'll do an analysis of the Martian soil in my lab.

[suction noises]

Huh... Apparently,

the soil on Mars is different from Earth.

It's kinda... saltier.

And Earth plants don't like growing in it.

- Really?

Not even with warm air and all the water plants want?

Wow, I feel for these potatoes. [organ music playing]

♪ Once long ago ♪

♪ Back on the Earth ♪

♪ A little potato plant stood ♪

[light guitar music playing]

♪ Then Sean told us how the Mars astronauts ♪

♪ Would have to grow their own food ♪

♪ So we jumped in our saucer and came here ♪

♪ And we tried to make potatoes grow ♪

♪ It may seem like it's all just the same here ♪

♪ But let me tell you emphatically, no ♪

all: ♪ Check out that potato ♪

♪ My potato changed ♪

♪ This Martian soil just doesn't suit it ♪

all: ♪ Look at that potato ♪

♪ My potato changed ♪

♪ Looking like I'm gonna have to uproot it ♪

all: ♪ Oh, strange Martian changes ♪

- ♪ Out here, the Sun is tiny and pale ♪

♪ ♪

all: ♪ No air or water ♪

- ♪ And it's cold enough to freeze your tail ♪

all: ♪ Check out that potato ♪

♪ My potato changed ♪

all: ♪ Gonna have to replant ♪

♪ And reroot and reboot it ♪

♪ Check out my potato ♪

all: ♪ My potato changed ♪

♪ Seeing changes in those ♪

♪ Potatoes ♪

♪ ♪

- So, could there be life on Mars?

- Well, there could be.

- But it sure helps if we bring the living things.

- And bring everything else we need to take care of 'em.

- I think these potatoes would truly be happier

where they came from. - Yeah!

Let's take 'em back and plant 'em in Jet's garden.

all: Excelsior!

- ♪ As we colonize the planet ♪

[rock music playing]

♪ Man, I'm thinking that we still don't know ♪

♪ ♪

all: ♪ Can we get something to grow? ♪

♪ ♪

all: ♪ Like potatoes on Mars ♪

♪ ♪

[soft string music]

- [gulping]

[gasps]

Hey, Sydney, Sean, Mindy, come quick!

[ecstatic grunting]

- What is it, Jet? - Look!

There's a big, giant slide in the sky,

made of different colored lights!

- Jet, you're silly. That's a rainbow.

- Uh, a rainbow?

- Yeah, they happen when it's rainy and sunny

at the same time. - Huh, that's weird.

It doesn't seem to be made of rain,

and it doesn't really look like a bow.

- Well, another meaning for bow is a curve,

like a bow that shoots arrows.

- [squeaking]

- Ah, I see.

Anyway, I can't wait to go up

and ride that giant rainbow slide!

Let's take my saucer and fly up there.

We can all slide down the big rainbow slide together!

- Uh, Jet,

riding a rainbow slide is impossible.

- Impossible? Why?

- Well, rainbows,

you can't actually touch 'em or hold 'em

or slide down 'em. - Huh...

What are they made of then?

- I don't know what they're made of.

It's a mystery. - Oh! I love mysteries!

- Well, I know how to solve it.

"My Big Book of Rainbows."

- Wow, Sean.

Do you have a "Big Book" of everything?

- Not yet, but someday,

I hope to complete my big book library.

Huh, let's see here...

Oh, it says that rainbows happen

when light shines through water.

That's why you see them when the Sun comes out,

and when there's also some rain.

- It says a rainbow is just water droplets,

with the Sun shining through 'em.

Cool!

- [gasps] Look! It's brighter than ever!

- Do they always come in those colors?

- Yep, they always have the same colors,

in the same order:

red, orange, yellow, green,

blue, indigo, and violet.

- Whoa... So beautiful.

So magical! - You're right.

Earthies have thought rainbows were magical for ages.

Hold on, I've got a book too.

Here's a great make-believe story

that says you can find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

- Ooh! A pot of gold? [jet engines whoosh]

- At the end of the rainbow?

- Yeah, but it's really hard to find.

- And if you find

a little green man called a "leprechaun,"

he'll tell you where the treasure is.

- Really? That's so cool!

- What? A little green man?

Called a leprechaun?

Will help me find a treasure?

Ha! These Earth stories just keep getting better and better.

Is there a picture of the, uh, leprechaun?

[gasps] both: A leprechaun!

Oh, oh, oh, I wanna meet one of these guys immediately.

- Jet, remember the part where I said

the story's make-believe?

- Uh-huh. How much of it's make-believe?

- All of it. - [chatters]

- So that means that

leprechauns aren't real.

- [laughs] Well, it's such a great idea,

it should be real.

I still wanna meet a leprechaun at the end of the rainbow.

Let's do it!

- You know, it's a pretty funny coincidence

that we're talking about leprechauns

on St. Patrick's Day.

- [squeaks] - Huh, I agree.

It's another fantastic Earthie holiday.

You get to eat "corn of beef and cabbage,"

whatever that is,

and everyone has to wear the green,

or they'll get pinched...

[gasps] Maybe by one of these leprechauns!

- I always wear green. I'm fine.

- Oh, and I've got my green birthday pin,

so I'm fine too.

So that leaves...

[laughter]

Pinch, pinch, pinch, pinch, pinch.

Pinch, pinch, pinch... - [squeaks]

- Pinch, pinch, pinch, pinch, pinch.

[upbeat music]

- [squeaking] - Ha-ha!

[Sunspot squeals]

♪ ♪

Pinch! You're it!

[laughing]

What a wacky Earth holiday.

- You Propulsions really like our holidays, don't you?

Look, your dad's painting the roof green.

- Oh, yeah, come and see!

[slow guitar music]

- Uh, Mr. Propulsion?

- Oh, hello, kids! [chuckles]

And a very merry St. Patrick's to ye.

Be gosh and be garter. all: Thanks!

- What are you doing? - Painting the roof.

Normally, I'd be mowing it,

but since it's the Earth holiday

St. Patrick's Day,

I'm painting it green.

- Uh... why?

- It is my understanding

that our roof needs to be wearing the green,

or else the house will get pinched.

- Uh, actually, your house will be fine.

I promise. You don't have to paint it green.

- Oh, whew! Eh, that's a relief.

I still had a whole lot more roof to cover.

Oh--

[high-pitched ringing]

- [squeaks]

- Oop--sorry, Sunspot!

You're gonna need a bath to wash that off.

[energetic music]

- Wow, Sunspot really hates baths.

[whooshes]

- Okay. Jet, the story says

leprechauns can be found at the end of a rainbow.

And get this, if you catch the leprechaun,

he can grant you any wish you want.

- [laughs]

This is gonna be fantastic!

Okay, here's the plan.

I get up in the sky in the saucer,

chase the rainbow to wherever it ends,

find a leprechaun, catch him,

and get my free wish.

- [sighs] That plan--

- I know, I know, what a great plan, right?

So, you get just one wish?

- Apparently, but it's just made-up.

- Right, not real.

- Right, right, right, not real.

I just want to find the end of the rainbow,

and meet a leprechaun.

- Hmm, maybe you can catch a rainbow.

It's worth a try. Can I come with you?

- Sure. - [giggling]

- Okay, good luck, Jet.

I'll stay here with Sean.

- Oh, perfect. Here's a walkie-talkie.

I'll call you if I need any scientific rainbow advice.

Ready, co-pilot Mindy?

- Ready. Let's chase some rainbows!

both: Excelsior!

- [laughs]

There's the rainbow, and it's bigger than ever!

- We must be getting close.

Ha-ha!

[laughs]

[quirky music]

♪ ♪

Hmm...

♪ ♪

Huh...

Ah... Almost got it.

- Wait a minute,

this is weird.

No matter how fast we fly,

we never get to the rainbow.

- You're right.

We don't seem to be catching it.

We still can't touch it or climb on it.

- You can't even tell where it ends,

'cause its bottom just keeps moving

while we chase it.

Hey, rainbow!

Stop!

- Hmm, we need answers.

- Yeah, science answers.

- Did someone say science answers?

- Oh! Hey, Sean-zo.

- Jet, the books says rainbows are forever moving as you move,

and you can never catch 'em.

Hmm, maybe we should've read this page first.

- We can never catch 'em?

Wow! That just makes me

wanna chase the rainbow even harder!

- Yeah!

Whoo-hoo!

- Oh! Looks like it's reached that clearing

in the woods ahead.

- Maybe the saucer is scaring the rainbow away.

- I bet you're right. I'll put it down,

and we can sneak up on it from here.

- Uh, Sean, what are you doing?

- According to the "Big Book,"

rainbows are really made of light.

Sunlight gets broken up into lots of different colors

by tiny droplets of water.

- Okay, but if the colors come from sunlight,

maybe we don't need a flashlight.

We've got the Sun right here in the sky.

[soft piano music]

- Hey, yeah.

Now we just need to somehow add water.

[water patters]

♪ ♪

both: [gasp] The sprinkler!

♪ ♪

both: Hmm...

- Okay, we last saw the rainbow going in this direction.

Come on.

[slow, stealthy music]

Hmm...

♪ ♪

- Jet, do you see it?

- Hmm, I think the rainbow is hiding

right behind these bushes.

And that means...

- Also a little green...

- Wish granting...

both: Leprechaun!

[shushes]

One, two, three... grab him!

- Ooh! Ooh! - Oh--oh--whoa!

I got it! Oh!

- [squeaks] - Whoa...

- [chattering]

[both gasp]

[Riverdance music]

- Wow, I found the famous green leprechaun,

who, for some reason, is tap-dancing!

Oh, Mr. Leprechaun, I'm so excited.

Now you grant me my one fondest wish.

Ah, St. Patrick's Day.

What a great Earthie holiday.

- [squeaking] - Okay...

what should I wish for?

Hmm... Every marshmallow in the world?

No.

Oh! A big swimming pool full of marshmallows?

- [squeaking] - [groans] I can't decide.

There are too many great things to wish for.

[sighs] I wish Sunspot was here.

He could help me decide. - [squeaks]

- [gasps] Sunspot?

Great to see you.

Wait, you mean you aren't a leprechaun?

- [giggles] Jet, you silly.

That's Sunspot. - [gasps] I got my wish!

I wished that Sunspot was here,

and the leprechaun turned into him.

Ha! What a great magical Earthie holiday!

♪ Ha dih-dah-dah dih-dah-la dah-doo ah-ha-ha... ♪

Uh, hey, Sunspot, you're covered in green paint.

We need to give you a bath. - [anxious barking]

- Hey--[grunts]--come on, boy. Back in the saucer.

Don't worry, Sunspot.

I'll think of a way to make it a fun bath this time.

You'll love it, I promise.

♪ ♪

[jet engines whooshing]

- Jet, Mindy, you're just in time.

- We found a way to make a rainbow

right in the backyard. - You did?

- See? The water from the sprinkler

looks like a rainbow when the Sun shines through it.

- See, Sunspot? I told you I'd come up with

a fun way to wash the paint off.

It's not a bath.

It's a rainbow dance!

- [squeaking ecstatically]

[squeaks]

[all cheer] - So fun!

- Yeah! - This is awesome.

- St. Patrick's Day,

best Earthie holiday ever!

- [squeaks] - My green birthday pin?

So that leaves...

Pinch, pinch, pinch! [laughs]

[all cheering]

- Did you ever wonder what it'd be like

if you could see in the dark?

Hi, I'm astronomer Amy Mainzer.

And with this infrared camera, you can.

Well, what is infrared?

Infrared is a type of light,

just like the visible light that your eyes can see,

except when we look at things with infrared light,

we're actually seeing their heat.

Astronomers love infrared light,

because it lets us see the universe

in a whole new way.

Allow me to demonstrate.

With visible light,

if I hold up this black plastic garbage bag,

you can't see me, and I can't see you,

but infrared light goes right through it.

In the same way, astronomers can use

infrared light to see right through dust.

For example, we can use it to look at stars

that are just beginning to form

in the centers of very dense dust clouds.

But infrared light has its limits.

You can't use it for everything.

For example, I can see right through

this piece of clear plastic with my eyes,

but infrared light is completely blocked by it.

We can also use infrared light

to tell the temperatures of things,

like these two cups.

With visible light,

these two cups look exactly the same,

but with infrared light,

you can tell that this one has cold water in it,

and this one has hot water.

So the next time you go out at night

and look up at the dark sky, just remember,

if you could see in infrared,

you'd be seeing things in a whole new light.

- ♪ Jet Propulsion ♪

[together] Ready! Jet! Go!

[upbeat music]

♪ ♪

- Jet Propulsion! - Jet Propulsion!

- Jet Propulsion!

[together] Ready! Jet! Go!