What If: Science, Theory, and Possibilities

Elon Musk wants to nuke Mars. What are the consequences? Without nukes, life on Mars might be like this: You'd live in giant glass domes, and grow small portions of food inside. Watch the full episode here. Produced with love by Underknown in Toronto: Underknown Contact us at Underknown Contact #ElonMusk #Mars #nuke #SpaceX #glassdomes #Marscolonization See show notes: https://inlet.fm/what-if-sci...

"I ain't afraid of no ghost!" Of course not. You're in the Ghostbusters universe. With a quick stomp, demons are as good as gone. So how would life change if you could bust ghosts in real life? Would you need to reinvent nuclear power? Or just a whole lot of money? And could you get slimed? Transcript and sources: whatifshow.com Questions or concerns? Contact us at underknown.com Get our 100 best...

The Middle Ages, a time when you were more likely to die on the toilet than take a bath. And now you're going there with an educational mission. It's up to you now. Let's show the Middle Ages how it's done. Would you be tried as a witch? Could you cure all diseases? Or would you accidentally create a new pandemic? Would you be able to discover electricity? Will smallpox be cured? What are garderob...

Jupiter is the biggest planet in our Solar System, with 79 moons, just behind Saturn's 82. Imagine the night sky with all these moons. How would Earth's tides be affected? What beauty or disaster would this bring? 00:00 79 Different Moons in the Night Sky00:37 Jupiter02:02 Jupiter's Moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto03:57 Thanks to our sponsor, Grammarly!04:51 Earth's Rotation and Axis Get 20%...

One second you are out cold. The next, you’re on the operating table in the middle of heart surgery. Welcome to your most terrifying nightmare. What happens when anesthesia doesn’t work? Would you feel everything that is happening to your body? And why wouldn’t you be able to tell your surgeon you’re awake? Transcript and sources: whatifshow.com Questions or concerns? Contact us at underknown.com/...

If you were going for a refreshing swim, the last thing you’d expect is to suffocate from toxic gases. But when it comes to Lake Kivu, this is one dangerous body of water you wouldn’t want to dive into. What makes this lake so hazardous? What would be the physical consequences of swimming in it? And how could the lake be on the verge of a toxic explosion? Transcript and sources: here Questions or...

It starts with one bite. Then, one hundred. Soon, one thousand. Now a swarm of one million bloodsucking mosquitoes descends on you. Why is your blood their favorite snack? What would happen to your body if they bit you again and again? If you’ve ever been in tall grassy areas or near standing water, you’ve experienced the relentless buzzing and biting of mosquitoes. But you might not know that the...

In the beginning, there was nothing. Then bang. Our Universe emerged in an explosion of light and energy. Current theories say that it all began 13.7 billion years ago. Or did it? Let's shed some light on this. How fast is the Universe expanding? Will the Universe and everything in it ever die? And why could our Universe have existed before the Big Bang? What's a singularity? Transcript and source...

This is Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. This masterpiece in Dubai is twice the height of the U.S.'s Empire State Building and nearly three times the size of the Eiffel Tower. So, what if you took a tumble from the top? How could you slow your fall? Would anybody be able to catch you on the ground? Why does the G-force matter? What's terminal velocity? Transcript and sources: whati...

The Big One. Those three words make locals along the West Coast of North America shudder with fear. This area is plagued by earthquakes. But at least they are ready, unlike the middle of the continent, which is woefully unprepared for the event that could physically rip the United States in half. What could cause this? What would the destruction look like? Would the U.S. become two separate countr...

This episode explores the fascinating properties of gallium, a shiny metal that can be turned into a jello-like liquid. Discover the potential effects of swallowing gallium, from toxicity levels to its interaction with stomach acid. Transcript and sources: https://whatifshow.com/what-if-you-swallowed-gallium/ Get our 100 best episodes in one mind-blowing book: http://bit.ly/ytc-the-what-if-100-boo...

Caviar. Whether you're a foodie or not, you likely have opinions on this delicacy. For some, the idea of eating fish eggs even once is unappealing. But what if you ate only caviar for a month? How much would it cost? Could it enhance your love life or perhaps break your heart? How does caviar benefit neurotransmitters, and can it actually prevent blood clots? Subscribe to our newest channel called...

Imagine Earth covered in thick sheets of ice and sea levels so low you could walk to a different continent. This is what our planet would look like during an ice age. There have been five of them in Earth’s history, and they have had a huge impact on our present world. Now, try and imagine an Earth where these ice ages never existed in the first place. What ecosystems would change? Would humans ha...

Unlock your confidence with MANSCAPED™. Get 20% Off and Free Shipping using code WHATIF20 at Manscaped.com. According to legend, the kraken was so large it could be mistaken for an island, luring ships with false promises of safety before devouring them whole. The megalodon, a formidable predator of ancient oceans, was known as the king of all sharks and a whale killer. Explore how it measures up...

Scientists predict that the oceans' oxygen levels could drop 3 to 4% by the year 2100. As that happens, oceans will undergo drastic losses of biodiversity, and entire ecosystems could be wiped out. Why is oxygen disappearing? Why are oceans losing oxygen? How could this affect us? Is there anything we can do to stop this? Oceans losing 3-4% of their oxygen may not sound very threatening, but it's...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to explore one of Jupiter's moons without ever leaving Earth? If you're determined to experience this, consider plunging into Lake Vostok, Antarctica's largest subglacial lake. Dive through 4 km (2.5 mi) of thick ice to explore this otherworldly ecosystem where the water is squeezed with 350 times the atmospheric pressure at sea level. Discover how your...

It's a hot summer day. You're enjoying a picnic, and you take a swig of your drink. What's that in your mouth? It's a hornet. And you accidentally swallowed it. How painful is a hornet's sting? What happens if you're allergic to its venom? Could it lead to anaphylactic shock? And could the hornet sting you in your stomach? There are plenty of bugs and insects that can bite or sting us. And hornets...

This episode is sponsored by Morning Brew. Get up to speed on business, finance, and tech in just 5 minutes with their newsletter. We've explored many disasters Earth could face: from asteroids and aliens, to the Sun's death. Yet the Universe is perilous, and a new threat emerges—a blazar. Typically found at the galaxy's center, blazars are black holes of immense mass. For context, the Milky Way's...

Just 3,000 light-years from Earth is a black hole visible to the naked eye. Thankfully, we are a safe distance from this stellar black hole and many others like it. There are approximately 100 million of them out there in our galaxy that we know of. They are the remnants of supernovae, which occur when stars 10 to 20 times larger than our Sun collapse in on themselves. Could a black hole devour us...

Imagine how different your life would be if you had a condition that affected your vision, made being outdoors risky, and set your appearance apart. This episode explores what life would be like if you were albino. Would you have red eyes? How would your genes differ? Why could the Sun be dangerous? What exactly is albinism? Why are albinos sensitive to light? How does their melanin differ? What i...

You chew it, stretch it, and blow it. But what really happens to your body when you swallow chewing gum regularly? Could it obstruct your body, or even prove fatal? Discover how gum impacts your digestive system, and whether it could lead to sepsis or endanger your intestines. Plus, learn about the connection between the sapodilla tree and chewing gum. For the full transcript and sources, visit he...

The Japanese manga and anime series "Attack On Titan" has captivated our imaginations and greatest fears. It involves terrifying humanoid giants with an insatiable appetite for humans. Beware of potential spoilers and nightmares to come. If Titans were real and suddenly appeared around the world, could we survive, or would we all be breakfast? What is our greatest defense against Titans? What kind...

Below freezing waters? Check. Insulated swimsuit--? Hey, wait. What are you doing? Okay, smart guy, but what if you jumped into a pool of liquid methane? Would you need a diving suit? How cold would the pool be? What is a thermokarst lake? How dangerous is permafrost? Are thermokarst lakes only found on Saturn's moon Titan? Get a stronger start to the year with 25% off a Fitbod membership now: htt...

Despite all of the masks, tests, and vaccinations, there is no guarantee that COVID-19 will ever disappear. Even if the virus doesn't go away, it might not be as bad as it seems. How could COVID-19 never go away? What would life be like if it didn't disappear? Could the virus mutate again? Will our bodies become immune over time? Do social distancing and remote work have a major role in lessening...

Explore the hypothetical scenario of what would happen if the Moon was cut in half. Delve into the potential consequences on Earth's tides, axial tilt, and more curious questions such as the cause of moonquakes and whether the Moon has ever split before. Visit CuriosityStream for unlimited access to top documentaries and nonfiction series. Use promo code 'whatif' for a free 30-day trial! For trans...