Mars vs. Saturn: a celestial debate

Summary

Smash Boom Best: Mars vs. Saturn – A Celestial Debate

Episode Release Date: November 14, 2024

Introduction

In this episode of Smash Boom Best, hosted by Molly Bloom, listeners are treated to a stellar showdown between two mighty planets: Mars and Saturn. Representing Team Mars is Sandon Totten, while Mark Popinchock takes up the mantle for Team Saturn. Coralie from Georgia serves as the judge, evaluating each argument to determine which planet reigns supreme.

---

Declaration of Greatness

The debate kicks off with the "Declaration of Greatness," where each debater presents a compelling case for their chosen planet.

• Sandon Totten (Team Mars):

  Sandon begins with a humorous attempt to personify Mars by introducing "Mars (God)" (00:16). However, he swiftly redirects the focus to the planet itself. Highlighting Mars' proximity to Earth, he mentions, "Mars is one of the closest planets to Earth. It's like our special red neighbor. Humans are fascinated with Mars, and one of our most ambitious goals is flying there" ([05:35]). He emphasizes Mars' potential for scientific discovery, including the study of its red sand dunes, the largest volcano in the solar system, and the intriguing possibility of past or present microscopic life forms. Sandon also ties Mars to popular culture, noting its significant presence in science fiction, such as in War of the Worlds and The Martian.

  Notable Quote:

  "What if we discovered that Earth wasn't the only place in the solar system with living things? Mind blown, right?" ([06:19])

• Mark Popinchock (Team Saturn):

  Mark passionately champions Saturn, focusing on its majestic rings and abundant moons. He declares, "Saturn has the rings to ring every bell. Saturn is just amazing" ([11:11]). Mark delves into the historical significance of Saturn's rings, their icy composition, and the planet's impressive weather phenomena, including the famous hexagonal storm at its north pole. He also highlights Saturn's vast number of moons—over 140—which add to its grandeur and complexity.

  Notable Quote:

  "Saturn is the unpassable giant of gas, the one, the only, Saturn." ([11:11])

Judge’s Feedback: After the initial presentations, Coralie commends both debaters for their thorough and engaging arguments. She appreciates Sandon's enthusiasm for Mars' influence on science and fiction, as well as Mark's detailed explanation of Saturn's unique features, particularly its rings and moons ([09:39]; [15:03]).

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Micro Round: Spa Day Inspiration

In the "Micro Round," each team creatively envisions a spa day inspired by their respective planet.

• Mark Popinchock (Team Saturn):

  Mark envisions a luxurious "Saturn-Inspired Spa," leveraging the diverse environments of Saturn's moons. He describes:

  "Need to Cool off or sit in a steamy sauna. Head to the moon Enceladus, where you can cool yourself on the icy surface. Then ride a geyser down to a heated saltwater ocean conveniently located under 10 miles of ice, a water park and a spa" ([22:32]).

  He also introduces "Titan," where lakes are filled with methane and ethane, offering a unique hydration experience:

  "Try Saturn's moon Titan, where instead of boring old water, the lakes are filled with beautifying methane and ethane" ([22:57]).

• Sandon Totten (Team Mars):

  Sandon presents "Red Planet Oasis," a Martian-themed spa designed to rejuvenate:

  "Find priceless amenities like our galactic mineral bath, filled with ample amounts of magnesium, aluminum, titanium, and iron. Or scrub away your troubles with our sandstone massage" ([24:13]).

  He emphasizes therapies inspired by Mars' landscape, such as volcanic clay mud wraps and rover rain showers:

  "Bask in the rejuvenating powers of our popular Martian mineral mud wrap... Step into our rover rain shower, which delicately cleanses your weary skin with a cascade of polar permafrost ice crystals" ([24:13]).

Judge’s Feedback: Coralie is impressed by the creativity and thematic consistency in both spa concepts. She highlights the luxurious appeal of Sandon's "Red Planet Oasis" and appreciates Mark's innovative use of Saturn's moons to offer diverse spa experiences ([26:19]).

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Sneak Attack: The Ol' Switcheroo

This improvised round challenges debaters to modify specific words on the spot, testing their quick thinking and adaptability.

• Sandon Totten (Team Mars):

  Sandon faces the challenge of replacing every "S" in Saturn-related words with an "M," turning "Saturn" into "Matern":

  "Matern is named after the Roman God Matern... Modernalia was a whole week of celebrations... Celebrate it every week on the best day of the week, Matter Day or really Mattern Day" ([28:12]).

  Despite the difficulty, Sandon maintains his composure and delivers his modified statements with humor and precision.

• Mark Popinchock (Team Saturn):

  Mark adapts by substituting every "M" in Mars-related words with an "S," changing "Mars" to "Sars":

  "Sars, the planet has so much to offer... Imagine how such it would change the world to discover Earth isn't the only place with living soothing things" ([29:08]).

  Mark handles the challenge adeptly, integrating the substitutions seamlessly into his argument.

Judge’s Feedback: Coralie thoroughly enjoys the debaters' performances in this round, noting their ability to maintain clarity and humor despite the word alterations. She gives points for creativity and resilience under pressure ([29:46]).

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Final Six: Six-Word Summary

In the final segment, each team has six words to encapsulate their planet's essence.

• Mark Popinchock (Team Saturn):

  "Beautiful rings. Most moons pick Saturn." ([30:02])

• Sandon Totten (Team Mars):

  "Robots, water, life. Question mark. This rock rocks." ([30:12])

Judge’s Decision: Coralie deliberates and ultimately awards the victory to Team Mars. She cites the evocative final six words and the captivating potential for water and life on Mars as pivotal factors in her decision ([30:45]; [31:10]).

Notable Interactions: Post-debate, both Sandon and Mark express mutual respect for each other's arguments. Sandon admires Mark's representation of Saturn, while Mark acknowledges the inspirational aspects of Mars discussed by Sandon ([31:45]; [31:57]).

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Conclusion

Molly Bloom wraps up the debate by inviting listeners to vote on their preferred team via the website. She also teases upcoming debates, encouraging audience engagement and participation.

Key Highlights:

• Humorous Personification: Sandon's attempt to introduce "Mars (God)" added a light-hearted touch to the scientific discussion.
• Saturn's Grandeur: Mark's detailed portrayal of Saturn's rings and moons effectively highlighted the planet's magnificence.
• Creative Engagement: Both debaters' spa day concepts showcased their ability to intertwine scientific facts with imaginative scenarios.
• Quick Thinking: The sneak attack round demonstrated the debaters' adaptability and wit under pressure.
• Impactful Summaries: The "Final Six" segment underscored the importance of concise and powerful messaging in debates.

Final Thoughts: This episode of Smash Boom Best successfully blended education with entertainment, making complex astronomical concepts accessible and engaging for children and families. The friendly yet competitive nature of the debate, combined with creative presentations and quick-witted exchanges, ensured a captivating listening experience.

Notable Quotes:

• Coralie: "It was very hard." ([30:30])
• Sandon: "Humans are so fascinated with Mars that NASA is planning to send people there and even set up bases." ([08:11])

For more engaging debates and to cast your vote for future episodes, visit smashboom.org and join the fun in the Brains On universe.

Transcript

[Sandon Totten]

From the brains behind Brains on, It's.

[Coralie]

Smash Boom Best, the show for people with big opinions.

[Molly Bloom]

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 features two powerful planets in a cosmic clash. It's Mars versus Saturn. We've got brains on. Editor Sandon Totten ready to rep the red planet for team Mars.

[Sandon Totten]

Look up. It's a bird. It's a planet plane. It's Earth's ruddy buddy Mars, here to shoot for the stars.

[Molly Bloom]

And astronomer Mark Popinchock will glimmer for the gassy giant Saturn Ring a din din.

[Mark Popinchock]

Saturn is going to win.

[Molly Bloom]

And here to judge it all is Coralie from Georgia. Coralie has four younger siblings, loves to sing in her choir, and spends most of her time writing fantasy and fiction stories. Hi, Coralie.

[Coralie]

Hi, Molly.

[Molly Bloom]

So, Coralie, is it really true that you've already written three books?

[Coralie]

Yes, it's true. I really don't know exactly how I got it done, but I'm writing more every day.

[Molly Bloom]

Wow, that's incredible. So, like, how much time do you spend writing every day?

[Coralie]

Um, a lot. I write about as much as I read, which is about an hour every day. So, yeah.

[Molly Bloom]

Super inspiring. So can you tell us what the books are about? Are they part of a series or are they each like an individual book?

[Coralie]

They're part of a series and it's fantasy. So the main character is a horse named Stormchaser. And there's these bad guys that are trying to take over the world. You know, typical fantasy, and they go on a quest to save the world, but he has anxiety, so he finds these people in an ancient ruined city and they help him kind of conquer his fears.

[Molly Bloom]

I love a relatable hero with a little bit of anxiety because who doesn't these days? So you're also in a choir. What kind of songs does your choir sing?

[Coralie]

We sing all kinds, but I really like the contemporary choir songs. So like something a little not traditional. Shake it up a little bit.

[Molly Bloom]

So what's your favorite? Right now I really like Shady Grove.

[Coralie]

Which is a folk song that I sang for all state choir here in Athens.

[Molly Bloom]

Nice. So do you have any feelings about Mars and Saturn already?

[Coralie]

I do a little bit. I actually have, like two kind of experiences with Mars and Saturn. So for Mars, I am a gemstone nerd. And one day I randomly had the question, can gemstones be found on Mars? So I looked it up, and my favorite Gemstone opals can be found on Mars, so I think that's really cool. And also Saturn, it's one of the few planets that I've actually seen through a telescope. That was just an amazing experience to look up and see the rings of Saturn.

[Molly Bloom]

Amazing. And I know you've heard a lot of episodes of this show, so do you have any advice for our debaters today?

[Coralie]

The more fun facts the better. I want to hear all the information about both of these planets.

[Molly Bloom]

Excellent advice. Will Coralie side with Sandin or Mark? It's a mystery for the skies. Let's review the rules of the show before we get started. Every debate consists of four. The declaration of greatness, the micro round, the sneak attack, and the final six. After each round our judge Coralie will award points the team that impresses her the most. But she'll keep her decisions top secret until the end of the debate. Listeners, we want you to judge too. Mark down your points as you listen. At the end of the show, head to our website, smashboom.org and vote for whichever team you think won. Alright, Sandon, Mark and Corly, are you ready?

[Coralie]

Yes.

[Mark Popinchock]

Oh yeah, I'm ready. Let's do this.

[Molly Bloom]

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 Sandon, you're up first. Tell us what makes Mars so Marsnificent.

[Sandon Totten]

When it comes to Mars, I think it's important to start at the beginning.

[Mars (God)]

Hello mortals. Tis I, Mars, God of war. A little birdie told me you were having a whole debate about me. That's so flattering. You know, not many people like war anymore, so it's nice to see that I still have fans.

[Mark Popinchock]

Oh wow.

[Sandon Totten]

This is awkward.

[Mars (God)]

Awkward? Pish posh. There's nothing awkward about a Roman God hanging out with a mortal discussing his favorite battle strategies. I like the cha cha maneuver. I remember this one time.

[Sandon Totten]

I'm sorry, I'm gonna cut you off right there, but this debate isn't about the God Mars. It's about the planet Mars.

[Mars (God)]

The space rock.

[Sandon Totten]

It's a planet.

[Mars (God)]

Okay, well, does this planet have a super cool chariot that you can ride into battle?

[Sandon Totten]

It has several rovers. You know those cool robotic vehicles that humans sent to Mars on rocket ships?

[Mars (God)]

You don't need a rocket ship to reach me. I'm very available.

[Sandon Totten]

That's apparent, sir. Now would you Mind leaving so I can talk about the planet Mars?

[Mars (God)]

Yeah, whatever.

[Sandon Totten]

As I was saying, when it comes to Mars, it's important to start at the beginning. If you didn't already know, Mars is one of the closest planets to Earth. It's like our special red neighbor. Humans are fascinated with Mars, and one of our most ambitious goals is flying there.

[Mars (God)]

Hello there, fellow mortal. Tis I, Jars, not Mars. You can tell I'm different because I have a mustache. I was just talking with my mortal mother, and we were wondering why anyone would want to go to a planet named after a super cool deity in the first place.

[Sandon Totten]

Well, Jars Mars, the planet, has so much to offer. By sending rovers there, we can study how it works and learn more about planets in the process. It's got epic features like red sand dunes and the biggest volcano in the solar system. And there might be microscopic living things there today, or maybe there were some in the past. I mean, just imagine. What if we discovered that Earth wasn't the only place in the solar system with living things? Mind blown, right?

[Mars (God)]

Wow, that's a really frustrating list. Anyway, I gotta go plan my funeral, because like I said, I am definitely a mortal. Toodle oo.

[Sandon Totten]

Wow, some people really can't take a hint. Anyway, Mars, the planet has been inspiring people for centuries. And don't take my word for it. Just ask ancient astronomer Ptolemy.

[Mark Popinchock]

That's right.

[Sandon Totten]

My observations on the planet Mars helped me figure out how planets orbit the sun. I even wrote a whole astronomy manual about it, the Almagest. Thanks in part to Mars, my book became one of the most important scientific texts of all time. That's. That's incredible. But you don't need to read a scientific manual to learn about Mars, because this planet is the backdrop for tons of awesome science fiction. That's why we know about so many cool, fictional Martians. Sometimes they're scary, like in War of the Worlds and Mars attacks.

[Molly Bloom]

Run for your life, it's a bunch of Martians.

[Sandon Totten]

Other times, they're fun, like in Looney Tunes.

[Molly Bloom]

Laugh for your life, it's a bunch of Martians.

[Sandon Totten]

Humans are so fascinated with Mars that NASA is planning to send people there and even set up bases. Just imagine, a decade from now, humans could be living on Mars and maybe someday using it as a launchpad to explore the rest of space.

[Mark Popinchock]

Whoa.

[Mars (God)]

That's wild. Oh, hey, I'm back. And definitely still mortal.

[Sandon Totten]

Mars is constantly teaching us about planets, about space, about our solar system. It sparked our imagination and given us loads of stories to entertain us for generations. And it sparked Our curiosity and inspired us to do amazing scientific feats. And someday humans might be living on its red rocky surface.

[Mars (God)]

Plus, it was named after a really cool guy with a great chariot who we should be really nice to.

[Sandon Totten]

You know what? You are correct. Because whether you're talking about an awesome planet or a rad Roman God, Mars is an incredible friend. We should all adore.

[Molly Bloom]

Wow, how amazing you're able to book that. Cool. Mortal jars for your declaration of greatness showed up.

[Sandon Totten]

I'm not exactly sure who checks the security at the studio. People just coming and going.

[Molly Bloom]

Incredible. Coralie, what stood out to you about Sandin's declaration of greatness?

[Coralie]

I really liked the point that was made about the science fiction. Mars is a very inspiring planet. I will say that also reaching Mars, that would just be so cool.

[Sandon Totten]

It could happen in your lifetime. You could be on one of those ships and. Yeah, it's like. It is a great place for science fiction. From the early days when, you know, people looked up and thought they saw canals and wrote all about a Martian civilization to just a couple years ago when we had that book, the Martian, where they were going potatoes with human poop on a planet. I mean, that's just wild fantasy right there. If you like fantasy, Mars is your planet.

[Molly Bloom]

All right, Mark, it is time for your rebuttal. Tell us why Mars is bizarre. You've got 30 seconds and your time starts. Now.

[Mark Popinchock]

Look, I'm not gonna deny that Mars has some great fiction, but it's time for some faction, okay? Because the truth of the matter is, if you're trying to live on Mars, you're gonna have a tough time. The soil on the ground is actually toxic to humans. And all the water that happens on its surface is also gonna have those toxic chemicals in it as well. So it's gonna be a tough time. And I like the idea of all the cool features that are on the surface, but I've seen better features on a slice of salami. Okay, Mars is not nearly as interesting.

[Sandon Totten]

So you bring a water filter to Mars. Brita, you know, the Martian variety. No big deal. Also, salami is beautiful. All those little shapes and colors in there. I could get lost in a slice of salami.

[Molly Bloom]

All right, Mark, it is your turn. Please tell us why Saturn slays.

[Mark Popinchock]

I'm not gonna make a declaration of greatness. I'm gonna make a declaration of victory. Because if you ask me, this contest was over before it even began. It doesn't matter if it's Mars or Jupiter or any planet in our solar system. Saturn has them all beat for one simple reason. Rings. Rings represent greatness. Rings are worn by kings and queens, by champion athletes, by winners. And you're stepping into the ring with a planet that has all the rings. More rings than any hobbit, the Shire, more rings than Beyonce, More rings even than Michael Jordan. Saturn rings are over 45,000 miles wide. That's basically the same as lining up 10 Earths side by side. So give it up to the unpassable giant of gas, the one, the only, Saturn. Saturn is one of the largest planets in our solar system. It's made of mostly gas. And of course, it has an incredible ring system, mostly made of ice. That's right, its rings are made of ice. If you need more convincing that Saturn's rings are stupendous, well then let me tell you about the first person to ever see them. One of the greatest scientists of all time, Galileo. Galileo was one of the first people to turn a telescope towards the sky over 400 years ago. He looked at the moon and was the first to see craters on the lunar surface. He looked at Jupiter and was the first to see moons orbiting it. Quattro filhe di Jove. But when he turned his telescope to Saturn, he had no idea what he was seeing. He wrote in his notebook, oche cosa saturno aurecchi. And that means what? Saturn has ears. Saturn's rings are so unusual, they stupefied the original scientist. I remember being similarly astounded by them in college. I used to invite my friends to come by and see the beautiful rings using a telescope. Unless you have a big scope, most planets look like little circles. But when I first looked at Saturn, I could see with my own eyes details on a planet almost a billion miles away. I felt transported there and I always found it hard to stop looking. And there's still more to discover about the amazing planet, since Saturn keeps revealing the coolest, strangest, most iconic features. It has over 140 moons. It has winds up to 1,000 miles per hour. It even has a storm at its north pole in the shape of a hexagon, as if some giant bee was making a honeycomb there. Saturn is named after the Roman God Saturn. And the Romans also named their favorite holiday after it too. Saturnalia was a whole week of celebrations. I bet you listeners would love to take a week off and spend all your time celebrating Saturn. But don't worry, you actually celebrate it every week on the best day of the week, Saturday or really Saturn Day. It's the best day. Sharing a Name with the best planet. So now you see what I see. Saturn has the rings to ring every bell has been wowing astronomers for hundreds of years and it celebrates the weekend with us every Saturday. Give it up for Saturn.

[Molly Bloom]

Wow. That argument left me as happy as a Saturday night. Carly, what stood out to you about Mark's declaration of greatness?

[Coralie]

I liked the points about the rings and I think it's cool that they're made of ice. And also, well I've seen like drawings of Saturn with the hexagon storm at the top and I always thought that that was just really cool. And also mention of Lord of the Rings. I like that.

[Molly Bloom]

Very nice. All right, Sandon, it is time for your rebuttal. Tell us why Saturn stinks. You've got 30 seconds and your time starts now.

[Sandon Totten]

Oh yeah, you like Lord of the Rings? Mars has the biggest volcano in the solar system, Mordor much. And you could never go and visit those cool features on Saturn, but you could maybe one day walk on Mars and stroll the sand dunes. Plus it's a planet populated entirely by robots right now, which both is really cool and shows you how much Mars has challenged humans to do our best and come up with cool technologies. Plus what's with all those rings? Saturn compensating much? Because if we took that away, you're just little bitty junior Jupiter. You're not even that special. Just another gas giant.

[Molly Bloom]

And time.

[Mark Popinchock]

If you want to talk about junior planets right now, you got to watch out because it is not. We're not even in the same weight class. Saturn is 1000 times more massive than Mars.

[Sandon Totten]

I don't. This isn't a size competition, is it? Because I probably would have picked a different planet.

[Mark Popinchock]

If you put Mars next to Saturn it would be the same like close to similar size to one of the moons. Like Titan, its biggest moon. That's closer to size than Mars than it is to Saturn.

[Sandon Totten]

And why so many moons over 140? You know Mars, we just have two. You need one and a backup one in case the first one goes down.

[Molly Bloom]

That's it.

[Mark Popinchock]

What Mars did is capture two potato shaped rocks from outer space and it's calling them moons. They are embarrassments to the name moon.

[Sandon Totten]

You are insulting potatoes, sir.

[Mark Popinchock]

One of my favorite foods, potatoes. Cook em, mash em, put em in a stew. Lord of the Rings reference.

[Molly Bloom]

Honestly could listen to you two talk about planets all day. But Coralie, it is time to afford some points. Please give one point to the declaration of greatness that you liked 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 Absolutely astonishing. Award your points, but don't tell us who they're going to. Have you made your decision?

[Coralie]

Yes, I have.

[Molly Bloom]

Excellent. Mark and Sandon, how are you two feeling so far?

[Mark Popinchock]

I'm feeling like I'm coming down in with a lot of aggression and so I'm just gonna have to ride that wave to the end. So, Sandon, please don't take it personally. Mars, you definitely should, because I'm coming.

[Sandon Totten]

I feel like Mark Watney in the Martian, you know, standing on a planet, a little trepidatious, but also I can like bounce around. Cause it's one third the gravity. It's pretty cool. Does that make any sense? Should I do that again?

[Molly Bloom]

Yeah, I enjoyed it.

[Sandon Totten]

I'm feeling excited, Molly.

[Molly Bloom]

All right, it's time for a quick break. Rev up your rover and polish your.

[Coralie]

Rings and we'll be right back with more Smashboom. Best.

[Molly Bloom]

You're listening to State of Debate.

[Sandon Totten]

Home to raging rhetoric and awe inspiring argumentation.

[Taylor Lincoln]

Hey there, debate anistas. Taylor Lincoln here. I'm back from Paris Fashion Week. And I'm Trey. Excited to be here with the cashmere to my sweater. Todd Douglas.

[Todd Douglas]

Welcome back. Taylor. So great to see you. Have you done something new to your hair?

[Taylor Lincoln]

It's called a side mullet and it was all the rage on the Runway. I did it myself with a plane trip home.

[Molly Bloom]

Hmm.

[Todd Douglas]

Shaved on one side and a full head of hair on the other. Very fashion forward.

[Mark Popinchock]

Merci.

[Taylor Lincoln]

Any fallacy? Related incidents happen while I was away.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh.

[Todd Douglas]

And how have I got an appeal to emotion fallacy for you?

[Taylor Lincoln]

Ooh, appeal to emotion is when someone tries to win an argument by playing on your emotions like fear or envy or pity instead of using facts.

[Todd Douglas]

Exactly. And this one might just appeal to your sense of style and debate.

[Sandon Totten]

Hey, Sim. Hey, Brave. Looking good as always. Check out my new necklace.

[Mark Popinchock]

Bling.

[Sandon Totten]

Wow, that's so shiny. Nice.

[Mark Popinchock]

It's by the designer, Le Marnais. They're so hot right now. You know, you could really up your fashion game if you started wearing a Lemar necklace yourself.

[Sandon Totten]

Necklaces are cool, but I'm more of a sneaker head. You do you though.

[Mark Popinchock]

But you have to agree, necklaces are better. Le Marnais would be so sad if they heard you talking about their chosen art form like that. And a sad Le Manet is a pitiful thing to see. So just admit necklaces are better. Okay. Woo woo, woo.

[Taylor Lincoln]

Someone called the Fallacy and Fashion Police.

[Todd Douglas]

Touche, Taylor. It sounds like Braith is trying to play on Sim's emotions to get them to agree to their point.

[Taylor Lincoln]

That argument makes about as much sense as stripes and plaids. No way.

[Todd Douglas]

Speaking of style, have you thought about giving your hairdresser a call? You know, just for a touch up?

[Taylor Lincoln]

No. We'll see you next time on State of Debate.

[Molly Bloom]

Brains On Universe is a family of.

[Coralie]

Podcasts for kids and their adults.

[Molly Bloom]

Since you're a fan of smashboom Best, we know you'll love the other shows in our universe. Come on, let's explore.

[Sandon Totten]

Smash Doom Best.

[Mark Popinchock]

I'm their biggest fan. I also love Brains On, a fun science podcast for kids. Listen, I will play you Brains On. You will love.

[Molly Bloom]

Today we're going to turn our attention to bloodsuckers that do exist.

[Sandon Totten]

Some of them you've probably heard of, like mosquitoes, ticks, and lice.

[Molly Bloom]

But others might surprise you, like, did you know that some birds drink blood?

[Sandon Totten]

Zorp. Where did the signal go?

[Molly Bloom]

Must find Brains On.

[Mark Popinchock]

Now.

[Molly Bloom]

Listen to Brains On Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mars (God)]

Smash Boom Best.

[Molly Bloom]

You're listening to Smash Boom Best. I'm your host, Molly Bloom.

[Coralie]

And I'm your judge, Coralie.

[Molly Bloom]

And we love getting debate suggestions from our listeners. Take a listen to this mythical debate idea from Ethan and Leo. My name is Ethan. My name is Leo and we're from Chicago, Illinois. My debate idea is Basilisks versus Chimera. Basilisks versus Chimeras.

[Coralie]

Killer debate idea.

[Molly Bloom]

We'll check back in at the end of this episode to see which side Ethan and Leo think should win.

[Coralie]

And now it's back to our debate. Mars versus Saturn.

[Molly Bloom]

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 Sandin and Mark, the prompt was spa day. We asked the debaters to walk us through a spa inspired by their side and tell us why their planet is the best place to get some tlc. Sandin went first last time. So, Mark, you're up. Tell us how to soothe our souls with your Saturn Inspired inspired spa.

[Mark Popinchock]

Enjoy a spa day the Saturn way. With over 140 moons, Saturn has a spa experience for everyone.

[Molly Bloom]

Lunar luxury.

[Mark Popinchock]

You've heard of weight loss? No, no, not here. Instead, try weightlessness on the moon. Mimas. The gravity is 1% that of Earth. All your worries will feel lighter.

[Molly Bloom]

Minimal gravity, minimal worries.

[Mark Popinchock]

Need to Cool off or sit in a steamy sauna. Head to the moon Enceladus, where you can cool yourself on the icy surface. Then ride a geyser down to a heated saltwater ocean conveniently located under 10 miles of ice, a water park and a spa. Looking for a new kind of hydration? Try Saturn's moon Titan, where instead of boring old water, the lakes are filled with beautifying methane and ethane.

[Molly Bloom]

Hydrocarbons are great for the skin.

[Mark Popinchock]

And don't worry, Saturn is also able to get in on the relaxation, as it's the only planet so light it would float in water if you had a bathtub big enough for it.

[Molly Bloom]

It would take 150Earths and 100,000 oceans to fill up this hypothetical bathtub.

[Mark Popinchock]

So head out into the outer solar system, stop worrying about that thing, and just take in the rings. Enjoy a spa day the Saturn way.

[Molly Bloom]

Wow. It sounds like my ideal spa because I love spas that come with lots of whispering. I can't wait. All right, standard. It is your turn to lead us through your Mars themed spa.

[Sandon Totten]

Look at you. You're tired, you're haggard. It's been a long week. No, it's been a long life. You need some you time. You need Red Planet Oasis. Just hop into our patented serenity spaceship and travel the itty bitty 140 million miles to Mars. Once there, you'll find priceless amenities like our galactic mineral bath, filled with ample amounts of magnesium, aluminum, titanium and iron. All of the chemical elements needed to detoxify and renew your sense of self. Or scrub away your troubles with our sandstone massage. It'll melt away your tension and make your problems disappear. Then bask in the rejuvenating powers of of our popular Martian mineral mud wrap, inspired by the rich red soils of the Martian landscape. If you haven't covered your body in volcanic clay, which can reduce inflammation, prevent infection, and improve skin elasticity, well, then you haven't lived. Is it time to return to Earth? No, no, not before you step into our rover rain shower, which delicately cleanses your weary skin with a cascade of polar permafrost ice crystals. Ah, a refreshing end to your luxurious Mars experience. So we'll see you at the Red Planet oasis, where earthly stress meets Martian tranquility. And there's no rings on our tub. I'll just say we clean them good.

[Molly Bloom]

I mean, seriously, book me a ticket on that spaceship. I need some relaxation, and that sounds amazing. All right, Coralie, what did you like about Sandon and Mark's micro rounds?

[Coralie]

I liked the moon theme where it's like a spa for every moon and also the red planet oasis, the mud and all the minerals that can be found in it. That sounds very luxurious.

[Molly Bloom]

Sounds incredible.

[Mark Popinchock]

Just to clarify, lots of toxins in there as well.

[Sandon Totten]

I mean, to be fair, I don't think either planet would really be a great place to relax.

[Coralie]

True.

[Molly Bloom]

All right, Coralie, it is time to award a point. The criteria are completely subjective and completely up to you. Did one of these spas sound like a place you'd want to visit a relaxing? Did they sneak in some facts? Have you made your decision?

[Coralie]

Yes, I have.

[Molly Bloom]

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 the ol switcheroo. In this challenge, each debater will be asked to read a paragraph about the other side. But every time Sandin reads a word that starts with the letter S for Saturn, they have to switch the letter to an M for Mars. And every time Mark reads a word with the letter M for Mars, he'll have to switch the letter to an S for Saturn. So for example, if Sandin was up and the sentence was Saturn is a stupendous planet, Sandon would have to say Mattern is a metupendous planet. Does that make sense?

[Sandon Totten]

Debaters, Mandan is mooper ready to do this? Molly.

[Molly Bloom]

So is Sark perfect. Well, here we go. Debaters, we're going to start with Sandin. Let's hear you do the old switcheroo. Reading a paragraph about Saturn with every S word switch to an M word.

[Sandon Totten]

Okay? You got this, Mandon. Okay. Matern is named after the Roman God Matern. And the Romans also named their favorite holiday after it too. Modernalia was a whole week of celebrations. I bet you listeners would love to take a week off and mend all of your time celebrating Mattern. But don't worry, you actually already melibrate it every week. Celebrate it. Oh shoot. The sea got me on the best day of the week. Matter day or really Mattern day. It's the best day. Haring a name with the best planet. Ah, mux.

[Molly Bloom]

Wonderful job. Some tricky Cs in there. All right, Mark, it's your turn. Let's hear you do the old switcheroo, turning all the M words in this paragraph to words that start with S.

[Mark Popinchock]

Okay, Sars, the planet has so such to offer. By sending rovers there we can study how it works and learn soar about planets in the process. It's full of resources we could use more of on earth and there say be psychoscopic things there today. Imagine how such it would change the world to discover Earth isn't the only place with living soothing things Sagnificent a wonderful job.

[Molly Bloom]

I think there was one more that snuck through the cracks there. Coralie, it's time to award your fourth point. But don't tell us who it's going to. Have you made your decision?

[Coralie]

Yes, I think I have.

[Molly Bloom]

Perfect. Then it's time for our final round.

[Sandon Totten]

The final six.

[Molly Bloom]

In this round, each team will have just six words to sum up the glory of their side. Mark, let's hear your six words for stupendous. Saturn.

[Mark Popinchock]

Beautiful rings. Most moons pick Saturn.

[Molly Bloom]

Mm, very nice. Sandin, it is your turn. Tell us about the many wonders of Mars.

[Sandon Totten]

Robots, water, life. Question mark. This rock rocks.

[Molly Bloom]

Excellent work. All right, Coralie, it is time to award a final point for this final six. Have you made your decision?

[Coralie]

Yes. It was very hard.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh my goodness.

[Coralie]

I made my decision.

[Molly Bloom]

All right, tally up those points. Are you ready to crown one team the smashboom best?

[Coralie]

Yes, I am.

[Molly Bloom]

Drumroll please. And the winner is.

[Coralie]

Mars.

[Mark Popinchock]

Whoa.

[Sandon Totten]

Oh my gosh. I am blushing red just like this because of Mars right now.

[Molly Bloom]

Corly, what was your favorite moment of the debate?

[Coralie]

It all came down to the final six.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, that final six.

[Coralie]

And I really like the point about water and potentially life. Cause as a writer that just gets my imagination very excited about the possibilities.

[Molly Bloom]

So was it tied up until the final six?

[Coralie]

It was.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh my goodness. As close as close can be.

[Sandon Totten]

Mark, big fan here. I love you on moment of hum. Mark, you did a great job representing Saturn. I love Saturn too. It is such a cool planet. And I was just reading that Mars might have rings in 50 billion years or so and its two moons might smash into each other. And I was just gonna try to bring that up and I was like, ugh. Even if they did, they wouldn't be as cool as Saturn's rings. Cause I mean it's just iconic, a style goddess for the solar system. You know, Saturn is just amazing. So you represented it well.

[Mark Popinchock]

Thanks very much, Sandon. I appreciate that. Sandon, you did a great job bringing out the fantasy and the fiction that goes around with Mars. And it really is such an inspiring object. The idea that humans might be able to get there at some point is obviously such a cool concept and you couldn't really stand on the surface of Saturn. It's true. You would get squished along the way. And you can't make stories about squished people. And so I do think you did a great job bringing in the kind of inspiration that Mars brings.

[Sandon Totten]

Have you heard of Flat Stanley?

[Molly Bloom]

Well, that's it for today's debate battle. Coralie crowned Mars the Smashboom Best. But what about you?

[Coralie]

Head to smashboom.org and vote to tell us who you think won.

[Molly Bloom]

Smashboom Best is brought to you by Brainzone and APM Studios. It's produced by me, Molly Bloom, Anna.

[Mark Popinchock]

Wegel and Aron Wolveselassi.

[Molly Bloom]

We had engineering help from Gary O'Keefe, Havivah Saltz and Michael Osborne with sound design by Anna Wegel. Our editors are Shayla Farzan and Sandon Tottenham. And we had production help from the rest of the Brainzn universe team. Rosie Dupont, Rachel Breese, Anna Goldfield, Nico Gonzalez Whistler, Ruby Guthrie, Lauren Humphert, Jess.

[Sandon Totten]

Miller, Joshua Ray, Mark Sanchez and Charlotte Traver.

[Molly Bloom]

Our executive producers, Beth Pearlman and the APM Studios executives in charge are Chandra Kavati and Joanne Griffith. Our announcer is Marlee Feuer, worker Otto. And we want to give a special thanks to to Austin Cross and Taylor Kaufman. Sandon. Is there anyone you'd like to give a shout out to today?

[Sandon Totten]

I want to give a shout out to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory here in Pasadena because they used to let me come up there and ask them questions about Mars all the time when I was a science reporter. And shout out to Arun Moldeslassi and Anna Wegel, who helped supply me with facts and jokes and ideas for this great debate.

[Molly Bloom]

And how about you, Mark? Any special shout outs?

[Mark Popinchock]

Yeah. Saturn has a moon called Enceladus. And I also know a cat called Enceladus too. So nice shout out to that cat. And also my nibbling, if you're listening. Uncle says hi.

[Molly Bloom]

Aw. And how about you, Corlee? Any special thanks or shout outs?

[Coralie]

I would like to thank my dad and I'd like to thank the rest of my family and all the people who've helped me with my stories and my chorus teachers for helping me do Allstate.

[Molly Bloom]

Wonderful. Before we go, let's check in and see who Ethan and Leo think should win the Basilisks vs. Chimeras debates. Basilisks would win because they can petrify you with their stare and have huge poisonous fangs. If you are 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 drag out debate head to smashboom.org contact and drop us a line. And make sure to subscribe to Brains on universe on YouTube, where you can watch animated versions of some of your favorite episodes. We'll be back with a new smashboom Best Debate Battle next week. Ta ta.

[Coralie]

Adios.

[Mark Popinchock]

Bye now. MIA material. Mars has water like my grandfather has hair on his head. As in there's not much on top.