Tyranosaurus Rex vs Triceratops

Summary

Smash Boom Best: Tyrannosaurus Rex vs Triceratops

Podcast: Smash Boom Best, Brains On Universe
Episode Date: February 5, 2026
Host: Molly Bloom
Debaters: Riley Black (author, paleontologist, T. Rex advocate), Callie Moore (paleontologist, PBS Eons host, Triceratops advocate)
Judge: Siddharth from Houston, Texas

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Episode Overview

This episode of Smash Boom Best pits two prehistoric giants against each other in a friendly but fierce debate: Tyrannosaurus Rex vs. Triceratops. With a kid and family-friendly approach, expert debaters Riley Black and Callie Moore bring out their best dino facts, passion, and humor to convince the judge—and listeners—which is the ultimate dinosaur. Judge Siddharth, a dino fanatic, helps guide the debate through four rounds: Declaration of Greatness, Micro Round, Sneak Attack, and the Final Six.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introductions & Opening Banter (00:55–05:18)

• Host Molly introduces the contestants, highlights their credentials, and builds excitement for a “dino debate 65 million years in the making.”
• Riley Black is introduced as the T. Rex defender, with recent work “Tyrant Lizard: The Love Life and Terror of Earth’s Greatest Carnivore.”
• Callie Moore represents Triceratops as a paleontologist, science communicator, and fossil curator.
• Judge Siddharth shares his love for dinosaurs and birds, and offers guidance: “Lean into the facts and what sets your dinosaur apart...what makes it better than the other one?” (04:26)

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Declaration of Greatness & Rebuttals

Tyrannosaurus Rex: Riley Black (05:41–09:21)

• Points:

  • T. Rex is the undisputed dinosaur celebrity—front of museum exhibits, star of movies, skull is the Jurassic Park logo.
  • Name means “tyrant lizard king.” Described historically as “a prize fighter of antiquity.” (06:25)
  • “Triceratops must have waged a rather unequal combat.” — Quote from a 1900s reporter, dramatized (06:25–06:41)
  • Physical prowess: teeth like bananas, bite as powerful as “13 grand pianos slamming down on you.”
  • Even small arms were stronger than people think.
  • Personal inspiration: T. Rex as a “gateway dino” that hooks new dinosaur fans and future paleontologists.
  • T. Rex inspires ongoing scientific debate and research: scavenger or hunter, scaly or feathery—still unresolved mysteries.

• Memorable Quote:
  “T. Rex is like a celebrity we can’t stop gossiping about. Except all the gossip comes in the form of research papers…” — Riley Black (08:28)

Triceratops: Callie Moore’s Rebuttal (10:03–10:37)

• Points:
  • T. Rex is “played out...the Taylor Swift of the dinosaur world.”
  • Triceratops fossils have been known longer; T. Rex was discovered by people originally seeking Triceratops.
  • There are “loads of fossils of Triceratops”—more abundant and well-known.

Triceratops: Callie Moore (12:32–16:11)

• Points:

  • Triceratops was a “powerhouse” with huge frills and horns, looking like “nature already gave them a crown.”
  • Massive: up to 10 tons, skull as big as a truck bed.
  • Plant-eaters—could “chill and share a salad,” not a threat to humans.
  • Could fight back: fossil evidence shows Triceratops survived T. Rex attacks.
  • “If the Cretaceous period was high school, T. Rex would be the bully; Triceratops would stand up to the bully.”
  • Horns may have been used for mate selection.
  • “They’ve taught us a ton” — Triceratops fossils are plentiful, helping paleontologists reconstruct Cretaceous ecosystems.

• Memorable Moment/Dialogue:
  Triceratops as a high school student facing a T. Rex bully (14:27):
  “Hey, give me your lunch money or I'm gonna eat you here.” — T. Rex (Molly)
  “Just stop pushing me into my locker with your tiny but mighty arms.” — Triceratops (Callie)

T. Rex: Riley Black’s Rebuttal (16:51–17:15)

• Points:
  • Triceratops’ impressive size evolved because of T. Rex predation—“Triceratops being big and impressive owes a little bit of gratitude to T. Rex.”

Judge’s Reflections on the Declarations

• Siddharth appreciates the “ambassador” aspect of T. Rex and the “bully vs. defender” analogy for Triceratops.
  (T. Rex: 09:30, Triceratops: 16:17)

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Micro Round (22:17–26:00)

Each debater presents three rapid-fire fun facts or arguments.

Triceratops Highlights (Callie):

• The frill may have changed color, possibly for patterns to scare predators or impress other Triceratops—like a “dino peacock or cuttlefish.” (22:17)
• Recent finds suggest Triceratops may have lived in herds or family groups—abundant fossils offer insight into their social lives. (23:37)
• Up to 800 teeth, some shaped like modern fighting knives, able to eat plants other dinosaurs couldn’t handle. (24:49)

T. Rex Highlights (Riley):

• Naming almost differed: could have been “Dynamosaurus imperiosus,” but “Tyrannosaurus rex” persisted—it just sounds cooler. (23:02)
• Eyes “the size of oranges,” excellent binocular vision for hunting. (24:15)
• Star power: Iconic “Rexy” from Jurassic Park; the roaring sound we know is a blend of real animal recordings, “the most iconic dino in all of cinema.” (25:26)

Judge’s Take:
“I really liked Callie’s points about the Triceratops...frill could change colors...the new discovery about it being in a herd. From Riley, I really liked their point about the eyes...and Rexy’s roar.” (26:07)

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Sneak Attack: Speed Facts (28:22–29:39)

Debaters rattle off as many facts as possible about their dinosaur—in one breath.

• Riley (T. Rex, 28:33):
  Baby T. Rex “the size of a raven,” grew up to 40 ft. and 9+ tons, air pockets in bones for growing large...
• Callie (Triceratops, 29:09):
  “We have so many of them”—babies and adults, cranulations (bumpy edges) on frills, horns moved as they grew...

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Final Six (30:14–30:40)

Each debater sums up their side in exactly six words.

• Triceratops (Callie):
  “Triceratops are colorful spike heads with attitudes.”

• T. Rex (Riley):
  “Come for the king. Get chomped.”

Judge’s Decision:
“It was neck and neck up until the final six. I just think that Callie’s point about them being colorful...the final six was really persuasive and summed up a lot of the cool arguments that she made.” (31:23)

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Winner Announced (31:05)

Judge Siddharth chooses:
🏆 Triceratops!

Reaction:

• “What an upset.” — Riley (31:08)
• “I was just dancing around my living room.” — Callie (31:10)

Congratulatory Dialogue:

• “Entirely deserved. I was secretly rooting for Triceratops kind of this whole time...If we discussed dinosaurs in real life, the hours would just melt by.” — Riley to Callie (32:16)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Triceratops is played out...the Taylor Swift of the dinosaur world.” — Callie (10:03)
• “Triceratops being big and impressive owes a little bit of gratitude to T. Rex for making that evolutionarily possible.” — Riley (16:51)
• “T. Rex is like a celebrity we can’t stop gossiping about. Except all the gossip comes in the form of research papers…” — Riley (08:28)
• “Triceratops are colorful spike heads with attitudes.” — Callie, Final Six (30:25)
• “Come for the king. Get chomped.” — Riley, Final Six (30:37)
• “For me, it was neck and neck up until the final six...the final six was really persuasive and summed up a lot of the cool arguments.” — Siddharth (31:23)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro, debater/judge intros: 00:55–05:18
• Declaration of Greatness (T. Rex): 05:41–09:21
• T. Rex rebuttal (Callie): 10:03–10:37
• Declaration of Greatness (Triceratops): 12:32–16:11
• Triceratops rebuttal (Riley): 16:51–17:15
• Micro Round: 22:17–26:00
• Sneak Attack: 28:22–29:39
• Final Six: 30:14–30:40
• Winner Announced: 31:05–32:16

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Tone & Style

The debate is infused with playful wit, imaginative analogies (high school bullies, salad parties, dino peacocks), and family-friendly humor. Both debaters ground their cases in science, but double down on personality, visual imagery, and personal connections. The judge, Siddharth, participates thoughtfully and enthusiastically.

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Conclusion

Triceratops claims victory, thanks to compelling arguments about its evolutionary success, vibrant (possibly colorful) frills, social mystery, and abundance in the fossil record. T. Rex remains the king of pop culture and speculative science, but Triceratops takes the crown as Smash Boom Best—at least for today.

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For Listener Participation

Listeners are encouraged to vote for their winner at smashboom.org. The episode wraps with gratitude, celebratory banter, and shout-outs from participants.

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Transcript

[A]

Lemonade.

[B]

Brains on Universe.

[A]

Have you heard the news? Smash Boom Best is now independent. We're so excited to be back with an epic new season. And it's all thanks to our Smartypass members. They're the big hearted helpers who power us by [e-mail] you can be one of them. Your support helps pay our debaters and sound designers so we can keep making the fun and fun fact filled shows your family loves. Plus you get ad free versions of all of our shows. Bonus stuff and access to virtual hangs with me, Molly Again, that's smartypass.org thank you, thank you, thank you. Now on with the show.

[B]

From the brains behind Brains on. It's Smash Boom Best, the show for people with big opinions.

[A]

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. Get ready for a dino debate where two colossal creatures will fight tooth and claw to be crowned the Smashboom beast. It's Tyrannosaurus rex versus Triceratops, a debate 65 million years in the making. Here to fight for T. Rex with its mean mouth and mini arms, we've got author and paleontologist Riley Black. Riley even just wrote a book called Tyrant Lizard the Love Life and Terror of Earth's Greatest Carnivore. Hi, Riley.

[C]

Hello. Much like a T. Rex, I cannot wait to sink my teeth into this debate.

[A]

Yes. So Riley, what is your book about?

[C]

So my book's really about the life of a T. Rex. Bringing all the science that we know that we've uncovered thus far about how they hatched, how they grew up, how they nested, how they fought each other, hunted other dinosaurs. Really taking, you know, over 100 years of paleontological research about T. Rex and really bringing the animal to life.

[A]

Ooh, I cannot wait to read it. Next up, it's got four legs, three horns and a shield like frill on its head. It's Triceratops. And here to hype it up is paleontologist, PBS eons host and curator of the University of Montana fossil collection, Callie Moore.

[B]

Hello.

[D]

I am so excited to be here repping my favorite dinosaur, Triceratops.

[A]

And our judge for this super sized debate is Siddharth from Houston, Texas. Siddharth is a fellow dino fanatic, a bird watcher, which basically means he watches modern dinos, he loves cooking and does traditional Asiatic art.

[B]

Hi, Siddharth, I'm Molly.

[A]

So why do you love dinosaurs so much? Can you describe it?

[B]

I just Think they're such cool creatures. And it started when I got a book about dinosaurs and I just really liked the illustrations and that got me interested in to dinosaurs and then that slowly evolved into a love for birds as well.

[A]

So do you have a current favorite dinosaur?

[B]

That's, that's tough. But I think one of my favorites has to be Struthiomimus just because it's, it's called ostrich mimic and it's an ostrich like dinosaur that is known to be probably one of the fastest dinosaurs that has ever lived.

[A]

So I know you love to cook too, and I heard you have a special hot cocoa recipe called Siddharth's unnecessarily complicated but mind blowing hot chocolate. Tell me about this hot chocolate recipe. If you can share the secret.

[B]

This is just some hot cocoa that I made when I got bored once. So what I did was I melted chocolate and cream in a pot and then let it simmer and then added cocoa powder, small, a little bit of vanilla extract, some cinnamon powder, and then mixed that up and then at the very end I added some milk. So it's just really rich and it's really thick.

[A]

Sounds amazing. What other things do you like to cook?

[B]

I like to bake cakes and like pies. So over Thanksgiving me and my mom actually made an apple galette which is similar to like, like a rustic apple pie.

[A]

Incredible. Sounds like I want to come hang out with you and your mom. I'm inviting myself over. I hope that's okay.

[B]

That's perfectly fine.

[A]

So what advice do you have for our debaters today?

[B]

Lean into like the facts and how, what sets your dinosaur apart from others that may be similar to it and just what makes it better than the other one?

[A]

Very good advice. Will Siddharth pick T. Rex or Triceratops? Let's find out. 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 Siddharth will award points to the team that impresses him the most. But he'll keep keep his 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, Riley, Callie and Siddharth, are you ready?

[B]

Yes, I'm ready.

[C]

Yeah, hit me with it.

[D]

Ready to rumble.

[A]

Excellent. Well, 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 Riley, you're up first. Implore us to pick Tyrannosaurus.

[C]

This debate almost isn't fair. Because T Rex, it's not just a star of the dinosaur world, it's the star. Its skull is the Jurassic park logo. Its bones are front and center at museums. Its legend is the stuff of, well, legend. But it's worth debating, if only to remind you why T Rex is so popular. The first of the dinosaurs, bones known to paleontologists were dug up and named a little over a hundred years ago. They were dubbed Tyrannosaurus Rex, which means tyrant lizard king. No dinosaur name goes harder. One reporter back then called T Rex a prize fighter of antiquity. And that was when only its legs were on display. And they went on to describe how it would do in a battle against Triceratops.

[D]

Pitted against the alert and towering tyrant lizard, who ran with great agility on his two hind feet and could play frightful havoc with his savage canine teeth, the Triceratops must have waged a rather unequal combat.

[C]

Or put another way, Triceratops didn't stand a chance. After decades of study and loads more fossils, we still think T Rex is one of the greatest predators ever. It had teeth the size of bananas. Its bite was as powerful as 13 grand pianos slamming down on you. According to some research, even its tiny front arms were probably a lot stronger than you think. But you don't need all those facts to get it. You just need to see one. I remember being a kid wandering the halls of the American Museum of Natural History when I saw my first a T Rex skeleton.

[B]

Oh, wow, a T Rex skeleton. I definitely love dinosaurs now.

[C]

It helped inspire a lifelong obsession. And that's another reason T Rex is tops. It's an ambassador for all dinosaur kind. The gateway dino, the one that grabs your attention and gets you hooked. And next thing you know, you're out in Montana, knee deep in dirt, looking for fossils of your own. And even if T Rex isn't your favorite dinosaur, you probably still know a ton about it because it's so impressive. Lastly, T Rex is great for debate. No, not this debate. I mean, it is great for Smashboom Best, but I was talking about scientific debate. T Rex is so popular that people have strong opinions about it. In the world of science, you need strong research to back that. And T Rex has inspired lots of debate. And lots of research. I read that it's actually a scavenger. T. Rex just ate things that were already dead.

[A]

No way.

[D]

My evidence says it was a hunter. A floofy, feathery hunter, like big bird with teeth.

[C]

What nonsense. It was scaly, like Godzilla. I have research to prove it. T Rex is like a celebrity we can't stop gossiping about. Except all the gossip comes in the form of research papers based on scientific evidence. Like any celebrity, T Rex's life is a little messy, with lots of rumors and unanswered questions, which means there's still plenty of things for curious people like you to figure out. So, yeah, this dino is the real deal. It's captivating, it's terrifying, it's fascinating, it's mysterious, and it's just plain cool. Why settle for an okay dino like Triceratops when you can pick the king, the final boss, the dino that keeps delivering thrills and chills even after 6,66 million years of extinction. If you want the best, it's gotta be T. Rex.

[A]

The king and queen and all the things in between of the dinosaurs. Siddharth, what stood out to you about Riley's declaration of greatness?

[B]

I really liked how Riley talked about how iconic the T Rex was and referred to it as, like, the ambassador of the dinosaur world. I could also relate to when they talked about how it got you hooked into dinosaurs, since it was definitely one of the dinosaurs that got me hooked into wanting to learn more about them.

[A]

Very good. Okay, Callie, it is time for your rebuttal. You've got 30 seconds to defang some of Riley's arguments. And your time starts now.

[D]

All right, while I do agree that T Rex is everywhere and you see T. Rex everywhere, I almost think that T Rex has gotten played out. Almost over saturated. Kind of like the T. The Taylor Swift of the dinosaur world. Also, T. Rex was found when the paleontologists were actually going out to find more Triceratops bones. So Triceratops has been known longer than T Rex has been, and we have loads of fossils of T. Rex time. Dang, 30 seconds is so fast.

[A]

It's so fast. T. Swift, T. Rex a lot in common.

[C]

I'd say there's nothing wrong with the populist choice. I mean, T Rex is everywhere for a reason. We can't get enough of the dinosaur. Imagine, you know, Jurassic park film or a dinosaur game or really anything without a T Rex in it. It's like, yeah, they're kind of everywhere, but we'd be a little bit disappointed if they didn't show up.

[A]

Very interesting. All right, we've got some big beasts and even bigger arguments. We're going to hear more in just a second, so stick around. Today's episode is sponsored by Quince. Okay. My whole family loves Quince. I have bought stuff there for myself, my husband and my daughter. These pieces really feel like they are made to last. Quince uses the highest quality materials, like 100% European linen and organic cotton. Everything is built to hold up season after season. So truly my favorite item of clothing for the past year has been this orange cardigan that is made out of 100% organic cotton. It is so cozy. I wear it all the time and it has held up so well. I've washed it and worn it a ton and it still looks new. Refresh your wardrobe with quince. Go to quince.com smashboom Best for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Q-U-I-N c e.com smashboombest to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com smashboombest. Best Smash smashboom Best okay, we are back and it's your turn, Callie, to sound off. Tell us why Triceratops are totally top tier.

[D]

Triceratops were the powerhouses of the late Cretaceous period. These four legged phenoms are known for their massive beaks, huge frills, and of course, the two ginormous horns above their eyes and one on their nose Looks wise. That's hard to beat. It's like nature already gave them a crown for being the best dino ever. But there's much more to these beloved beasties than their horns. Triceratops weighed as much as 10 tons. That's like an elephant. And since their horns and frills were so large, their skulls were super big too. Roughly 8ft long. That's kind of about the size of a truck bed. With their incredible size, these powerful, monstrous, tremendous creatures would eat plants. Yep, these giants were vegans. The entire Jurassic park franchise is based on all the problems meat eating dinos cause. But if it was just Triceratops, you'd just chill and share a salad. Oh, my gosh. Oh my gosh. The Triceratops is coming this way. What are we gonna do?

[A]

Excuse me, human, but do you have any extra croutons? Oh, sure.

[D]

Who doesn't appreciate some extra crunch in their salad? Let's skip around this meadow together when we're done eating. Best theme park ever. But just because it wouldn't eat you. Doesn't mean Triceratops couldn't throw down if it was attacked. Like, imagine if the Cretaceous period was high school. T. Rex would definitely be the bully.

[A]

Hey, give me your lunch money or I'm gonna eat you here.

[D]

Just stop pushing me into my locker with your tiny but mighty arms. You know who could stand up to that bully? That's right.

[A]

Hey, Rex, back off. Whoa.

[B]

It's a Triceratops.

[A]

Okay, okay, I'll back off. Just put those horns away. No can do, buddy. They're part of my head.

[D]

There's fossil evidence that suggests these three horned heroes actually battled T. Rex and survived. That's tough. But researchers think they did more than scare off mean old meat eaters. They may have also used their horns to duel one another to win over potential mates. How cool would it be to see that? Just imagine two 8 ton Triceratops shove fighting like two angry bumper cars. Another reason to love Triceratops is that they've taught us a ton. Because their sturdy skulls do such a good job of lasting overtime. Triceratops fossils aren't rare. Scientists have plenty of them. So they can use their skulls and skull fragments to gain a greater understanding of these creatures lives, as well as the lives of other dinos living in the late Cretaceous period. So if you're looking for a monster to gobble you up, then say yes to the Rex. But if you're looking for a well of knowledge, a powerful fighter, and a hunter herbivore you can adore, then I suggest you join team Triceratops.

[A]

Okay, I'd like to give a hunky herbivore a hug. Siddharth, what stood out to you about Callie's argument there?

[B]

I think when she was talking about how huge the Triceratops was, and when she used the analogy of it like being able to stand up to a bully, it really showed how powerful it was. I also liked when she's talking about how because the Triceratops is so abundant, it gives paleontologists a much greater understanding of it and its surroundings.

[A]

Hmm. Very, very good. Okay, Riley, it is time for your rebuttal. You've got 30 seconds to tear apart Callie's case and your time starts now.

[C]

Callie made some excellent points about why Triceratops is so big and impressive. But part of that is because it owes it to T. Rex. T Rex ate baby and juvenile and subadult Triceratops all the time, causing that to grow really, really big. Really, really fast. Grow those impressive horns. So Triceratops being big and Impressive. Owes a little bit of gratitude to T. Rex for making that evolutionarily possible.

[A]

You have eight seconds.

[C]

I rest my case.

[A]

Short and sweet.

[D]

I will say that it is fun to think about the evolutionary pressure of a predator on their prey species, but I think T Rex might have done a little bit too good of a job because some of the Triceratops have incredible horns. So we, we talk about how big they were, but the largest eyebrow horns that we know actually comes from a Triceratops called Yoshi's Trike. And they're almost four feet long. But that's just the horn core. You have to put like fingernail material keratin on top of that so it could be even like a foot longer. So 5 foot horns behind an 8 to 10 ton animal trying to spear a T. Rex. So I think, I think it might have done too good. They it created its own worse weapon.

[A]

Okay, Siddharth, we've heard a lot of good arguments here, but it's time to award 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 have more facts? Did one team really bring the emotion? It's entirely subjective and entirely up to you. Award your points, but don't tell us who they're going to. Have you made your decision?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Excellent. Cali and Riley, how are you two feeling so far?

[D]

I feel good.

[C]

I'm feeling good. Got the champ in my corner.

[D]

I've got the crown on my head already.

[A]

All right, it is time for a quick break. Chew on a prehistoric plant or go stock a sauropod.

[B]

And we'll be right back with more smash.

[A]

Boom. Best.

[D]

You're listening to State of Debate. Home to raging rhetoric and awe inspiring argumentation.

[E]

Ahoy debate mates. It's debate fanatic and captain of the doggone great cruise ship, Todd Douglas. And please put your paws together for Taylor Lincoln.

[F]

Ahoy, Todd. I still can't believe we managed to land this gig running a cruise ship for dogs.

[E]

Anything is possible when you put your mind to it. Tay Tay.

[F]

Right you are, T dog. And it just so happens that I have a real tail wagger of a logical fallacy today.

[E]

A logical fallacy is a weak sauce argument that makes a debate easy to disprove.

[F]

It all started when one of our four legged friends witnessed this co worker spat.

[A]

Who's a good girl? That's right.

[B]

Ella's a good girl.

[D]

Oh great Cath. Another dog in the office.

[A]

Wait a sec, Jen, you don't like dogs? Ever since the law offices of buyers, buyers and sellers started allowing us to bring our well behaved pooches to work, the mood has really lightened up around here.

[D]

Sure, but what next? First it's dogs, next cats, then orangutans and hippos. By this time next year, we could start charging people to visit the buyers, buyers and sellers Zoo.

[F]

Bow wow wow. Jen's argument is pretty rough. Looks like we've got a slippery slope fallacy on our hands.

[E]

Yeah, just because their workplace allows dogs doesn't mean all kinds of animals will be allowed in. That kind of slippery thinking might get Jen sent to the dog house. While the cruise ship is about to dock, can you prepare our canine companions?

[F]

Aye aye, captain. Attention poochies. Get ready for an absolute treat. We're about to dock at Fetch island where rope toys are plentiful and there are two tennis balls for each and every one of you. Now go get em.

[E]

We'll see you next time on State of Debate.

[D]

Smash Boom.

[C]

Best.

[A]

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

[B]

And I'm your judge, Siddharth.

[A]

And we love getting debate suggestions from our listeners. Like this tasty one.

[B]

My name is Liam and my Smashboom Best debate idea is corn dogs versus funnel cake. I'm down to eat whichever side wins or loses. I'll eat both. Honestly, they're both delicious.

[A]

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

[B]

Now let's get back to our debate. Tyrannosaurus Rex versus Triceratops.

[A]

Yes. And it's time for round two, the micro round. Callie and Riley will each get three chances to make a micro argument backed by a cool fact. Riley went first in the previous round. So Kelly, you start this time. Let's hear your first fact.

[D]

Triceratops is the peacock of dinosaurs. Not only was its headgear impressive, some researchers think that the frills, the shield part, might have changed color. This is a wild but fascinating theory. Evidence suggests those frills had a lot of blood vessels. And some researchers think that maybe those blood vessels would fill to make patterns that scare off predators. Color change patterns. Like a dino. Cuttlefish. Or maybe this was used to impress other Triceratops. So it's like a dinosaur. Peacock Cuttlefish. Color changing. Amazing dinosaur. Either way, it's totally tops.

[A]

Amazing.

[C]

Would a T. Rex by another name still be as cool? Well, we almost found out around the same time that T Rex was getting named, another similar fossil was dug up and called Dynamosaurus Imperiosus. It seemed to even have armor plates. Later scientists figured out that these were the same animal with some Ankylosaurus mixed in to old Dynamosaurus. But since the name Tyrannosaurus rex came first in the report about them, that's the name that stuck. If we went with dinosaurs Imperiosus, would the animal still be as popular? And would the nickname be Dina Imp? Dina Impe. I'm glad we got T Rex.

[D]

So there's been some arguments over what name T Rex should be named, but there's also kind of a mystery about Triceratops. And one of the big questions is, is did it travel solo or in herds for a long time? The evidence suggests that they were mostly solo dinosaurs because we didn't find fossils in large groups. But a more recent discovery showed us five Triceratops that appeared to live together. Were they a family? Part of a huge herd? What were their social dynamics like? Would they have been my friend? So many fun questions left to answer.

[C]

Well, on that subject of why they grouped together, it's because there was a big hungry carnivore watching them from the shadows of these prehistoric forests. Because we know that T Rex probably had killer eyes too. Research suggests that their peepers are the size of oranges, making the largest of any land animal. And their eyes face forward, high in the head and space relatively far apart. This leads paleontologists to think that T Rex can gauge distances just like we do with our forward facing eyes. Also perfect for the world's most terrifying staring contestants.

[D]

My, what big eyes you have. T. Rex. But T Rex wasn't the only one with also terrific teeth. Triceratops had powerful chompers, as many as 800 in their mouth at a time. They had shapes that sliced and looked like something you'd see today on a a sword or a fighting knife. Researchers think this helped Triceratops munch on harder plants that other dinosaurs couldn't handle. So just because it didn't eat meat doesn't mean it didn't have a fierce bite.

[C]

You certainly had me there for tooth count. I can't beat you on that one. But when it comes to star power, I don't know if we can do better than T Rex. And part of that star power is the roar. So T Rex from the original Jurassic Park Rexy is probably the most iconic dino in all of cinema. To get that signature bone chilling roar, sound effects artists use a mixture of noises from lions, alligators, whales, and baby elephants. Researchers think the real T. Rex probably didn't sound like that, but, you know, never stopped Hollywood before. And honestly, I think it works.

[A]

Oh, excellent work, you guys. Wonderful facts all around. So, Darth, what stood out to you about this micro round?

[B]

I really liked Callie's points about how the Triceratops could change colors in its frill, because I've actually seen that in in a few documentaries. And I think about the new discovery, about it being in a herd. I think that's also very interesting. And from Riley, I really like their point about the eyes. So the eyes, the size of oranges and the binocular vision. And I can also really agree with their point about Rexy because I'm a huge Jurassic park fan and I really think Rexy's roar is really cool and that she's really iconic. Dinosaur indeed.

[A]

Okay, so, Siddharth, there are so many good facts you learned. So, I mean, I learned a lot. You might have known that stuff already, but it was so cool. So please, Siddharth, it is time to award a point. Did someone make you think? Did someone make you feel? Did someone pique your curiosity? Totally subjective. Totally up to you. Have you made your decision?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Fantastic. Hold tight. We'll be right back with more debate after this. Want smashboom? Best without the ad breaks? Join Smartypass and get an ad free feed of this and all the other brains on universe shows. Plus, you'll get to do virtual hangs with me and the crew and discounts on merch. Sign [e-mail] thanks. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Smash. We are back and 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 Speed Facts. Your job is to spit out as many cool facts and points about your side as you can muster, but only in one breath. You can repeat facts from before. You can make facts against the other side. Whatever you want, but you only got one breath. Does that make sense, debaters?

[D]

Yes, I'm ready.

[A]

Okay, we're gonna see about our lung capacity. Okay, so we're going to start with Riley. Take a big breath and then go whenever you're ready.

[C]

So baby T Rex started out about the size of a raven. And through their lifetime, they grew to about 40ft long and 9 tons, perhaps even little bit more, based upon some of the largest specimens that we know of. They could get so big because their skeletons had all these Air pockets in them, which Triceratops did not have because they belonged to entirely different groups of dinosaurs. And they took a breath there.

[A]

It's hard. That was amazing. This is really hard. It's really hard. It's so hard. Okay, Callie, you got some. You got a deep breath in you. Whenever you're ready, inhale, and let the facts fly.

[D]

Triceratops is one of the coolest dinosaurs, I think, because we have so many of them. We have little, bitty, teeny, tiny babies. We have a little bit bigger babies. We have adults and everything in between. And a lot of the frill along the top has these little cranulations. And they were unattached when they were babies, and they became attached when they were babies, and their horns moved different directions as they grew.

[A]

Oh, amazing. Amazing. Very impressive.

[D]

I was basically walking myself through the Museum of the Rockies Ontogeny series.

[A]

Perfect. You know, it worked. I loved it. All right, Siddharth, it is time to award a point for this fast and sneaky sneak attack. Think about which side impressed you the most and award your fourth point. Have you made your decision?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

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

[B]

The final six.

[A]

In this round, each team will have just six words to sum up the glory of their side. Callie, toot your horn for the terrific Triceratops.

[D]

Triceratops are colorful spike heads with attitudes.

[A]

Ooh. Very nice. Okay, Riley, it is your turn. Six words on why? The one with the bite is dino mite.

[C]

Come for the king. Get chomped.

[A]

Very nice, very nice. All right, Siddharth, it is time to award a final point for the final six. Have you made your decision?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Okay, tally up those points. Are you ready to crown one team, the Smashboom best?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

All right, drumroll, please. And the winner is.

[B]

Triceratops.

[D]

Oh, my gosh.

[C]

What an upset.

[D]

Oh, man. I was just dancing around my living room.

[A]

Siddharth.

[C]

I have to update some books about this.

[A]

So, Siddharth, was there a moment that decided things for you?

[B]

For me, it was neck and neck up until the final six. And I just think that Callie's point about them being, like, colorful, and I just thought the final six was really persuasive and summed up a lot of the cool arguments that she made.

[A]

Very, very good.

[D]

First, thank you so much, Siddharth, for this honor of being the Smashboom Best Triceratops winning team over here. But, Riley, I really appreciate the knowledge that you brought to this. I mean, you've written the book on T. Rex, so it's so cool to hear some of your facts that you know about T. Rex, come to this debate and yeah, that was. That was a tough fight. That was real. As it would have been in real life too. That was a tough battle.

[C]

Allie, of course, congratulations on your win. Entirely deserved. I was secretly rooting for Triceratops kind of this whole time. But it's so clear how much you know about this dinosaur. When you mentioned you can envision the Museum of the Rockies and going through the exhibits and the growth series and the ontogeny and all the recent discoveries and stuff, you're so on top of it. I could visualize exactly what you're talking about. I'm sure if we discussed dinosaurs in real life, like the hours would just melt by. You have an incredible font of info about paleontology and thank you for sharing it.

[A]

Well, that is it for today's debate battle. Sidharth crowned Triceratops to Smashboom best. But what about you?

[B]

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

[A]

This episode was produced by me, Molly Bloom and Sandon Totten. We had sound designed by Mark Sanchez and he also wrote our theme song. We had engineering help from Fujiyo Watanabe. Our announcer is Marley Foyer, Worker Auto. And we want to give a special thanks to Austin Cross and Taylor Kaufman. Riley, is there anyone you'd like to give a shout out to today?

[C]

Certainly. I'd love to give a shout out to my dog Jet, who has been here curled up, snoring away with me the whole time. And he's been out in the field with me, actually helped me found some fossils. So I gotta give him a shout out for that. He's helped me bring some fossils back for us to study.

[A]

Aw, that's awesome. And how about you, Callie? Any special shout outs?

[D]

Man, I wish my cat could do that. I mean, he likes to smell stuff if I bring him in the house, but he definitely isn't gonna go out.

[A]

In the field with me.

[D]

I guess I'll give a shout out to Eons. If you want to hear more about a lot of cool dinosaur stuff and ancient earth and in paleontology, check out our channel, PBS Eons.

[A]

Awesome. We will link to that and Riley's book in the show notes. And how about you, Siddharth? Any special thanks or shout outs?

[B]

I'd like to give a special shout out to my mom for driving me here and also for sparking my interest in dinosaurs.

[A]

A thanks Basuda. Okay, before we go, let's check in and see who Leo thinks should win the corn dog versus Funnel cake debate.

[B]

I think corndog should win because you.

[A]

Can put different sauces on it and.

[B]

It'S got the breading.

[A]

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 if you're a fan of the show and want to keep it going, head to smartypast.org to subscribe. We'll be back next week with a new smashboom best episode Episode Sledding versus Rock climbing Toodaloo. Okay, bye.

[C]

Farewell, everybody.

[B]

Bye Bye.

[D]

Oh yeah, if you want a a deep dive nerd sesh, we could probably do that for what you got. Well, how many hours do you have? How long can you record for?

[A]

Until my hard drive is full. I would love it.