What If

What If: Science, Theory, and Possibilities

Science EN ↓ 396 episodes

An epic exploration of possibilities. What If is a Webby Award-winning science web series that takes you on a journey through hypothetical worlds and possibilities, some in distant corners of the universe, others right here on Earth. Each scenario examines a scientific theory, research or fact through a hypothetical question.

Author

What If

Category

Science

Podcast website

www.inlet.fm

Latest episode

Jul 10, 2026

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Episodes

What If Earth Orbited the Sun at Light Speed? 10.03.2025

Imagine Earth as a planet-sized spaceship, increasing its speed to light speed. What would happen if Earth started orbiting the Sun so quickly? Discover the effects and experiences from the ground. Transcript and Sources: https://whatifshow.com/what-if-earth-orbited-the-sun-at-the-speed-of-light/ Questions or concerns? Contact us at https://underknown.com/contact/ Interested in sponsoring our epis...

The Most Extreme Cold Scenarios Ever 10.03.2025

Explore how landing in snow can protect you from falls, from rooftops to mountain tops, and even from an airplane. Discover the amount of snow needed to break such extreme falls. Questions or concerns? Contact us at https://underknown.com/contact/. Join this channel to access perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCphTF9wHwhCt-BzIq-s4V-g/join. Check out our other channels: How to Survive, Apertur...

Falling Into a Black Neutron Star 06.03.2025

A dark, mysterious object has appeared at the outer edges of our Solar System, resembling the remnants of a dying star but behaving like a black hole. Discover the journey into its heart of darkness. What makes this object unique? How dangerous is its powerful gravity? And how might it become one of the Universe's strangest experiences? 00:00 What If You Fell Into a Black Neutron Star? 02:34 Thank...

Could Every Planet in the Solar System Have a Twin? 05.03.2025

Explore the fascinating idea of each planet in our Solar System having a twin. Discover where these planetary doubles might fit, why Earth 2.0 might not support life, and which planet's twin could be habitable. Transcript and sources: [What If Every Planet Had a Twin](https://whatifshow.com/what-if-every-planet-had-a-twin/) Questions or concerns? Contact us at [Underknown Contact](https://underkno...

Where Will We Go After Earth Becomes Uninhabitable? 03.03.2025

As humans, we've always been curious about life beyond Earth. In this episode, we explore the possibilities of leaving our planet. Could we build a ring world in space, or is terraforming Venus a viable option for sustainable living? What materials would we need, and how would life on Venus differ from Earth? Before we venture into space, we ask: why should we leave Earth? Questions or concerns? C...

What If Mars Was Half Land and Half Water? 28.02.2025

Explore the hypothetical transformation of Mars into a planet that is half land and half water. Discover where we might find enough water to fill Martian oceans and consider the controversial idea of using nuclear methods to transform the red planet. For more information, visit the transcript and sources: https://whatifshow.com/what-if-mars-was-half-land-and-half-water/. Questions or concerns? Con...

Is There Life on Kepler 69c? 26.02.2025

Thousands of light-years from Earth, Kepler 69c might be another planet hospitable to life. Embark on a journey to this alien world and imagine what life could look like there. Discover the type of planet you might encounter and ponder the nature of potential life forms. Transcript and sources: https://whatifshow.com/what-if-theres-life-on-kepler-69c/ Questions or concerns? Contact us at https://u...

What If Earth Orbited Jupiter? 24.02.2025

Imagine experiencing an apocalypse daily due to Earth becoming a moon of Jupiter. This episode explores the constant threat of volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and asteroid showers. Discover why we would face so many asteroids, the potential for survival in underground bunkers, and the impact of Jupiter's gravity. Transcript and sources: https://whatifshow.com/what-if-earth-orbited-jupiter/ Questions...

What If Humans Suddenly Went Extinct? 24.02.2025

Imagine a world where humans disappear due to a global catastrophe, leaving behind cities, highways, and waste. We'll explore how long it would take for the traces of human life to vanish completely. For the full transcript and sources, visit: https://whatifshow.com/humans-going-extinct/. Questions or concerns? Contact us at https://underknown.com/contact/. Discover our 100 best episodes compiled...

Traveling Through a Black Hole 21.02.2025

Dark, mysterious, and consuming everything around them, black holes will rip apart anything that passes their event horizons. But could there be more? What would happen if you fell into one of these monstrosities? How could you possibly travel through the black hole itself? And if you emerged on the other side, where would you end up? Explore these questions and more in this episode. Transcript an...

Crashing on an Alien Planet 19.02.2025

You’ve traveled thousands of light-years through interstellar star systems. Now stranded on an unknown planet, your immediate goal is to stay inside your spaceship, using your limited oxygen, water, and food supplies wisely. But with time running out, you'll need to explore and understand your surroundings to survive. Explore key topics such as the planet's gravity, its solar system's star, and wh...

Recap of Top What If Scenarios 19.02.2025

Join us as we recap some of our most watched What If scenarios. Dive into our collection and explore hypothetical worlds and possibilities with us. Get our 100 best episodes in one mind-blowing book: http://bit.ly/ytc-the-what-if-100-book Watch more what-if scenarios: - Planet Earth: http://bit.ly/YT-what-if-Earth - The Cosmos: http://bit.ly/YT-what-if-Cosmos - Technology: http://bit.ly/YT-what-if...

What If Earth Stopped Spinning 17.02.2025

Imagine you're spinning with Earth at hundreds of meters per second. What happens if our planet starts to brake until it stops spinning altogether? Discover why moving around becomes harder, why some regions might benefit, and how this slowdown could offer an unforgettable journey. Explore concepts like the Coriolis effect and other fascinating phenomena. Transcript and sources: https://whatifshow...

What If Jupiter Collided With Earth? 17.02.2025

The biggest planet in the Solar System has gone rogue and is heading straight toward Earth. You have 30 days until this gas giant wipes us all out. What speeds would Jupiter be traveling at? What kind of havoc would it wreak along the way? Is there any way we could survive being devoured by this planetary Pacman? What would happen to the Asteroid belt? Stay updated with our newsletter: https://und...

Kepler 22-b: Imagining It in Our Solar System 14.02.2025

Explore the fascinating possibility of Kepler 22-b being part of our Solar System. Discover where it would orbit within the Sun's habitable zone, how you might visit it, and whether it could support life. For more in-depth details, check our transcript and sources. Sign up for our newsletter to get a free What If Top 10 book: https://underknown.com/newsletter/ Questions or concerns? Contact us: ht...

What If Giant Bugs Roamed the Earth? 14.02.2025

Explore the fascinating scenario of giant bugs roaming the Earth. Would humanity become prey, and what strategies could we use to survive? Discover the potential role of birds, the use of Grandma's jewelry, and the strength of insect exoskeletons. Learn how climate change could affect these creatures and tactics to fend off a wasp attack. For the full transcript and sources, visit: https://whatifs...

What If South America and Africa Joined Together? 12.02.2025

Millions of years ago, all continents were one, waiting to crack and spread into the world we know today. What if we fast forward and bring South America and Africa back together? If these two landmasses fused, how catastrophic would it be? What new animal species might emerge? Explore the fascinating possibilities of a new supercontinent, Afrimerica, along with its impact on global trade, wildlif...

What If All the Planets Doubled in Size? 10.02.2025

Some of the planets in our Solar System are gigantic. But what if they got even bigger? Let’s explore the chaos that doubling the size of every planet would create. What would life be like on a super-Earth? How large would Jupiter need to become a star? And could Pluto regain its planetary status? Thanks to Established Titles for sponsoring this video! Get 10% off on any purchase with code WhatIf....

The Most Dangerous Things You Could Jump Into 10.02.2025

Explore the most dangerous things you could jump into and the reasons behind their hazards. Discover why liquid mercury poses significant danger, how Lake Natron in Ol Doinyo Lengai can turn you to stone, and the perilous mix of potassium and sodium carbonate. Delve into what can happen if you jump into a pool of stingrays or sharks, and the risks of falling into a volcano. Finally, consider wheth...

Taking a Ride on Halley's Comet 07.02.2025

Every 75 years, Halley's Comet streaks across the sky. Imagine hitching a ride on it! Prepare for a journey around the Sun to the edge of the Solar System and back. Discover the conditions there, how to survive on this icy home, and its surprising similarities to a trip to a Hawaiian island. Transcript and sources: https://whatifshow.com/what-if-you-took-a-ride-on-halleys-comet/ Questions or conce...

What If We Nuked the Sun? 07.02.2025

Humanity’s nuclear arsenal is capable of destroying all life on Earth multiple times. But what if we sent these nukes to the Sun? We explore the feasibility, cost, and potential consequences of such a mission. Could we inadvertently destroy our only source of daylight? Questions or concerns? Contact us at https://underknown.com/contact/ Get our 100 best episodes in one mind-blowing book: http://bi...

Rebuilding Human Society from Scratch 05.02.2025

The world has ended, and doomsday has come and gone. So now what? It’s time to start rebuilding civilization. How would you begin to come back from an apocalypse? What could you use from the remains of our old society? And how would you remember anything? Dive into these questions and more in this episode. 00:00: End of the world00:44: Survivor of an apocalypse02:20: Getting food04:16: Grinding gr...

What If an Asteroid Cracked the Moon in Half? 05.02.2025

A giant asteroid is approaching, not to hit Earth, but to collide with the Moon, threatening to crack it in half. What would this epic collision look like? Would the Moon split cleanly, shatter into pieces, or could a fragment endanger life on Earth? Explore this fascinating scenario. Enter at https://www.omaze.com/whatif for a chance to win a Superformance MKIII-R and support The Petersen Automot...

Living on Kepler 22-b: Exploring Potential for Human Life 03.02.2025

Kepler 22-b is an intriguing exoplanet located 635 light-years away, marking the first discovery within the habitable zone of a Sun-like star. This zone offers the possibility of liquid water, hinting at potential life, including human existence. Discover the possible weather conditions, the presence of oceans, and how growth and survival might be achieved on this distant world. 00:00: Could this...

What If Earth Was Always Facing the Sun? 31.01.2025

Imagine a world where one side of Earth bakes under a scorching, endless day, while the other is shrouded in a permanent icy night. This scenario explores the consequences if our planet were tidally locked to the Sun. Discover how your life would change, where survival might be possible, and the effects on your perception of time. 00:00: Introduction to a tidally locked Earth.00:44: Exploration of...

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