Moon vs Sun (1)
Announcer: From the brains behind Brains On!, it's Smash Boom Best.
Lillian: The show for people with big opinions.
Announcer: From the brains behind Brains On!, it's Smash Boom Best!
Lillian: The show for people with big opinions!
Molly: I'm Molly Bloom and this is the show where we take two things, smash them together, and let you decide which is best. Today, we've got an epic intergalactic battle between two legendary orbs in our sky. They are as different as day and night, and you've certainly seen them both. It's sun versus moon. Which celebrated celestial body will snag the title of Smash Boom Best? Lillian is here to help us decide. Hi, Lillian.
Lillian: Hi.
Molly: So Lillian, when I say sun, what comes to mind?
Lillian: I just think of that big yellow circle in the sky. [laughs]
Molly: Ever-present day after day. And what is your favorite thing about the sun?
Lillian: I think that it keeps me warm. Like sometimes I like to go outside and just stay under the sun for warmth.
Molly: Oh, a little basking in the sun, I like it. What do you think about when I say the word moon?
Lillian: I think about tides and stuff, and especially a bunch of astrology, Zodiac signs, and all because I know that people use the moon to predict how they're going to feel or something like that.
Molly: Got you. What is your favorite thing about the moon?
Lillian: I really like when the moon is bright at night, when the moonlight just shines through your window at night, that's just the most beautiful thing ever.
Molly: Oh, I see you have a poetic heart. Lillian, what is your involvement with debate?
Lillian: Currently, I'm a junior and I've been in debate since I was a freshman, so it's been about three years that I've been in debate.
Molly: You are a debate expert. What advice do you have for our debaters today?
Lillian: I would say just have fun. That's one of the things I love most about debate, it's a fun activity.
Molly: A very positive approach to debate. All right, time to meet today's debaters. Here to rep mighty, magnetic, oh so mysterious Team Moon, it's Katie McVay. Hi, Katie.
Katie: Hi.
Molly: Katie, in a single sentence, why is the moon clearly the coolest?
Katie: Let's put it this way, if the moon were a person, they would give you a ride to the airport.
Molly: Very nice.
Katie: That's the kind of person they would be.
(chuckles)
Molly: Old, reliable moon. Here to argue for the literal star of our solar system, it's Jed Kim for Team Sun. Hi, Jed.
Jed: Hey, how's it going?
Molly: In one sentence, Jed, why is the sun superior?
Jed: The sun makes so many things possible from life to technology to those t-shirts that change colors and are really cool.
Molly: Excellent illuminating points from both sides already. Now, before we start let's recap the rounds. Round one is the Declaration of Greatness using facts, logic, and top-notch storytelling, our debaters will present the most persuasive arguments for their side.
They'll also each have 30 seconds to rebut their opponent's declaration. Round two is the Micro Round, a creative challenge each side has prepared for in advance. Round three is the Sneak Attack, a surprise challenge each debater will have to respond to on the spot. Lastly, the final six. In this round, each team will have just six words to make their case. Okay, debaters, are you ready?
Katie: Absolutely.
Jed: Super ready.
Molly: Awesome, that means it's time for the--
Announcer: Declaration of Greatness.
Molly: Lillian, you will be awarding two points in this round, one for the best declaration and one for the best rebuttal, but don't tell us who you've given your points to until the very end of the debate. We've flipped a coin and Katie, you are up first. Light up our minds with the magnificence of Team Moon.
Katie:
Let me set the scene. Space. 4.5 billion years ago. The earth is young.
Well, maybe not that young, but young. That Earth is different from the earth we know today. It's molten, volcanic. And it's got different neighbors—not Mercury and Mars, but rather, Theia, a planetary body around the same size as young proto-Earth.
Everything is going fine for Theia and proto-Earth——until one day, Theia drifts a little too close to proto-Earth and… THWACK!
The two bodies collide, creating enough debris to create Earth's best friend and sibling, the moon.
Moon: Oh, hi!
Earth: Oh… hello. I'm so glad you're here! I'm Earth.
Moon: I'm the moon.
Earth: Oh my gosh. I love your style.
Moon: Right back at you.
Earth: I think we're going to be best friends.
And that's what I'm going to talk about—the best planetary body out there: the moon. The moon rules because it is earth's best friend. (Sorry, sun! But you know it's true!)
Moon and Earth aren't exactly the same. They're different, but that's what makes their relationship stronger. And of course, the moon and earth would always tell one another that they have great hair—if either of them had hair, I mean.
Because the moon is made up of a little of Theia and a little of proto-Earth, the moon has a slightly different makeup than Earth. The moon is denser, with a different type of atmosphere.
Atmosphere is the layer of gases that surrounds a planetary body. The moon's atmosphere—unlike Earth's—doesn't have oxygen and is much thinner than ours.
And there's less gravity on the moon! Which makes it like a super awesome bounce house that you don't have to take your shoes off for.
In 1969, with the landing of Apollo 11, humans got to meet the moon face to face for the very first time!
Not only did Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong have a blast bouncing and making history, they collected rocks and other soil samples… which have become the basis for a lot of concrete information we know about the moon's make-up and origins.
And like any good best friend: the moon is always down to hang. In fact, one day—you might be able to visit the moon, too!
There's already tons of cool stuff up there to look at, and I don't just mean the moon's thousands of craters. Did you know there's an art museum on the moon?
That's right, I said art museum. In 1969, NASA launched the Intrepid into space. And six intrepid—forgive me, terrible joke—artists had the idea to get their art where it had never gone before: space. Sculptor Forrest Myers created a small ceramic tile he called “the Moon Museum” and attached it to one of the Intrepid's legs. He and five other artists covered it in small drawings and—boom!—art museum on the moon.
Try that on the sun. You can't! The sun is important but you'll never be able to visit. You'd turn into immediate barbecue.
The moon, on the other hand, could be a place where you could one day maybe throwa barbecue. Cool moon vibes versus burnt to a crisp on the sun. Not hard to pick a favorite.
And not only is the moon a cool place to visit, but like any good best friend: it is a positive influence. The moon wouldn't let you start a podcast just because everyone else is doing it! The moon is the type of best friend that your mom LOVES.
Unlike other planets, which may have a lot of tiny moons, our moon is big. And, as a result, it creates a lot of stability for us here on earth. The moon helps Earth to be less wobbly on its axis. This lack of wobble means that Earth has a more stable climate than it otherwise would have.
Earth: I was thinking of starting an ice age. What do you think?
Moon: Absolutely not.
Earth: OK. Fiiiiine.
Thanks, moon!
This is just one way the moon has a positive influence on Earth. It isn't just weather. The moon controls the oceans, too!
The moon, as Earth's natural satellite, orbits—or very slowly travels around—the Earth.
The moon and the Earth both have gravitational pull. Each day the Earth rotates. This is what creates day and night.
And as the Earth rotates, it presents a different face to the moon. While this happens, the moon's gravity pulls on the Earth. And what does that do? It causes the tides.
Not bad for a celestial body a third of the size of Earth!
Yes, the sun is important. But the moon is special to Earth. Earth helped create the moon, is influenced by the moon, and, in the future, might be a place you can actually visit! Other planetary bodies, including the sun, will never have the kind of bff relationship that the Earth and moon do. What else can I say? The moon is Earth's best friend!
Earth: BFFs?
Moon: You know it!
Molly: I would call that a tremoondous declaration. Lillian, which facts shone the brightest for you there? What stood out to you?
Lillian: I think definitely how they explained how there was an art museum on the moon. I thought that was one of the most fascinating things. I was like, "What?" I had no idea that that happened or existed.
Molly: Yeah, that blew my mind too. It's super cool. Well, Jed, it is time for your rebuttal, you have 30 seconds to respond and your time starts now.
Jed: Yes, the moon and the earth have been around for a long time, but the sun has been there for so much longer, just smiling on the solar system, making things warm. The moon has no oxygen, it has the weakest atmosphere. Sure you could visit the moon, but what are you going to do? You're going to be stuck in a suit the whole time. That art museum, let me just talk about that art museum, it's a disk, it's the worst art museum in the universe. As for visiting the sun, we just have to satellite to the sun.
Molly: And time! Nice work Jed. Now it's the sun's turn to rise and shine. Give us your declaration of greatness for Team Sun.
Jed: It's easy to understand how much better the sun is than the moon. Just imagine life without either of them. Get rid of the moon, and things would definitely be different.
Man 1: Hey honey, did you notice, the moon's gone?
Man 2: What? Really? Huh! You know, I thought something was different.
Man 1: I just thought it was another new moon, but no, it's gone.
Man 2: That's a shame. I'm really gonna miss seeing it. It was so pretty.
Man 1: Yeah. Oh well.
Man 2: Oh well...
Jed: Oh well. Now, take those same people. Lose the sun, and ...
Man 2: Why's it so dark? !
Man 1: The sun! It's gone! !
Man 2: (high pitched scream)
Man 1: IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD!!! GAME OVER, MAN!! !
Man 2: (sobbing and raving)
Jed: Yeah, this isn't an exaggeration. We know from history that there have been many instances of people freaking out during solar eclipses. Ancient Greeks thought the gods were angry, some ancient Chinese people thought a dragon was trying to eat the sun. Legend has it that one ancient emperor was so scared by an eclipse that he got sick and died shortly after.
The prospect of losing the sun is terrifying. And no wonder. It gives us light, warmth, it makes plants grow. Without it, all life on Earth would end, leaving behind a frozen ball of ice, hurtling randomly through the universe.
Oh man, I let things get dark there. Sorry. I shouldn't use fear as a motivator. Ok, from here on out, I'm just going to talk about really cool things about the sun.