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PODCAST

What The If?

Learn how to think like EINSTEIN! Every week we learn science running imaginative thought experiments. Our brilliant guests are some of the world’s greatest science fiction writers, scientists & science communicators. Leap into a journey to answer the most fascinating question in the universe: What The IF?

science & medicine history

All Episodes

00:50:27

Prediction PERFECTION!

What The If? ·

2024/12/08

Google's DeepMind has shattered a long-standing barrier in weather forecasting, achieving reliable 15-day predictions that were previously thought impossible due to chaos theory. Traditional fortune tellers are nervously updating their résumés as AI tackles the age-old question: if we can predict the weather two weeks out, what else can we predict? From knowing which baseball team will win before the first pitch to figuring out if you'll actually remember your briefcase tomorrow morning, explore how

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00:41:37

Fungus Bots Unite!

What The If? ·

2024/09/14

Fungal-powered robots are no longer science fiction! Scientists have created robots controlled by fungal mycelia that respond to light stimulation. These fungus-bots could revolutionize how we think about artificial intelligence and robotics. But what if our entire society became dependent on fungal-controlled machines? Explore a future where mushrooms pilot mechs, mycelia networks control city infrastructure, and humans must feed their fungal overlords to keep society running. Will this lead to

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00:48:10

GIANT NEMATODES

What The If? ·

2024/08/30

Imagine a world where giant, bus-sized nematodes roam the streets, carrying diseases from city to city! In this mind-bending episode, we explore the consequences of scaling up microscopic worms to Dune-like proportions. How would humanity adapt to these massive, translucent creatures? We dive into the science of nematodes, discuss potential worm-washing stations, and even contemplate the philosophy of these 302-neuron behemoths. From worm cowboys to hamster-ball daredevils, this episode will change

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00:49:06

HYPERVELOCITY Havoc!

What The If? ·

2024/08/23

A speedy little star is racing through the Milky Way at a million miles per hour, fast enough to potentially escape our galaxy. This hypervelocity object, discovered by an amateur astronomer, could be a low-mass star or a brown dwarf. We explore the consequences of such a stellar speedster entering our solar system, from gravitational disruptions to the possibility of Earth being captured and taken along for the ride. Join us as we calculate travel times across the galaxy, ponder life on a planet

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00:50:53

GRAVITY Flux!

What The If? ·

2024/08/15

Imagine a world where gravity fluctuates like the weather, causing chaos in daily life. This episode explores the wild consequences of variable gravity, from spaghettification dangers to the need for gravity forecasts. Discover how changing G-forces would affect everything from air travel to Olympic sports, and ponder the evolutionary adaptations needed to survive in such a world. This mind-bending concept, suggested by listener Joe, pushes the boundaries of physics and imagination.--- Find out

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00:42:20

STRETCHY EARTH!

What The If? ·

2024/08/09

What if the Earth started expanding? This episode explores the wild consequences of a constantly growing planet. From elastic roads and stretchy buildings to low-orbit volleyball games and manipults for transportation, discover how life would adapt to an ever-expanding Earth. Learn about the effects on gravity, atmosphere, and infrastructure as the planet grows. Dive into the physics of orbital mechanics at ground level and ponder the fate of our expanding world billions of years into the future

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00:42:01

SHORT MEMORY Mayhem!

What The If? ·

2024/08/03

Buckle up for a mind-bending journey into a world where memories vanish faster than you can say "What did I just...?" What if our brains could only hold onto thoughts for a measly 30 seconds? Would cavemen become the ultimate goldfish, forgetting they're running from saber-toothed tigers mid-sprint? Could humanity evolve into a society of Post-it note addicts, desperately scribbling reminders to breathe? Explore the hilarious and horrifying implications of life with short-term memory, from

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00:52:08

MICROBIAL Architects Of Alien Worlds!

What The If? ·

2024/07/05

Dive into the intriguing world of microbial terraforming on Planet Hendrix! This episode explores how scientists use unique microbes to transform barren extraterrestrial landscapes into potentially habitable environments. Discover the fascinating processes behind microbial mining, mineral creation, and atmosphere alteration, and how these tiny organisms could pave the way for future human colonization. Learn about the Great Oxidation Event and its Earthly impacts, and imagine the possibilities when

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00:49:41

ANCIENT GREEK YouTube STARS!

What The If? ·

2024/06/28

Step into a wild world where ancient Greek philosophers are YouTube sensations! Picture Aristotle running multiple channels, Socrates hosting heated philosophical debates, and Odysseus vlogging his epic journey home. We dive into the hilarious and thought-provoking scenarios of Greek legends navigating the digital age. What if Alexander the Great livestreamed his conquests? Could Diogenes become the ultimate internet troll? Join us as we explore how YouTube's algorithm might shake up the spread of

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00:46:14

Humans SPIRAL into PIZZA Madness!

What The If? ·

2024/06/14

Inspired by a fascinating article about why moths are lured to lights at night, this mind-bending episode explores a wild scenario - what if humans navigated the world like moths, perpetually drawn to the scent of pizza? Delve into the intricacies of moth navigation, ant death spirals, and how our cities and societies might be organized around an insatiable pizza obsession. From pizza-oriented city grids designed to capture savory scents to pharaohs using pizza to construct pyramids, the hilarious

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00:54:16

NITROGEN Doomsday!

What The If? ·

2024/06/07

In this mind-blowing episode, we explore how one man's quest to create artificial fertilizer transformed the trajectory of human history. Inspired by listener Martin from Frankfurt, we dive into the story of Fritz Haber, whose discovery of the Haber-Bosch process for synthesizing ammonia not only revolutionized agriculture and saved billions from starvation but also fueled the rise of chemical weapons in World War I. From explosive bat guano to the delicate balance of ding-dongs and Twinkies, we

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00:51:36

Weird Fish Dating!

What The If? ·

2024/05/31

Dive into the bizarre world of anglerfish mating rituals in this wildly entertaining episode! Discover how these deep-sea creatures evolved an unconventional strategy for reproduction in the ocean's dark depths. From males biting and fusing to much larger females, to becoming nothing more than sperm-producing parasites, the strange tale of anglerfish love will leave you amazed and slightly unsettled. Join us as we imagine a human society built on anglerfish rules - where tiny men chase after

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00:44:35

FATE or Physics?

What The If? ·

2024/05/03

Do we truly have free will or are our choices predetermined by the particles that make up our universe? This mind-bending episode dives into the age-old debate of free will vs determinism. Explore the fascinating implications of a world without free will - from everyday social interactions to moral responsibility. Discover how the laws of physics might turn us into mere "billiard balls" with our paths set in motion since the Big Bang. But is there a glimmer of hope in the randomness of quantum

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00:53:34

ICE Insanity!

What The If? ·

2024/04/26

Team IF is OFF this week, we're celebrating Gaby becoming DR. GABY with the completion of her PhD at Rockefeller University!!! We're super proud of her.So this week we present this encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes, enjoy, and keep those emails coming! WhatTheIF.com/contact -- and send your congratulations to Gaby! --- We salute our newest Patreon members. Thank you: Connie, Martin, and Dan! Welcome to an icy exploration of reality on this episode of "What The IF?" Dive

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00:51:04

SCREAMING For LOVE!

What The If? ·

2024/04/19

This week on "What The IF?" Philip and Gaby tackle the uproarious tale of a fish so small it could masquerade as a grain of rice, yet so loud it puts rock concerts to shame! In the streams of Myanmar, this tiny troubadour belts out love ballads louder than a jackhammer to woo its mate. The episode dives into the science behind why this minuscule creature needs to be heard, not just seen. Join us for a soundcheck in nature's own concert hall, where volume is the key to romance and survival. Get ready

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00:53:28

ECLIPSE For Cavemen!

What The If? ·

2024/04/05

Embark on a mind-bending thought experiment as our intrepid explorers dive deep into the annals of history, imagining how early humans might have unraveled the mysteries of solar eclipses. From cave paintings to mythical tales of celestial dragons, join the journey as Throg and his tribe attempt to make sense of the sun's sudden disappearance. Join us as we ponder the birth of astronomy and the evolution of scientific thinking.--- Find out more about Gaby's science fiction short story! Here are

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00:41:58

READ No More!

What The If? ·

2024/03/29

Dive into an electrifying journey where the unthinkable becomes reality – a world without the power to read! In this episode, inspired by a brilliant thought experiment from Lars in Sweden, we plunge into a universe where humanity wakes up to find all written language undecipherable. Imagine your phone, books, and even street signs turning into incomprehensible symbols overnight. How would this sudden shift affect our daily lives, technologies, and the very fabric of society? From exploring the

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00:50:03

ANCIENT Libraries!

What The If? ·

2024/03/15

Intriguing documents lost to history could be recovered with futuristic technology, offering insights into ancient civilizations and solving long-standing historical mysteries. From the burnt scrolls of Herculaneum and missing books of the Iliad, to the construction plans of the Egyptian pyramids and the mechanical wonders of the Antikythera mechanism, a magical book-reading device could unveil the secrets of the past. Even the recovery of early Christian gospels or the original intentions behind

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00:47:57

EATING Like Pandas!

What The If? ·

2024/03/08

In a bizarre thought experiment ripped from a headline in Scientific American, we explore a world where humans have developed a genetic mutation similar to some Labrador retrievers that causes constant hunger. This leads us down a hilarious path of imagining cities with celery slurry piped to every home, space missions needing to carry vast tanks of liquified celery, and foosball becoming the new national pastime in a low-energy society. Join us as we follow this delightfully absurd scenario to its

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00:56:33

REPOPULATE The Earth!

What The If? ·

2024/03/01

In this episode, we dive into a thought-provoking journey of what could happen if humanity had to restart on Earth after different timeframes due to a complete extinction event. Imagine waking up as a clone with no prior knowledge of the world, or as a human re-seeded by aliens or from other human colonies. We explore scenarios spanning 100 years to 10,000 years, each presenting unique challenges and opportunities for rebuilding civilization. From the survival of concrete structures and the

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