From the brains behind Brains On, it's Smash Boom Best. The show for people with big opinions. Hi, I'm Molly Bloom, and this is Smash Boom Best, the show where we take two things, smash them together, and ask you to decide which one is best. Today's debate is an out-of-this-world throwdown between two dazzling sky spectacles. Eclipses vs. Aurora Borealis. We've got improviser writer and good luck high five podcast host Megan Wolfe here to rep the mighty moon shadowed mystery of Team Eclipses.
Oh, oh, oh. That was howling at the moon. And improviser, content creator, and fellow Good Luck High Five podcast host Maria Bartholdi will help the swirling, shimmering colors of the Northern Lights shine for Team Aurora Borealis. The Northern Lights are going to put up a fight. and eclipse the competition. See what I did there?
And here to judge it all is Lily from Victoria, British Columbia. Lily loves synchronized swimming, growing veggies on her farm, and was once approached by porpoises while paddleboarding. Hi, Lily. Hi. So, Lily.
Were the porpoises friendly? Yes, they were so cute. And I was super excited. I would also be very excited. What did they do when they approached you? Well, we were like paddleboarding and they came up and they were kind of just swimming around us and then they just swam off and it was really cool. That is so cool. So you're a synchronized swimmer. What is something people don't realize about how awesome synchronized swimming is? It's really, really, really difficult. It's very hardcore.
And I think a lot of people think it's just very, very easy, but it's really not. Yeah, I watched some of the Olympics over this past year, and it's incredible what's going on under the water. I think my favorite part is probably the... Like the lifts, the highlights, because I like being thrown in the air. Oh, so you're one of the people who gets to be thrown? Yeah. That is so fun. Do you have any advice for our debaters today? Try to just show me like lots of facts and humor and...
I really like good rebuttals. Okay. Will Lily side with Megan or Maria? Only time will tell, but first, here are the rules of the game. Every debate consists of four rounds, the declaration of greatness, the micro-round, the sneak attack, and the final six. After each round, our judge, Lily, will award points the team that impresses... And vote for whichever team you want. think one okay Megan Maria and Lily are you ready yeah let's go I'm so ready then it's time for the declaration of greatness
In this round, our debaters will present a well-crafted, immersive argument in favor of their side. Then they'll each have 30 seconds to rebut their opponent's statements. We flipped a coin, and Megan, you're up first. Tell us what makes eclipses so illegal. electrifying. Welcome back to Chit Chat with Brit Platt. I'm so thrilled to be sitting down with two pop icons, the sun and moon. Your new collaboration, Eclipse, has taken the music world by storm.
Tell me, son, what inspired your new duo? Thanks, Britt. The Moon and I have both had such great solo careers, but last year things finally aligned and made it possible for us to work together. It all started when the sun sent me her original vision for the song Hide My Light, and I fell in love with it. Who are you to hide my light? The moon only shines at night. So why are you here today?
To try and take my glow away. Of course, as the moon, my work is a little darker. Some may say moodier. You are a star. Bright from afar. No one knows I'm here whenever you were near. So I did something cruel. I stole that line like it was a jewel. Mm, chills. So you two just held a massive live show together, which drew millions of fans from around the world. With that kind of success, is there more Eclipse in our future?
We've decided for now to go back to our solo careers, but... You never know. I think in four or five years, we just might have to collaborate again. Well, I think I speak for all of us when I say I hope you do. Until then, let's enjoy the title track from Eclipse. Eclipse me because we're better together Eclipse me the world
Like the pop duo Eclipse, real solar eclipses are an awesome team-up between the sun and the moon. During an eclipse, the moon moves in front of the sun, blocking it partially or entirely. I got to experience this myself when I saw the solar eclipse on April 8th, 2024.
As I drove through New Hampshire, I saw thousands of other people set up with chairs and telescopes ready to see the eclipse. That's one of the most incredible things about eclipses. They bring people together to experience something amazing. When I saw the eclipse, I stood on a frozen lake surrounded by hills. It was the middle of the day, but suddenly the sky darkened like it was twilight and the stars came out.
Looking at the black circle where the sun used to be, I felt this incredible awe. And through that, I felt connected to all the people for thousands of years who have been scared or inspired or mystified by eclipses. More than 2,500 years ago, an eclipse actually ended a war in ancient Greece. The two kingdoms had been at war for six years, and then boom, the eclipse happened during a battle, and they stopped.
The sun! It's disappearing! It's an omen! But what does it mean? We should stop fighting and go home. My favorite kind of omen. Come on, let's get out of here. This was so silly. What were we even fighting for? Many years later, Bonnie Tyler recorded the hit song, Total Eclipse of the Heart, proving that eclipses have power everywhere from the battlefield to the recording studio. And humans aren't the only ones who notice these incredible celestial events.
During an eclipse, many animals begin their nighttime routines. Frogs and crickets sing, bees fly home to their hive, and nocturnal predators get ready to hunt. Eclipses are proof that even if you're small, you can still have a big impact. The sun is 400 times bigger than the moon, but when everything is perfectly aligned during an eclipse, even that little moon can block out something so much bigger.
Ever since I saw the solar eclipse, I've told everyone, go see one. It'll change the way you see the world. Okay, a delightful declaration that will have me never stop whispering, eclipse me. All right. Lily, what's out to you about Megan's declaration of greatness? I really liked the songs. The songs were really good. And I thought the facts about the animals starting their nighttime routine was really interesting.
All right, Maria, it is time for your rebuttal. Tell us why eclipses are overshadowed. You've got 30 seconds and your time starts now. So can I just start off by saying that seeing an eclipse is basically going where the sun don't shine and getting mooned? Does that sound like a good time to anybody? Not me. Knock, knock. Who's there? Not the sun or anything cool to see in the sky for that matter. You can't even look at it with your bare eyes. Do you want to see an eclipse?
I say you're just going through a phase. Totally predictable and boring. And? I came in under the clock there. You're so concise. All right, Maria, it is your turn. Tell us why the Aurora Borealis is the star of the sky. It was a very cold night. You know the kind, where the moonlight shimmers on the snow like diamonds and the air inside your nose freezes up. It was a night just like that when I first saw the Aurora Borealis.
Some people spend their entire lives searching for these ethereal elusive lights, but never find them. And me? I saw them completely by accident one late night when I just happened to look up. Whoa. Lights flashed across the sky, bending, twisting, and shimmering in a hypnotic celestial ballet. Imagine a soft, swirling green glow amongst the stars.
Deep blues hugging the moon. And vibrant reds popping in with a fiery flourish. And they all blended together to create a magnificent symphony of the sky. Thank you. I believe the Aurora Borealis is the most incredible sight in the natural world. These luminous light shows have bewitched humans for hundreds of years. It was actually Galileo who named them in 1619 after Aurora, the Roman goddess of dawn, and Boreas, the Greek god of the north wind.
Auroras form when tiny charged particles from the sun blast out into space at ridiculously high speeds over a million miles per hour. These space particles slam into the Earth's upper atmosphere. Most bounce right off Earth's protective magnetic field, but some particles sneak through, reacting with our atmosphere and creating Mother Nature's finest fireworks display. Isn't science beautiful? And they're not just a feast for the eyes. Auroras also make sounds.
When scientists set up recording equipment and listened to the night sky in Finland, they found some of the strongest auroras made hissing, popping, and crackling sounds. A Finnish band even put some of these sounds into one of their songs called Northern Lights. Pretty neat, huh? But that's not all. Auroras also make radio waves that can be turned into sound. How about we get a little closer and have a listen? I just so happen to have an extra guest pass for a trip aboard a spaceship.
Welcome aboard the USS Smash Boom. I'm Captain Smirk, your starship commander. Do you like my hair? A robot did it. This is the finest ship in the fleet, equipped with all the conveniences of modern-day space travel. Computer! Chocolate milk, lukewarm. Captain, Aurora Borealis, straight ahead. I'm picking up some unusual signals. Enhancing audio now. Captain, are the lights trying to communicate with us? A first contact situation. Everybody act cool.
Auroras have actually been seen on seven out of the eight planets in our solar system. The light shows on Jupiter are particularly spectacular. The Hubble telescope has captured photos of its intense auroras, which are happening constantly. Plus, they're huge! If you could visit Jupiter and see one of its aurora displays, it would stretch as far as your eyes could see, because they're bigger than our entire planet. And while auroras on Earth may last for a few hours,
On Jupiter, they never end. Incredible. Bridge selfie time. Auroras can appear and disappear in our skies in the blink of an eye. They can be mysterious and elusive. so you have to be pretty lucky to see them because there's no certainty as to when or where they're going to appear. At best, aurora hunters have two hours advance warning, and even then, the skies may stay dark.
You can predict eclipses like clockwork, but auroras don't follow anyone's schedule. So whether you marvel at their spiffy colors, their unusual and haunting sounds, or their mysterious appearances, one thing is for sure. The Aurora Borealis is a jaw-dropping, mind-blowing, utterly magical display. It's proof our universe can be both powerful and beautiful at the same time. Time to return to Earth, crew. Now.
Who wants some more chocolate milk? It's lukewarm. Okay, that declaration was transporting even before we got... On the spaceship. Oh, my goodness. Amazing. All right, Lily, what stood out to you about Maria's argument? The name. I did not know that's where the name came from, so that was really interesting. And the sounds were really cool, too. Absolutely. Megan, it is time for your rebuttal. Tell us why the Aurora Borealis is all glow and no show. You've got 30 seconds. Your time starts now.
Aurora Borealis? More like Borora Snorealis. You think seeing an Aurora is hardcore, but Maria, really? You're just a lightweight. Okay. The Aurora is fireworks? You know what else is fireworks? Fireworks are fireworks. And you're telling me it makes hissing, popping, and crackling? What, am I making popcorn in my own home? I can get those noises just by using the stove.
But you know what? At the end of this, I'm all about... And time. I mean, if you're making popcorn, can I have some? Yeah, absolutely. You can come over. Great. Me too. Yeah. It's for everybody. Ah, yes. Okay. Lily, it is time to award some points. Please give one point to the declaration of greatness that you like best and one point to the rebuttal that won you over.
You get to decide what makes a winning argument. Did one team's jokes make you giggle? Was another team's logic impeccable? Award your points, but don't tell us who they're going to. Have you made your decision? Yes I have Ooh, excellent. Maria and Megan, how are you two feeling so far? Oh, I feel great. This is all I want to do all day is sit here and talk about space. Absolutely. All right, it's time for a quick break. Dig out your shades and wide-angle lens.
And we'll be right back with more Smash Boom Best. You're listening to State of Debate, home to raging rhetoric and awe-inspiring argumentation. Hello, how are you? What's new? I'm debate champion Taylor Lincoln, and I'm here with my cheesy chum, Todd Douglas. Today's debate comes to us courtesy of my pal, Patti Provolone, when she was shopping for new record albums. Let's see.
if we can spot the problem in this musical homage to Thromage. Excuse me, do you have a section for cheesecore records? Hmm, a fellow cheesecore head. Nice. You can find them over there between the Banana Rock and the Drip Hop albums. Cool. So I guess that's where I can find the new Breeders album? As if. The breeders are totally soft cheese rock. No, true cheesecore music is only made up of hard cheese. Oh, all right, all right.
No problem. I guess I'll just take this old Red Hot Chili Pepper Jacks album then. P.U. That answer stinks worse than a wedge of Lindberger that's been sitting on the counter for a week. You said it, Todd. Classic no-true Scotsman's fallacy. That's when someone has very strict rules about what something is and argues that if some... doesn't exactly follow those rules. It's not the real thing. Well, I guess it's time to Aussie-a-go-go. Oof. Gouda one, Todd. See you next time on State of Debate.
Hey friends, Molly, Sandin, and Mark here with some very big news. Drumroll, please. We're hitting the road in search of adventure, fresh air, and you. That's right. We're going to be live at the Boulder Theater in Boulder, Colorado on Sunday, April 27th. Our science-themed live stage show takes the audience on an adventure through the brain, complete with magic tricks, dance moves, out-of-body experiences, mystery sounds, and a game show. Molly, you almost left out the most important part.
Yeah, Molly, don't forget the big party. Oh, right. After the shows, we're throwing a brain-tastic bash. Join us afterward for a VIP party where we'll play games, guess mystery sounds, pose for photos, and give as many high fives as humanly possible. Snag a spot by purchasing a VIP pass when you buy.
show ticket. Oh, that reminds me. I've got to start training. These hands aren't going to high five by themselves. Good idea. And remember, Spots are limited, so grab your tickets today at BrainsOn.org slash events. Brains on Universe is a family of podcasts for kids and their adults. Since you're a fan of Smash Boom Best, you'll love the other shows in our universe. Come on, let's explore. It's Alien Exercise Hour! While I stretch my snoodles and bounce on my trampolini, I'll listen to a new...
I'm going to try Forever Ago, the best history podcast ever. To understand why anyone would think a TV show could change the world, we need to go way back. To America in the 1960s. Rock and roll was pretty new. Ford released the iconic Mustang muscle. Come back here, podcast. Must listen to Forever Gold. Listen to Forever A Go wherever you get your podcasts. Smash. Boom. Best.
You're listening to Smash Boom Best. I'm your host, Molly Bloom. And I'm your judge, Lily. And we love getting debate suggestions from our listeners. Take a listen to this slithery debate idea from Kaemi. My name is Kaimi. I live in Hawaii. And my debate idea is King Cobra versus Python. Ooh, King Cobra versus Python. That's a debate I wouldn't want to. Piss.
We'll check back in at the end of this episode to see which side Ka'emi thinks should win. And now, it's back to our debate. Eclipses versus Aurora Borealis. That's right. And it's time for round two, the micro round. For the micro round challenge, each team has prepared a creative response to a prompt they received in advance. For Megan and Maria, the prompt was Silicon Valley.
Debaters, for this challenge, you're the CEO of a startup presenting your brand new topic-inspired app to an audience. What's it all about? Megan went first last time, so Maria, you're up. Give us your Aurora Borealis-themed app idea. Tired of sitting home at night bored out of your gourd? Stuck folding socks and daydreaming about how exciting it would be to fold more socks?
Our biggest adventure these days, a trip from the couch to the fridge. Guess I'll just eat this bottle of ketchup. Be bored no more with Aurora Anywhere. With our miraculous teleportation technology, you'll go from your couch to watching the sky light up like a neon disco under the northern lights.
No more waiting for overpriced ride chairs or trudging through airport security. Aurora Anywhere sends you on a cosmic field trip by simply disintegrating your atoms and putting them back together again, hopefully in the right order. Uh, wait. Is this teleportation technology safe? Probably! Before Aurora Anywhere, the best vacation I'd ever taken was to Iowa. Iowa! Can you believe it?
Now, I can show my friends photos of me dancing under the lights in Finland. Take that, Korn. Thanks to Aurora Anywhere, I've communed with nature in Alaska. Sure, my toes are where my nose used to be. Wait, is this permanent? Again, probably. With Aurora Anywhere, you can enjoy nature's fireworks anytime. And it won't cost you an arm and a leg. Aurora anywhere may actually cost you an arm and a leg due to untested teleportation technology. Aurora anywhere download today.
Maybe worth it, I think. Oh, yeah, for sure. Roars are amazing. That's a risk I'll take. All right, Megan, now it's your turn to tell us about your Eclipse-themed app idea. From the company that brought you Sunsets, the app for when you need it to be dark, comes a brand new innovation, Eclipse-It. With Eclipse-It, the moon can cover for you anytime you need it.
Oh, no! It's the first day of school and I have a huge zit on my face. Eclipse it! Wow! No one can see my zit with the moon right in front of it. Now they'll focus on my great back-to-school outfit instead. Thanks, Moon! I spilled fruit punch on the couch! My parents are gonna be so mad! Eclipse it! Whoa! The moon totally covered up that stain. Plus, my dad was really excited to get to see all the lunar craters up close. Shoot! I tripped and fell at the dance recital.
I'm never going to forget this. Eclipse it! The moon went right in front of me, and no one saw me fall down. Thanks! Eclipse it! Little mistakes shouldn't get in the way of a great day. So next time you need a hand. Declips it! Okay, very useful and very adorable. Lily, what did you like about Megan and Maria's micro rounds?
They're both very funny. What do you think about using those apps? Do you think they'd be useful? Oh, yeah, totally. Wonderful. Well, it is time to award a point. Please award a point, but don't tell us who it's going to. Have you made your decision? The decision is made. Fantastic. Then it's time for our third round, the super stealthy sneak attack. This is our improvised round where debaters have to respond to a challenge on the spot. Today's sneak attack is called Oscar-winning moment.
Debaters, we want you to pretend your side is the star of a fantastic, dramatic movie and deliver the award-winning monologue from that movie. Okay, we're going to start with Megan. Let's hear your Eclipse-themed Oscar-winning moment. All right. This is the impassioned monologue of the...
someone who's been like thrust into leadership that they weren't anticipating having. Absolutely. So they're just going to have to, you know, they're going to have to try to rise to the occasion as best they can. All right. The sun may be gone, but this is our time to shine. We can't see where we are or where we are going. We might march directly into the sea. But we will march into the sea with purpose.
With the knowledge that today we are the ones, despite our size, who shall emerge victorious against the great forces that stand against us. To the sun, no! So, my friends, I say... To the moon instead. Oh, I am stirred. I found that totally rousing. I'm ready to march into the sea as well. All right, Maria, it is your turn. Let's hear your Aurora Borealis.
themed Oscar winning moment. Okay, great. This movie is Titanic 2. And it occurs out on the ocean when the Titanic is sinking. The only difference is that there's Aurora Borealis. overhead in the sky as the ship is going down. And this is a speech made by... Kate Winslet. What's her character's name? Rose. Rose. This is Rose's speech on the bow of the ship to Leo DiCaprio. What's his character's name? Jack. Jack. You know a lot about this film.
Look, they just wanted to cash in on the Titanic name, and they got nominated for an Oscar for it, so that's the good news. Okay, as the ship's going down. Jack, hold my hand here on the bow of the ship and look up overhead. Do you see? It's not the blackness and darkness of space in the sky. No, it's the beautiful rainbow of colors that connects us all. I know that we'll make it through together. Because of the hope I see overhead in front of us now. Take my hand check.
and get on this tiny little wooden door. It can hold both of us. Science has actually gone back and proven that. Stay with me and we'll survive and create a beautiful life together. Beautiful. I mean, I really think it's really bold that Titanic 2 gave people the ending to Titanic 1 that they always wanted. Yes. Yeah, and it is true. Science has proven that they both could have survived on that door. That is beautiful. See ya. roars inspiring us to greatness. Lily, it is time to award a point.
Have you made your decision? I sure have. Wonderful. It is time for our final round. The final six. In this round, each team will have just six words to sum up the glory of their side. Maria, let's hear your six words for the celestial brilliance of the Aurora Borealis. Aurora's color skies. Eclipses. Just dim. Very nice. Okay, Megan, it's your turn. Give us your six words on the effervescent extraordinary eclipse. Light is dark. Day.
is night. Ooh, another excellent final six. Lily, I'm sorry to say, but only one of them can get this final point for the final six. It's a tough decision. But have you made it? I sure have. Okay, are you ready to crown one team the Smash Boom Best? Yep. Okay, drumroll please. And the winner is... Aurora Borealis. I was not expecting that, I must say. But I'm honored. Thank you. Me in the skies. Thank you, Lily. So, Lily, was there a moment that, you know, sealed the deal for Arvoros?
Honestly, I really liked the Declaration of Greatness. That was really good. Excellent work. It was very close, though. Was it, like, tied to the end, pretty much? Yeah. Oof. As close as close can be. I know Megan's eclipse journey that she went on last summer was very cool to hear about it because I know it was just such a magical moment. And I wish I could have seen it because it just sounds awesome.
Maria, I should have known that you would come prepared with a pun-laden takedown of my declaration of greatness. And also, I feel like the Aurora embodies your personality of taking a very... normal sky and making it very lovely. Aww.
Well, that is it for today's debate battle. Lily-crowned Aurora Boreal is the Smash Boom Best, but what about you? Head to smashboom.org and vote to tell us who you think won. Smash Boom Best is brought to you by Brains On and APM Studios. It's produced by me, Molly Bloom. We had engineering help from Derek Ramirez and Paul Saunders with sound design by Anna Wegel. Our editors are Shayla Farzan and Sandin Totten with fact-checking by
Rebecca Rand. And we had production help from the rest of the Brains on Universe team. Rosie DuPont. Rachel Breeze. Anna Goldfield. Nico Gonzalez-Whistler. Ruby Guthrie. Lauren Humpert. Joshua Ray. Mark Sanchez. And Charlotte Traver.
Executive producer is Beth Perlman, and the APM Studios executives in charge are Chandra Kavati and Joanne Griffith. Our announcer is Marley Feuerwerker Otto, and we want to give a special thanks to Austin Cross, Taylor Kaufman, Will Roberts, Coco, and Luna. Megan, is there anyone you'd like to give a shout-out to?
today? My cat. Her name is Bernadette. Aw, thanks Bernadette. How about you, Maria? Any special shout outs? I'll give a shout out to my two cats, Moxon and Lear. Oh, have they met ever? No. Wow. I think it would. I think it would be chaos. And how about you, Lily? Any special thanks or shout outs?
Yeah, I want to shout out my siblings because they love this podcast and they convinced me to be a judge. So, yeah. What are their names? Silas, Lucy, and Wesley. Thanks, guys. Before we go, let's check in and see who Kaemi thinks should win. the King Cobra vs. Python debate. I think Python would win because it can swallow the King Cobra whole.
Smash Boom Best is a nonprofit public radio program. If you're between the ages of 13 and 18 and you'd like to be a judge, or if you're any age and you have an idea for a knockdown to rag out debate, head to smashboom.org slash contact and drop us a line. And make sure to sign up for the Brains on Universe newsletter for bonus activities, reading recommendations, and more. We'll be back with a new smash boom best debate battle next week. Tag versus hide and seek.
Bye. See ya. Bye, everybody. That's goodbye in Welsh. Oh, very nice. Eclipse it Eclipse it Eclipse it