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 Had 10 Years Left? 04.12.2024

If we found out that Earth only had 10 years left before it was destroyed, we'd need to figure out a plan for humanity to survive. With a global population of 7.8 billion people, our survival plan would have to be colossal. How could we evacuate? What resources would we need to survive? And where would we go? #Earth #survival #evacuation #resources #humanity #globalpopulation #hypothetical Learn m...

Could We Reheat Earth's Core? 02.12.2024

Explore the hypothetical scenario of reheating Earth's core to prevent a doomsday event. Discover what happens if the Earth's core freezes completely, the potential impact on the magnetic field, and the concept of a superhot core. #HeatingEarth'sCore #Earth'sCore #MagneticField #SuperhotCore #MoltenCore #HypotheticalScenarios Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trapped in a Grocery Store for Life 29.11.2024

Under extreme circumstances, humans can pull together to overcome the odds. But when confined in a tight space, we may not be at our finest. So, how would you fare if you got trapped in a grocery store for life? What should you eat first? And what happens when the lights go out? Whether it's due to a nuclear disaster or a giant bug invasion, you and a small band of survivors have found yourselves...

What If We Never Landed on the Moon? 27.11.2024

In 1969, an estimated 600 million people watched as Apollo 11's Eagle lander touched down on the Moon, marking a pivotal moment in space exploration and the Space Race. But what if this event never happened? Could the Cold War have ended sooner? Would climate change be worse? And, would you be lost all the time? #MoonLanding #Apollo11 #EagleLander #SpaceRace #ColdWar #ClimateChange Learn more abou...

What If Earth Went Rogue? 25.11.2024

For billions of years, the Sun's gravitational pull has kept Earth's orbit on a steady and reliable path. But this rogue star has other plans for our planet. This sudden shift in Earth's gravity would make our planet break away from orbiting the Sun. And now, for the first time in our planet's history, we would be drifting through space without any direction. How fast would Earth travel? Could we...

Drilling a Hole Through Earth: A Hypothetical Journey 22.11.2024

Explore the hypothetical journey of traveling through Earth by drilling a hole from one side to the other, such as going from Argentina to China. Discover the challenges of surviving through molten rock, crushing pressure, and the concept of a gravity train. Learn about the deepest hole ever drilled and the potential sights and experiences of such an adventurous trip. #GravityTrain #DrillingThroug...

What If Planets Replaced Our Moon? 20.11.2024

The Moon is crucial for Earth's stable climate, affecting weather, ocean currents, and axial tilt. Without it, the Earth would experience extreme climate shifts. This episode explores the scenario of other planets, like Mars or Saturn, replacing our Moon. Discover how this change could alter Earth's orbit and which planet would be the safest or most catastrophic replacement. #Moon #planets #Earth...

Traveling One Billion Years Into the Past 18.11.2024

Imagine if you could take in all of human history in the blink of an eye. From the first steps on the moon to emerging from primordial slime, Earth's timeline is vast. In that short span, we've witnessed significant events. Traveling through time could reveal the rise and fall of species existing long before us. What sights would await you if you traveled one billion years back? Was Earth ever a g...

Building a City on Mars 15.11.2024

The next step in space exploration is happening now, with Mars as the destination. Imagine starting life anew on the red planet, over 265 million km away. How would one live there? Would we live underground, and what would the Martian economy entail? Explore the role of regolith in habitation and the challenges of building radiation shielding. #Mars #spaceexploration #cityonMars #regolith #radiati...

We Discovered Earth 2.0 13.11.2024

Could there be an even better planet for us than Earth? Scientists are on the hunt for a superhabitable world that wouldn't just rival Earth, but be a place where life could thrive more easily. They're exploring exoplanets to discover Earth 2.0. What would make an exoplanet habitable, and how long would it take to get there? #superhabitable #exoplanet #Earth2.0 #planet #habitable Learn more about...

Nuclear-Powered Rockets: Exploring the Future of Space Travel 11.11.2024

By the year 2035, NASA plans to send humans to Mars. However, with our current rocket technology, it would take about nine months. In the near future, we could replace chemical engines with nuclear thermal propulsion, cutting the trip to Mars down to just three months. What are the risks of using nuclear propulsion? How would it work? And have we used nuclear energy in space before? #NASA #Mars #n...

What If Lightsabers Were Real? 08.11.2024

Do you long for an elegant weapon from a more civilized age? Something less clumsy and random. As you hone your sensitivity to the Force, you may wonder: What if lightsabers were real? How hot would the plasma burn? How does a lightsaber know when to stop? Would this weapon require a license? How does a plasma torch work? #lightsaber #plasma #Force #plasmatorch #hypotheticalworlds #technology Lear...

Flying to Space on a Jetpack 06.11.2024

Jetpack technology is advancing rapidly, raising the possibility of using jetpacks for everyday commutes. Imagine using a jetpack to reach space directly. How powerful are jetpacks? How fast would you need to travel? How long can a jetpack sustain flight? Learn about the gravity jet suit and the concept of the death zone. Could a jetpack joyride become a reality? #jetpack #spacetravel #gravityjets...

What If You Were the Dirtiest Man on Earth? 04.11.2024

Do you have a fear of bathing? Do you prefer a mud pit to a shower? If you enjoy having your own brand of smells, you might wonder: What if you were the dirtiest man on Earth? What kind of bacteria would your body grow? What health risks could you possibly have? Would you become dehydrated? Will proper health care be of any help once you become the dirtiest man on Earth? And would you have to live...

Exploring a Billion Years Into the Future 01.11.2024

Imagine traveling through time to witness the distant future of Earth. What transformations await over the next billion years? Would our planet be a volcanic wasteland, an icy tundra, or perhaps a world without oceans? Explore the possibilities of human evolution and whether our species might inhabit other galaxies. #future #timetravel #planetEarth #volcanoes #iceage #oceans #humanevolution #galax...

What If No One Ever Died 30.10.2024

Human life expectancy is getting longer. In 1910, humans in the United States were only expected to live 40 to 50 years. Now, in just over a century, we've nearly doubled that, with an average lifespan of almost 80. According to futurist Jamie Metzl, we're working on technology to extend that even further. "What If" is a mini-documentary web series that takes you on an epic journey through hypothe...

What If You Ate Sugar for a Month? with Gary Taubes 28.10.2024

Explore the health effects of consuming only sugar for an entire month with Gary Taubes, author of 'The Case Against Sugar'. Join hosts Peter and Richard as they delve into this intriguing hypothetical scenario. #sugarconsumption #healtheffects #GaryTaubes #TheCaseAgainstSugar #hypotheticalscenarios #nutrition Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What If the Earth Was Actually Flat? 25.10.2024

Explore the intriguing concept of a flat Earth. Imagine the Earth's edge, a mesmerizing flat Earth solar eclipse, diagonally growing trees, and the great wall of ice supposedly guarded by NASA. What if flat-Earthers were right? How would Earth hold up in space? Would it revolve around the Sun, or would the Sun rotate around it? And why would you never walk to the Earth's edge? #flatEarth #solarecl...

The First 48 Hours After Aliens Make Contact 23.10.2024

Aliens have invaded Earth. They're not here to play; they're here for our resources, our planet, and maybe even you! Alternatively, could this be a beneficial relationship? Perhaps these aliens would want to cooperate with us. Let's find out. 00:00: Introduction to the first 48 hours after aliens make contact.00:38: Hour 1: Initial reactions and scenarios.02:00: Hour 5: Early developments and resp...

What Was Earth Like 2 Billion Years Ago? 20.10.2024

Let's step back. 2 billion years back into Earth's evolution. A time full of life. But also mass extinction. An invisible killer was on the loose, ready to change the course of history. This was a time on Earth that directly impacted what the world is like today. The animals that inhabit it, the food you eat, and the air we breathe. Would you be able to survive in this new environment? And how did...

Spending 5 Seconds on Io 12.10.2024

Explore Io, one of Jupiter's largest moons, known for its extreme landscape. With lakes of molten lava larger than cities and massive volcanic eruptions, Io presents a hostile environment. The gravitational forces from Jupiter constantly tear apart its surface, making it an intensely hot and frigid sulfurous wasteland. Can anyone survive such conditions? #Io #Jupitermoon #volcaniceruptions #molten...

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