What The IF?
@whattheif.bsky.social
Learn science like Einstein did! Thought experiments w/Sci Historian Matt Stanley & Biologist Gaby Paniccia. Tweets by Host @PhilipAShane - http://WhatTheIF.com
What if NASA's budget got cut in half while China built moon bases? Guess who wins that space race. Listen now at whattheif.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:36 PM
What if NASA's budget got cut in half while China built moon bases? Guess who wins that space race. Listen now at whattheif.com
The actual nuclear reactor is only the size of a truck but needs massive cooling infrastructure because apparently even space gets too hot when you're splitting atoms. Listen now at whattheif.com
August 9, 2025 at 2:36 PM
The actual nuclear reactor is only the size of a truck but needs massive cooling infrastructure because apparently even space gets too hot when you're splitting atoms. Listen now at whattheif.com
NASA wants to put a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030 because two-week-long lunar nights make solar panels pretty useless for powering moon bases. Listen now at whattheif.com
August 8, 2025 at 5:06 PM
NASA wants to put a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030 because two-week-long lunar nights make solar panels pretty useless for powering moon bases. Listen now at whattheif.com
No more sweating means everyone walks around panting like dogs with their tongues out during important meetings. Listen now at whattheif.com
August 1, 2025 at 9:50 PM
No more sweating means everyone walks around panting like dogs with their tongues out during important meetings. Listen now at whattheif.com
The Vera Rubin Observatory spotted 2,000 asteroids on its first night - imagine what a telescope the size of Earth's orbit could find! Listen now at whattheif.com
July 25, 2025 at 5:06 PM
The Vera Rubin Observatory spotted 2,000 asteroids on its first night - imagine what a telescope the size of Earth's orbit could find! Listen now at whattheif.com
Fungi can trade superpowers through Starship elements, but humans just get awkward handshakes. Listen now at whattheif.com
July 19, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Fungi can trade superpowers through Starship elements, but humans just get awkward handshakes. Listen now at whattheif.com
Scientists named genetic elements after Star Trek because they kept seeing Vulcan hand signs in their data. Listen now at whattheif.com
July 18, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Scientists named genetic elements after Star Trek because they kept seeing Vulcan hand signs in their data. Listen now at whattheif.com
The universe might be stuck in cosmic Groundhog Day where every Big Bang leads right back to another Big Bang in an endless loop. Listen now at whattheif.com
June 10, 2025 at 2:36 PM
The universe might be stuck in cosmic Groundhog Day where every Big Bang leads right back to another Big Bang in an endless loop. Listen now at whattheif.com
Infinite copies of you are scattered across millions of light years right now, just waiting their turn to have this exact conversation. Listen now at whattheif.com
June 9, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Infinite copies of you are scattered across millions of light years right now, just waiting their turn to have this exact conversation. Listen now at whattheif.com
Life emerged from the oceans but what if we never figured out how to breathe on land? Time for some evolutionary do-overs! Listen now at whattheif.com
June 1, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Life emerged from the oceans but what if we never figured out how to breathe on land? Time for some evolutionary do-overs! Listen now at whattheif.com
Dr. Vanessa Pirotta from Australia helps us figure out how to redesign civilization when breathing requires a good dunking! Listen now at whattheif.com
May 31, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Dr. Vanessa Pirotta from Australia helps us figure out how to redesign civilization when breathing requires a good dunking! Listen now at whattheif.com
Swimming to the surface for air? That's so whale. Real humans dive down to get their oxygen fix in this topsy-turvy world! Listen now at whattheif.com
May 30, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Swimming to the surface for air? That's so whale. Real humans dive down to get their oxygen fix in this topsy-turvy world! Listen now at whattheif.com
Forget scuba gear - in this world you need air gear to survive on land! Water is where you go to actually breathe. Listen now at whattheif.com
May 29, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Forget scuba gear - in this world you need air gear to survive on land! Water is where you go to actually breathe. Listen now at whattheif.com
Whales spend their whole lives underwater but can't actually breathe there. What if humans had the same problem but backwards? Listen now at whattheif.com
May 28, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Whales spend their whole lives underwater but can't actually breathe there. What if humans had the same problem but backwards? Listen now at whattheif.com
Imagine buildings filled with water instead of air, and water helmets instead of bike helmets. That's just Tuesday in our upside-down breathing world! Listen now at whattheif.com
May 27, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Imagine buildings filled with water instead of air, and water helmets instead of bike helmets. That's just Tuesday in our upside-down breathing world! Listen now at whattheif.com
What if you had to stick your head in a fishbowl every time you needed to breathe? Welcome to reverse whale life! Listen now at whattheif.com
May 26, 2025 at 5:06 PM
What if you had to stick your head in a fishbowl every time you needed to breathe? Welcome to reverse whale life! Listen now at whattheif.com
From metabolic disorders to sickle cell anemia, custom gene editing is about to transform medicine. How will it change YOUR future? Listen now at whattheif.com
May 22, 2025 at 9:50 PM
From metabolic disorders to sickle cell anemia, custom gene editing is about to transform medicine. How will it change YOUR future? Listen now at whattheif.com
Could future space travelers have their genes edited for better bone density and improved blood flow in zero-G? The science is already in progress! Listen now at
May 21, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Could future space travelers have their genes edited for better bone density and improved blood flow in zero-G? The science is already in progress! Listen now at
Turns out even plants need poop - who knew evolution could be so messy? Listen now at http://WhatTheIF.com
February 10, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Turns out even plants need poop - who knew evolution could be so messy? Listen now at http://WhatTheIF.com
Imagine a world where bees don't just make honey but control the weather! Dive into this fascinating 'What The IF' scenario with Gaby and Philip! 🐝⛈️ Listen now at WhatTheIF.com
October 8, 2023 at 3:37 AM
Imagine a world where bees don't just make honey but control the weather! Dive into this fascinating 'What The IF' scenario with Gaby and Philip! 🐝⛈️ Listen now at WhatTheIF.com
What happens when you send a random scoop of Earth into space? Philip and Matt dig deep! Listen now at WhatTheIF.com
October 3, 2023 at 10:31 PM
What happens when you send a random scoop of Earth into space? Philip and Matt dig deep! Listen now at WhatTheIF.com