Telescope vs. Microscope: a focused debate

Summary

Smash Boom Best: Telescope vs. Microscope - A Focused Debate

Release Date: February 13, 2025

Introduction

In this engaging episode of Smash Boom Best, hosted by Molly Bloom and produced by American Public Media, two scientific titans—telescopes and microscopes—are pitted against each other in a battle of scales. Yasmin from Vancouver serves as the impartial judge, bringing her diverse background and previous debating experience to the table. The episode is structured into multiple rounds, each designed to test the debaters' knowledge, creativity, and persuasive skills.

Debaters

• Mark Popinchock – Representing Telescopes, Mark is an astronomer passionate about exploring the cosmos.
• Maneka Wilhelm – Championing Microscopes, Maneka is a writer and producer with a keen interest in the microscopic world.
• Yasmin – The judge, known for her analytical skills and previous debating triumphs.

---

Round 1: Declaration of Greatness

Purpose: Both debaters present an immersive argument highlighting the superiority of their respective tools, followed by a 30-second rebuttal.

Mark Popinchock on Telescopes

• Key Points:
  • Telescopes allow humanity to explore the vastness of space, making distant objects visible.
  • Historical significance with figures like Galileo Galilei and Edwin Hubble advancing our understanding of the universe.
  • Telescopes have led to major discoveries, including the existence of other galaxies and dark matter.
  • Practical applications on Earth, such as binoculars being essentially small telescopes.
  • Notable Quote [03:08]: "Telescopes are the most incredible tools humans have ever made."

Maneka Wilhelm on Microscopes

• Key Points:
  • Microscopes unveil the hidden worlds of the very small, offering insights into biology, medicine, and materials science.
  • Historical contributions by Anthony van Leeuwenhoek in discovering microbes.
  • Modern advancements allow us to see atoms and cellular structures, revolutionizing healthcare and technology.
  • Emphasizes the importance of microscopes in understanding and combating diseases.
  • Notable Quote [08:17]: "Microscopes have shown us worlds inside of our own bodies, too."

Rebuttals:

• Mark: Playfully uses a sea shanty persona to defend telescopes, emphasizing their grandeur and ability to make the unseen visible on a cosmic scale.
• Maneka: Critiques telescopes for focusing on things that are far away and overwhelming in size, arguing that zooming into the small yields more practical and relatable discoveries.

Judge’s Feedback [06:53]: Yasmin appreciated Mark's factual depth and enjoyed the sea shanty, while she valued Maneka's connection to recent scientific education and personal microscope experiences.

---

Round 2: Micro Round

Purpose: Each debater delivers a creative monologue from the perspective of something observed through their respective instrument.

Maneka’s Microscopic Monologue

• Portrays algae as sentient beings fascinated yet bewildered by human observation.
• Highlights the historical significance of discovering microbial life and its impact on biology.
• Notable Quote [20:12]: "Without microscopes, we'd never have found them."

Mark’s Telescopic Monologue

• Represents a galaxy named Andromeda, expressing the awe and vastness revealed through telescopic observation.
• Emphasizes the profound revelations about the universe's scale and the interconnectedness of celestial bodies.
• Notable Quote [22:32]: "Telescope views bring universe to you."

Judge’s Feedback [24:09]: Yasmin commended the debaters for illustrating the transformative impact of their tools on human understanding and the mythical allure they hold.

---

Round 3: Sneak Attack (Zoom Zoom Challenge)

Purpose: An improvised round where debaters guess altered sound clips related to their domains—telescopes (zooming out) and microscopes (zooming in).

Challenges and Responses:

1. Mark:

   • Clip 1: Sped-up rooster – Correctly identifies it as a rooster ([25:38]).
   • Clip 2: Slowed-down zipper – Accurately guesses zipper ([26:35]).

2. Maneka:

   • Clip 1: Train whistle – Correctly identifies it as a train whistle ([26:08]).
   • Clip 2: Typing sounds – Correctly guesses typing on a keyboard ([27:24]).
   • Clip 3: Dog barking (Shih Tzu) – Misses, guesses squirrel ([28:48]).

Judge’s Decision [29:52]: Yasmin awarded the round to Mark for his accuracy and handling of the challenges, citing higher precision in guessing the altered sounds.

---

Round 4: Final Six

Purpose: Each team summarizes their side's strengths in just six words.

• Maneka (Microscopes): "Right here, baby."
• Mark (Telescopes): "Telescope views bring universe to you."

Judge’s Decision [30:44]: Yasmin awarded the final point to Maneka for her succinct and impactful summary.

---

Conclusion

Final Tally and Winner:

• Microscopes emerge victorious with a narrow one-point lead over telescopes. Yasmin commends both teams for their compelling arguments and highlights the indispensable roles both instruments play in expanding human knowledge.

Notable Closing Moments:

• Mark’s Good Sportsmanship [31:56]: "Although you're the one who actually won, we're both kind of winning here."
• Maneka’s Appreciation [31:25]: Praises Mark’s explanation of binoculars as miniature telescopes.

Listener Engagement:

• Yasmin encourages listeners to visit smashboom.org to vote for their preferred side and participate in future debates.

Special Segment: State of Debate

• Explores logical fallacies, using the ad hominem attack in a playful scenario involving the Compliment Fairy.

Credits and Shout-Outs:

• Acknowledgment of the production team, special thanks from Mark to his college professors, and Maneka to her inspirations like Marcel the Shell and Blink-182.

Easter Egg:

• A teaser for an upcoming debate between Pusheen and Hello Kitty, with Yasmin hinting at Pusheen's adorable qualities tipping the scales.

---

Key Takeaways:

• Telescopes offer a window to the vast universe, making cosmic discoveries accessible and fostering a sense of wonder about our place in the cosmos.
• Microscopes delve into the minute, unveiling the complexities of the microscopic world that underpin biology, medicine, and technology.
• Both tools exemplify humanity’s innate curiosity and drive to explore both the immense and the infinitesimal.

Notable Quotes:

• Mark Popinchock [03:08]: "Telescopes are the most incredible tools humans have ever made."
• Maneka Wilhelm [08:17]: "Microscopes have shown us worlds inside of our own bodies, too."

Final Verdict: While both telescopes and microscopes are essential for scientific advancement, microscopes edged out as the winner in this episode, demonstrating their profound impact on understanding life at its most fundamental level.

---

Tune in next week for another exciting debate on Smash Boom Best, where new contenders will face off in the ultimate showdown. Don't forget to vote and share your thoughts at smashboom.org!

Transcript

[Molly Bloom]

From the brains behind Brains on, it's.

[Yasmin]

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 zooms out to the farthest reaches of space, then back into the tiniest details of life on Earth. It's telescopes versus microscopes. We've got astronomer Mark Popinchock here to leave you starry eyed for Team Telescopes.

[Mark Popinchock]

Tell your family, tell your friends, tell everyone. The best tool is a telescope.

[Molly Bloom]

And writer and producer Maneka Wilhelm will fill you with Marvel for Team Microscopes.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Micro but mighty. We're scoping stuff that's tiny.

[Molly Bloom]

And here to judge it all is Yasmin from Vancouver, Canada. Yasmin is a gray belt in jiu jitsu, loves making her own Halloween costumes, is fluent in Japanese, and once did an entire Smashboom Best style debate with her dad. Hi, Yasmin. Morning.

[Mark Popinchock]

Ja.

[Yasmin]

Hi.

[Molly Bloom]

Hi. So what were the sides you and your dad represented in your debate?

[Yasmin]

So it was apples versus oranges, Since I love apple juice and my dad is strongly orange juice, so we decided to have a debate about that and I won.

[Molly Bloom]

Hey, congratulations. What tactics did you use to win?

[Yasmin]

I presented a lot of facts and I did a lot of research, so I think that's how I won.

[Molly Bloom]

Very impressive. Okay, so since you have debated, I'm curious if you have any advice for our debaters today.

[Yasmin]

Bring positive energy and make me want to vote for you.

[Molly Bloom]

Make Yasmin want to vote for you. Excellent advice. Will Yasmin side with Mark or Manica? Only time will tell. But first, here are the rules of the game. Every debate consists of four. The Declaration of greatness, the micro round, the sneak attack, and the final six. After each round, our judge Yasmin will award points to 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. Okay, Mark, Maneka and Yasmin, are you ready?

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Yes.

[Yasmin]

This whole thing is a dream come true.

[Mark Popinchock]

So, ready?

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Definitely. My enthusiasm for looking at small stuff is anything but Microsoft.

[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 Mark, you're up first. Tell us what makes telescopes so terrific.

[Mark Popinchock]

All right, let's get into it. I think telescopes are. Wait, who. Who's that? Yar? I'm the dreaded space pirate.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Space beard?

[Mark Popinchock]

Oh, no. Oh, yes. Behold my great big bushy beard. I braid in all these little stars. It's as deep as the night sky. I be hearing you're be talking about telescopes. Aye, aye, Cap'n. Well, I be using them to scan the horizon for land or sails. It do be making far away things much easier to see. Do you use it to look at the night sky? Only if by night sky you mean me. Beer. I do lose things in it sometimes. Ah, get out of there. And who are all them? Oh, I drive my cheer some crew of scallywags and grad students to sing you our favorite Spyglass Sea shanty. Wait, wait. I don't think. If I'm on the waves. I cannot go without my trusty telescope. It's never far away from me. So we can see the sea. All right, love. Oh, I'm more wise than when I can see the horizon. Sorry, gotta cut you off. Sadly, we don't have time for that. Yar. I gotta stay focused so I can explain why telescopes are the most incredible tools humans have ever made. Telescopes help you see far away stuff. They do this by taking in light, then bending or bouncing it around to make images appear bigger. The first to look at the night sky with a telescope was Galileo Galilei. Whoa. He saw craters on the moon, the rings of Saturn, and whole new worlds orbiting around Jupiter. Magnifico. His observations blew minds because it helped confirm Earth was just one planet among many. And then there was Edwin Hubble. He noticed that the fuzzy parts of space weren't just clouds. They were other galaxies.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Whoa.

[Mark Popinchock]

Space is full of island universes. And of course, there was Vera Rubin. With a telescope. She observed how galaxies move over time. And she noticed that the movements only made sense if there was some invisible stuff hiding in plain sight.

[Molly Bloom]

Incredible. There has to be something there that can't be seen.

[Mark Popinchock]

This led to the discovery of dark matter. Thanks to telescopes, we went from thinking the universe was revolving around the Earth to realizing it was bigger and more wondrous than anyone could imagine. And telescopes are useful on Earth, too. Ever looked through a pair of binoculars to watch a bird? Or maybe taken some opera? Or a bird singing opera? Well, binoculars are just two tiny telescopes, one for each eye. But the coolest thing about a telescope is that you can use it to share the universe with someone else. I remember the first time I used a powerful telescope in college. I peered through a tiny hole and saw Saturn's rings for the first time. It was a literal window to another world. Soon I was bringing all my friends there so they could see Saturn and have their minds blown, too. In fact, I think that's why I became an astronomer, so I could keep sharing the universe with whoever wants to look. Even me? Even you, spacebeard.

[Molly Bloom]

Yeah.

[Mark Popinchock]

Well, that makes me want to sing. Wait, hold on now it's time that we set sail. But first, our spy class. Without fail. What can we see? My hearty crew? Well, it's all now just for you.

[Molly Bloom]

Clouds, Clouds.

[Mark Popinchock]

Waves, waves. More waves.

[Molly Bloom]

More waves.

[Mark Popinchock]

Is that a wave? Just a wave. Just a wave every time.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, man. A delightful song. Singing the praises of an object that helps us see the really big picture. Yasmin, what stood out to you about Mark's declaration of greatness?

[Yasmin]

Um, I enjoyed lots of the facts, and I just. I very much enjoyed the sea shanty.

[Molly Bloom]

It's hard to beat a sea shanty. Okay, Maineka, it is time for your rebuttal. Please tell us why telescopes can't even cope. You've got 30 seconds and your time starts now.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Okay. I did also love that you were singing to us and not just telling us about telescopes. However, telescopes, you're looking at things and they're far away, and they're still really far away. Like, you can see stuff that's cool with the telescope, but many of the space things can be very overwhelming. They're very big. And in general, I just think it's cooler to be sort of like zooming in to looking at something small and making it bigger than, like, squinting through or taking a photo of something big.

[Molly Bloom]

And making it small.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Thank you.

[Mark Popinchock]

I think spacebeard, if he was here, he'd be very happy to hear how everybody likes his shanty. And I gotta say that big things are definitely big. Yeah, I think I have a point. I wanna make about that later. For sure.

[Molly Bloom]

Mark Popenschalk says big things are big. Okay, Meneke, it's your turn. Tell us why microscopes are full of hope.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Let's start in the early days of the microscope. About 350 years ago in the Netherlands, a man named Anthony van Leonhoek was one of the first people to really make use of this new invention that lets you see tiny things up close.

[Anthony van Leeuwenhoek]

Today, I shall look at this pond water beneath my microscope.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

It's Me. I'm algae.

[Anthony van Leeuwenhoek]

A cavorting specimen. A completely new, teeny, tiny creature with green and glittering scales.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Uh, yeah. Algae. Like I said. Who are you?

[Anthony van Leeuwenhoek]

I'm Antony Van Leeuwenhoek.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

That name doesn't ring a bell.

[Anthony van Leeuwenhoek]

Well, I'm not exactly famous. I run a fabric shop on the side. I love making these little microscopes. I took inspiration from a few people who made scopes before me. But I'm probably the best microscope maker of my time.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Sounds like it's maybe not paying your bills.

[Anthony van Leeuwenhoek]

Rude, but yeah. Still, I've seen so many wonders up close. The rinds of cheese, plaque from my teeth, blood from my veins, even my own poo.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Okay, brave.

[Anthony van Leeuwenhoek]

And, my, oh, my, I see wee beasties everywhere. They're small but alive. Like little animals. I shall call them animolcules, since that's Latin for little animals. Animalcules rule.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

So until this time, we didn't know that living things could be this small. Or that there were tiny beings all around us. Microscopes opened up entirely new worlds. And I've seen these worlds myself because I have a microscope, too. Like when I've zoomed in on pollen from flowers. The grains come in all kinds of colors, like plant sprinkles. When I look at needles from the fir trees outside my house, I see they're curved with little ridges like tiny celery. And when I've scoped blood, I can see the bits that make our blood red. The discs called red blood cells.

[Molly Bloom]

Ahem.

[Anthony van Leeuwenhoek]

Don't forget, I saw blood cells way before you.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

I could never. And nice timing, Antoni. I'm just getting to how microscopes have changed our world. And you are one of the people who kicked this off.

[Anthony van Leeuwenhoek]

Tell that to the microbe that thinks I'm a nobody.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Oh, don't worry about what one little microbe told you. Probably they're just cranky after going undiscovered for billions of years. Without microscopes, we'd never have found them. And microscopes have shown us worlds inside of our own bodies, too. We learned that we've got tiny living things called microbes within us. When we digest our food, billions of tiny pals in our guts help us out. They're also on our skin, in our mouths, all over. Some keep us healthy, and others make us sick. And understanding these tiny beings has helped us stay healthier, too. Before microscopes, we sometimes missed the mark about what made people sick.

[Mark Popinchock]

As your medieval doctor, I think the cause of your illness is an imbalance of liquids in your body. Like you probably have too much blood. That or, you know, the planets.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

With microscopes, we've been able to understand that microbes, like bacteria, can make us sick. And we can fight them.

[Molly Bloom]

Illnesses, they seem to be caused by tiny animalcules.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

But if we wash our hands, we can get rid of germs and stop them from spreading.

[Mark Popinchock]

And look, I found that this chemical.

[Molly Bloom]

Stops germs from growing.

[Mark Popinchock]

We can use this as medicine to help people heal.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

And since the days of animalcules, microscopes have only gotten better at showing us the worlds within our own. Some microscopes even let us see the atoms that living things are made of. There are still plenty of living things that we haven't discovered yet. So, sure, telescopes show us neat things, too. But we've only ever discovered life with one kind of scope, and it's when we look inward rather than out with our trusty microscopes.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, a delightful argument there. Animalcules sound so adorable, but life changing to know about them. Yasmin, what stood out to you about Maneka's declaration of greatness?

[Yasmin]

It. First of all, I did not know that microbes are grumpy. Second, it really reminded me of how we were talking about osmosis in science class this year, and we used microscopes on red onions to see the cells and some of the things inside of them. So that was really cool. And I like that experience with microscopes.

[Molly Bloom]

Very cool indeed. Okay, Mark, it is time for your rebuttal. Tell us why microscopes are a big old joke. You've got 30 seconds and your time starts now.

[Mark Popinchock]

Okay, well, I want to point out that Van Leeuwenhoek made one of the first microscopes, but one of the person who made one before that was Galileo. And do we think about Galileo's microscope? No, because he focused on the much cooler thing, the telescope. And, you know, it's cool to think about these tiny things, but also a little discomforting to know that there's millions of creatures crawling all over my skin. And just to point out that your small is small, but the bigger things are much, much bigger. The kind of size of things that we look at in a telescop are much bigger compared.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Yeah, I think we should talk about Galileo's microscopes a lot more than we do. That's all.

[Molly Bloom]

That's very nice. Okay, Yasmin, it is time to award some points. Please give one point to the declaration of greatness 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 extra convincing? Award your points, but don't tell us who they're going to. Have you made your decision?

[Yasmin]

Yes.

[Molly Bloom]

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

[Maneka Wilhelm]

I'm feeling great. I think there's a lot of really great stuff to talk about, and the best things to talk about are really small. And also, I'm excited for the next round because I'd like everyone to note it's the micro round, not the tell around.

[Molly Bloom]

Thank you.

[Mark Popinchock]

Well, if it was the macro round, this podcast would be a lot, lot longer, right? So we gotta keep it short for a reason.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Sounds like a small cause.

[Mark Popinchock]

We gotta move on past the small things as quick as we can.

[Molly Bloom]

Okay, it is time for a quick break. Gather your specimens and get focused.

[Yasmin]

And we'll be right back with more smash. Zoom Best.

[Molly Bloom]

You're listening to State of Debate, home to ragin rhetoric and awe inspiring argumentation. Oh, hey, debate buddies. I'm here with the exquisitely dressed Todd Douglas.

[Anthony van Leeuwenhoek]

It's me. And I'm with the swellest smiler, Taylor Lincoln.

[Molly Bloom]

Aw, thanks, pal.

[Anthony van Leeuwenhoek]

Did you do something different with your hair? It looks divine.

[Molly Bloom]

Why, yes. I tried washing it. And Todd, your nails are so well trimmed.

[Anthony van Leeuwenhoek]

Nail hygiene is my passion.

[Molly Bloom]

Aren't compliments the best? But you know what's the worst? A logical fallacy.

[Anthony van Leeuwenhoek]

Those are bad arguments that hurt your case. And we saw a nasty fallacy dealt by one of the sweetest people in the world, the compliment fairy.

[Molly Bloom]

Ooh, the compliment fairy used the ad hominem fallacy. That's when you attack someone's character instead of their ideas. Let's listen. Hello, Sarah. Your curls are a ray of sunshine. Mac, did I tell you I love your singing voice? Oh, Charlie, I heard you aced your math test. You are the smartest kid in the world. Thanks, compliment fairy, but don't be silly. Silly? Oh, heavens no. I'm just telling you how you're the most intelligent little tyke. Yeah, but how would you know if I'm the most intelligent? Have you surveyed all the little tykes in the world? Plus, how are you defining intelligence? Even education professionals struggle to define intelligence. Furthermore, what constitutes a little tyke? Or a kid for that matter?

[Yasmin]

Are you comparing my intelligence to that.

[Molly Bloom]

Of a teenager or a baby? Because that hardly seems fair. See, all of your quibbles just serve to emphasize how incomparably smart you are. Frankly, your lack of insight into the compliment you gave me calls into question the authenticity of your compliments in the past. Well, of course you wouldn't agree. You're the smartest kid because you're just a know it all, aren't you?

[Mark Popinchock]

Ouch. Not cool.

[Molly Bloom]

Yeah, and even with the best intentions, you can still make a fallacy. By the way, the compliment fairy did apologize to Charlie right after this. And trust me, it was the most sincere apology ever.

[Anthony van Leeuwenhoek]

Good to hear, but can we be sure it was the most sincere ever?

[Molly Bloom]

Drop it, Todd. We'll see you next time on State of Debate.

[Mark Popinchock]

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.

[Molly Bloom]

Come on, let's explore.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

It's alien laundry day. While I wash my nose, mufflers, and tummy togas, I'll listen to a new podcast.

[Molly Bloom]

How about.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Brains on my favorite science podcast?

[Yasmin]

So this is Mark's nose.

[Molly Bloom]

It's not actually as hairy as I would have thought. Whoa.

[Yasmin]

Check out that big crowd of boogers.

[Molly Bloom]

And they're cheering for something.

[Mark Popinchock]

Loogies and gentle phlegm. Boogs and germs, gather round.

[Molly Bloom]

Today we zorp signal down.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Stay right there, tummy toe.

[Molly Bloom]

Guys.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Must find Brains On.

[Molly Bloom]

Now.

[Mark Popinchock]

Listen to Brains on wherever you get your podcasts.

[Molly Bloom]

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

[Yasmin]

And I'm your judge, Yasmin.

[Molly Bloom]

And we love getting debate suggestions from our listeners. Take a listen to this adorable debate idea from Emi Pusheen versus hello Kitty.

[Yasmin]

Aw, but meow. Will we choose?

[Molly Bloom]

We'll check back in at the end of this episode to see which side Emmy thinks should win.

[Yasmin]

And now it's back to our debate. Telescopes versus microscopes.

[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 Mark and Manika, the prompt was see me? We told each debater to give us a monologue as something that is seen by either your microscope or telescope. Describe what it's like to be truly seen. Mark went first last time. So, Manika, you're up. Give us your most magnificent microscope monologue.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Hi. Hello. I see you peeping at me with your microphone. Microscope me? I'm algae. Of course, technically, I'm just one alga, but who's asking? My ancestors have been in pond water for 3 billion years, and you just show up one day with your little microscope lens. You scoop me from my home and expect Me to spell everything out for you. Wait, sorry, that sounds very rude. It's actually nice to meet a. What were you called? A huge fan? A shoe bin. Oh, human. That's right. First of all, no, I'm not a teeny tiny mermaid. Though I do have green and glittering scales. Sometimes people make me up with someone named Angie. I've never met her. We're different. Thanks to your microscopes, you can learn all about how us algae were here before plants. Mm. They descended from us. We've been busy making like, half the oxygen on this planet. But also, we've kind of wondered for all these billions of years if there was anything, anything bigger than us out there. We just have never had, like, a megascope to search with. But here you are, a giant lumbering creature beyond our little pond world. I'm kind of starstruck, but by your largeness. Largestruck. Is that a thing? So, yeah, nice to meet you. But do you think when we're done here, maybe you could return me to my pond? It's just. It's the only place I've ever known. I'm sure you understand.

[Molly Bloom]

That. Glamorous Elga. Really taking advantage of that close up. I love it. Okay, Mark, now it's your turn. Tell us all about the terrific telescope.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Hey.

[Mark Popinchock]

Hello, tiny human. Up here. It's me, Andromeda. I'm a galaxy. But not the galaxy you live in. A whole other galaxy, probably with millions of planets just like yours. Kablow. Did I just blow your mind? Well, that's what it must have felt like for you humans the first time you saw me. I mean, really saw me. Before telescopes, you just saw me as a blurry spot on the night sky, like a bug left over on a windshield. But when you finally got your scopes working, you could see I was a whole lot more and nothing you'd ever seen before. You saw. I got these glorious spiral arms. Flattered you finally noticed them. I've had to pump a lot of solar systems to build these bad boys. And boy, I felt so cool when you built bigger telescopes. And you kept looking. And you finally realized that I was full of stars. Going about their lives just like the ones in your Milky Way, but over a million light years away. Let me tell ya, it's a long drive. Finally. Finally someone could see me for what I really am. A whole city of stars. Different from your own now with friends who can see the real me. Cause I'm shining here.

[Molly Bloom]

Wow. We got to hear from a galaxy that's not even ours. Incredible. Work telescopes. Okay, Yasmin, what stood out to you about Mark and Manika's micro rounds?

[Yasmin]

Um, how different humans must have, like, realized the world is when these things came around. Because I feel like lots of mythology and stuff surrounds these kinds of things, because I feel like it's really mysterious in a way, and I feel like it still is to people.

[Molly Bloom]

Yeah, that is a really, really good point. All right, Yasmin, it is time to award a point for this mic around, but don't tell us who it's going. Have you made your decision?

[Yasmin]

Yep.

[Molly Bloom]

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 the Zoom Zoom Challenge. Each debater is given a series of short sound clips that are either slowed down or sped up. And they have to guess what the sound is based on the altered audio. In effect, each clue will microscope in or telescope out of the original sound. Debaters, does this make sense? Are you ready for your sneak attack?

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Yes, I'm very ready for this in a big way.

[Molly Bloom]

Okay, we're gonna start with Mark. Here is your first clip.

[Mark Popinchock]

Hmm.

[Molly Bloom]

Any guesses, Mark?

[Mark Popinchock]

I'd have to wake up pretty early to guess that one, but I think it is a rooster.

[Molly Bloom]

What's the answer? Nice. A sped up rooster. You got it right. Okay, Mainika, it's your turn. Here's your first clip.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Hmm.

[Molly Bloom]

What do you think?

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Definitely slowed down. It sounds either like orchestral music or a chair scooting back against the floor in a very nice way.

[Molly Bloom]

Let's get the answer.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Oh, it's like a harmonica.

[Mark Popinchock]

Is it a train whistle?

[Molly Bloom]

The answer is a train whistle.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Oh, a train whistle.

[Molly Bloom]

All right, Mark, you're up. Here is your second clip.

[Mark Popinchock]

Mm.

[Molly Bloom]

Mm. Another tricky one.

[Mark Popinchock]

I think it's pretty cold in New York right now. I gotta zip up when I go outside. I think it's a zipper slowed down.

[Molly Bloom]

Let's hear it in its normal speed. Correct again, Mark. It is a zipper. All right, Manika, here is your second clip. Whoa. That was very fast. I think we better hear that again.

[Mark Popinchock]

Wow.

[Molly Bloom]

What do you think?

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Well, so this. This sounds like. Yeah, like an ant scurrying by my microphone. But what could it be that a human could have recorded? Maybe it's someone, like, tapping their fingers on a desk, typing. Maybe it's typing on a keyboard. Sped up.

[Molly Bloom]

Let's hear it at its normal speed.

[Mark Popinchock]

Nice, Manika.

[Molly Bloom]

You are correct. Excellent work.

[Mark Popinchock]

I feel like Yours have been harder than mine. I know.

[Molly Bloom]

I knew what that was. I was like, what? Mark, here is your final clip. Oh, that was a whole story. Okay. Whoa.

[Mark Popinchock]

Yeah, this debate has got me pretty parched. I think it's somebody opening. Like a beverage. Like a little pop from a beverage.

[Molly Bloom]

Excellent guess. Let's hear the answer.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Mm.

[Molly Bloom]

Nice ears, Mark.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Yeah, great work.

[Mark Popinchock]

There we go.

[Molly Bloom]

Soda can being open, that was tricky. Yeah. Here is your final clip.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

This sounds like a bird.

[Molly Bloom]

It does sound like a bird. All right, let's hear it again.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Okay, I think I have to go bird. But which one?

[Molly Bloom]

Couldn't tell you. What do you think? A bird? An animal?

[Maneka Wilhelm]

A bird? A record scratch?

[Molly Bloom]

Maybe it's a DJ Bird. Dj.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

I think it could be a bird. Dj.

[Molly Bloom]

All right. Is that your final answer?

[Maneka Wilhelm]

I think it might be a different kind of animal. Like, it might be a squirrel. That's my final answer. Squirrel.

[Molly Bloom]

Squirrel. Okay.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Yeah.

[Molly Bloom]

Here is what it sounds like at its normal speed.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

What?

[Molly Bloom]

Okay, the answer is a dog barking. Specifically a Shih Tzu, which is honestly not that much bigger than a squirrel, so.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Okay, I appreciate that, Molly.

[Molly Bloom]

You were pretty close.

[Yasmin]

I thought it might be a monkey.

[Molly Bloom]

That's really hard.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

I also just like the idea that if you fast forward a dog, you get a DJ bird.

[Molly Bloom]

Yeah, yeah. I'm gonna get a Shih Tzu and name him DJ Bird. Okay, excellent work, Mark and Meenika. Now, Yasmin, you get to decide who gets the point for this fourth round. And again, it is completely subjective, so you can take into account the difficulty of the clips, how well people guessed, the creativity on display. Have you made your decision?

[Yasmin]

Yes, I think I have.

[Molly Bloom]

Perfect. Then it's 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. Okay, Mainika, let's hear your six words for the marvelous microscope worlds to see.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Right here, baby.

[Molly Bloom]

Delightful. Okay, Mark, it is your turn. Give us six words on the tremendous telescope.

[Mark Popinchock]

Telescope views bring universe to you.

[Molly Bloom]

Mmm. Very nice. Okay, Yasmine, it is time to award a final point for the final six. Have you made your decision?

[Yasmin]

Yes, I have.

[Molly Bloom]

Wonderful. Tally up those points. Are you ready to crown one team, the smashboom best?

[Yasmin]

Yes.

[Molly Bloom]

Drumroll, please. And the winner is.

[Yasmin]

Microscopes.

[Molly Bloom]

Wow. Oh, my goodness.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Thank you, Yasmin. Also, you made the right choice.

[Molly Bloom]

Thank you for being correct. Me?

[Mark Popinchock]

You don't need a telescope or a microscope to see how heartbroken I am.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Aw.

[Mark Popinchock]

But Microscopes did such a good job.

[Molly Bloom]

It's Totally fair.

[Yasmin]

So it was one by one point in the rebuttal. Originally, I had it on your side, and then I changed it.

[Mark Popinchock]

Oh, no.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, man. It was as close as close could be.

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Wow. Yeah, Well, I mean, I thought you did a great job, Mark. I loved hearing about how binoculars are telescopes. I use those all the time.

[Mark Popinchock]

Well, Medica, we actually are talking about very similar things, because microscopes and telescopes use lenses to move light around to make things that you wouldn't be able to see. So really, we're both kind of winning here. Although you're the one who actually won.

[Molly Bloom]

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

[Yasmin]

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

[Molly Bloom]

Smashboom Best is brought to you by Brainson and APM Studios. It's produced by Molly Bloom, Anna Weigel and Aron Woldeselassi. We had engineering help from Josh Savageau, Gary O'Keefe and Furby Midgley, with sound design by Anna Weigel and Rachel Breeze. Our editors are Shayla Farzon and Sandon Totten, with fat checking by Rebecca Rand. And we had production help from the rest of the Brains on Universe team. Rosie Dupont, Rachel Breese, Anna Goldfield, Nico Gonzalez Whistler, Ruby Guthrie, Lauren Humphrey, Joshua Wright, Rebecca Rand, Mark Sanchez and Charlotte Travor. Our executive producers, Beth Pearlman and the APM Studios executives in charge are Chandra Kavati and Joanne Griffith. Our announcer is Marlee Foyer worker Otto. And we must want to give a special thanks to Austin Cross and Taylor Kaufman. Mark, is there anyone you'd like to give a shout out to today?

[Mark Popinchock]

I'll give a shout out to my professors in college who got me access to that telescope when I first started. Thank you to them for sending me on this journey.

[Molly Bloom]

Awesome. And how about you, Maineka? Any special shout outs?

[Maneka Wilhelm]

Yeah, I would like to shout out some of my favorite small things that inspired me as I prepared, which you don't need a microscope to see. One of them is Marcel the shell with shoes on. Another is the song all the small things by Blink182. And lastly, I love those extra small vaseline tubs that are shaped exactly like the big ones. Thank you.

[Molly Bloom]

Yasmin. Do you want to give any special.

[Yasmin]

Thanks or shout outs to my friends at Tepper? My mom, my dad, and all the people who have bought me books about science and all different topics over the years?

[Molly Bloom]

That's lovely. Before we go, let's check in and see who Emmy thinks should win the Pusheen versus hello Kitty debate. I know that it'll be Pusheen because like, she's just adorable and she is just so fluffy and cute and she just comes in like mermaids, unicorns, everything. She's just so adorable.

[Yasmin]

Smash Man Best is a non nonprofit public radio program.

[Molly Bloom]

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, drag out debate, head to smashboom.org contact and drop us a line. And make sure to sign up for the Brains on Universe newsletter for bonus activities, reading recommendations, conversation starters, and more. We'll be back with a new smashboom Best debate battle next week. Bye Bye Bye.

[Mark Popinchock]

Hey Good big. I mean goodbye. Thanks for pretending to remain impartial at this point.

[Molly Bloom]

I'm sorry.