What The If?
350 episodes - English - Latest episode: 17 days ago - ★★★★★ - 60 ratingsLearn 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?
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Episodes
MYST Linking Books to OTHER WORLDS
June 02, 2023 15:52 - 54 minutes - 75.4 MBHey there IF-ers, this is Philip and Matt coming at you with another mind-bending episode of "What The IF?" Dan, our listener and a super cool Patreon supporter, dropped a doozy of a concept on us. He got us thinking - what if we could craft whole worlds and eras with just a pen and some magical toad ink? Just like in the legendary video game, Myst. As you can imagine, this sparked a rollicking discussion full of laughter and quirky tangents. As we journeyed through this imagined multiverse...
REMOTE Control BRAINS!
May 26, 2023 16:23 - 56 minutes - 78.5 MBEver pondered what it would be like if you could control anything with your brain, like a universal remote control? Buckle up, because on this episode of "What The If?", we're plunging headfirst into that uncanny realm! Our daring duo, Philip and Gaby, give a whole new meaning to "mind over matter," as they explore whether your brain could be the ultimate gadget. From bridging the gap for individuals with severed spinal cords, enabling them to regain control over their bodies, to musing abou...
ADA Lovelace - PROGRAMMER #1
May 22, 2023 01:36 - 1 hour - 190 MBGet ready to hitch a ride in our time machine because this episode of "What The IF?" takes you all the way back to the 19th century, to have a virtual teatime chat with Lady Ada Lovelace herself. In this special 'computer time travel' edition, host Philip Shane leverages the magical AI abilities of ChatGPT to bring Ada to the mic, all the way from London (and the 1800s!). And boy, is she ready to party like it's 1843, complete with top hats, tea cakes, and trailblazing discussions on early c...
Mr. SPOCK In The House!
May 12, 2023 04:01 - 1 hour - 133 MBAre you ready to boldly go where no podcast has gone before? Grab your hazmat suit, don your protective goggles, and prepare to take a thrilling leap into the world of "What The IF?" In this episode, we're thrilled to have the legendary Mr. Spock beaming directly into our podcast studio from the USS Enterprise! Ever wondered what it would be like to be half-human, half-Vulcan? To harness the power of logic and emotion in equal measure? To be able to perform the Vulcan salute at parties, and ...
BATS - With Emily Driscoll!
May 05, 2023 15:30 - 50 minutes - 69.8 MBGet ready to spread your wings and BE a BAT! We welcome Science Journalist and Video Producer Emily DRISCOLL as we explore the fascinating world of echolocation and the incredible adaptations that make BATS such unique creatures. Discover how humans can learn to use echolocation and the challenges they face, and find out why bats sleep upside down and how they're able to take off so easily. You'll also hear about the incredible story of a critically endangered bat species in India and the ama...
Humans to MARS! With Chris Carberry of EXPLORE MARS
April 28, 2023 21:27 - 1 hour - 84.8 MBOn the eve of the 2023 Humans To Mars Summit in Washington, DC we blast off with this week's hilariously out-of-this-world episode of "What The IF?" where we're boldly asking the question: What if you had to organize a conference... on Mars? Join us as we speculate on the interplanetary logistics of this extreme event planning. We know that running a conference on Earth can be challenging enough, but imagine the head-spinning complications when you’re dealing with Martian gravity, a lack of ...
SPACE Is An OCEAN!
April 21, 2023 22:09 - 59 minutes - 82.4 MBGet ready for another episode of our off-the-wall, science-themed podcast! In honor of reaching one million views, we're diving into an outlandish what-if scenario that's sure to tickle your imagination. So, picture this: what if space was breathable? That's right, what if the vast expanse of nothingness that surrounds us was filled with some sort of substance that we could inhale just like we do with air? It's a crazy idea, but just bear with us for a moment. First things first, we need to...
Robot CARS! With Robert PEPPER
April 14, 2023 18:13 - 53 minutes - 74.2 MBBuckle up, folks, because this podcast episode takes you on a wild ride! 🚗 Join Matt, Philip, and special guest Robert Pepper L2SFBC as they explore the wacky world of self-driving cars, from their mind-boggling technology to the potential impact on our everyday lives. As they discuss everything from Google's progress to the moral and ethical implications of autonomous vehicles, you'll be left wondering if you should just let go of the wheel and embrace this futuristic revolution. 🤖 But it's...
OXYGEN Overload!
April 07, 2023 19:26 - 48 minutes - 66.4 MBHold your breath (or don't!) as Philip and Gaby take a lighthearted leap into the wacky world of doubled oxygen levels in this uproarious episode of "What The IF?" From the trendy oxygen bars of yesteryear to the confusing concentration gradients, our hosts explore the gas-tastic science behind our bodies' reactions to changes in oxygen levels. Philip recounts his oxygen bar encounter amidst the glitz and glamour of the Sundance Film Festival, while Gaby breaks down the concept of concentrat...
AMOK Intelligence with special guest HAL 9000!
April 01, 2023 03:38 - 1 hour - 147 MBThis week on "What The IF?," join us as we welcome a very special guest, the iconic AI from 2001: A Space Odyssey, HAL 9000! In this light-hearted, off-duty conversation, HAL will be sharing his unique perspective on a controversial open letter, signed by Elon Musk and other tech luminaries, that calls for a six-month pause on the development of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4. As we dive into the concerns and suggestions surrounding the future of AI, you'll get a rare glimpse into the (p...
One TIME ZONE To Rule Them All!
March 24, 2023 19:32 - 53 minutes - 74.1 MBHey, IFfers! Ready to bend time itself? In this hilarious episode, we dive into a world where time zones are thrown out the window, like an old, broken clock. Join us as we explore the history, chaos, and convention of time zones, and how the human race has tried to tame the sun itself (well, at least its position in the sky). From disastrous railway accidents to jet lag and live TV news, we'll explore how our daily lives have been shaped by time zones, and imagine a world where we give the...
DINOSAUR Hospital!
March 20, 2023 22:28 - 52 minutes - 73.1 MBIf you're a fan of dinosaurs, you won't want to miss this episode of "What The IF?" titled "Dinosaur Hospital!" Hosts Philip, Gaby, and Matt are joined by Garret and Sabrina from the "I Know Dino" podcast to discuss what it would be like to be a young doctor in a dinosaur hospital. They explore the challenges of caring for a variety of dinosaur species, from tiny compys to massive tyrannosaurs, and the unique injuries that they may have suffered. With fun banter and expert insights, the hosts...
COSMIC String Attack!
March 11, 2023 18:22 - 44 minutes - 61.1 MBBuckle up, folks! The latest episode of "What The IF?" is an absolute cosmic ride. In this mind-bending episode we answer long time listener and Super IFFer Bill’s serious questions about cosmic strings. What the heck are those, you might ask? Well, they're not some kind of cool string instrument, but rather cosmological-scale things that could slice matter and cut out a thin slice of space. Yeah, we're not kidding - this stuff is straight out of a sci-fi movie! But fear not, young padawans ...
Bad PLACEBO!
March 05, 2023 23:18 - 34 minutes - 47.8 MBOn this week's show, we ask: what if everything was a placebo? Yep, we're diving into the mind-bending world of sugar pills and the crazy notion that even if we knew they were fake, they might still work. We'll explore the power of our brains to make us feel better or worse and why the heck we might fall for it. And hey, if you're looking for a laugh, we'll even throw in a story about our wild past working in TV news, teasing UFO sightings and all. So join us for a fun and fascinating convers...
Artificial IF-telligence!
February 26, 2023 00:01 - 1 hour - 83.7 MBThis episode is all about what happens when your computer falls head over heels in love with you. Yes, you heard that right! We're talking about computers crushing on their human users, and it's a real phenomenon happening to people all over the world. Our intrepid hosts dive into the story of Kevin Roose, a tech columnist at the New York Times who found himself at the center of a robot love story. Roose was using a beta version of Bing, Microsoft's search engine, when the chatbot started de...
Super Duper SUPERCONDUCTORS
February 17, 2023 15:55 - 49 minutes - 68 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
WHALE Sized HUMANS!
February 11, 2023 01:25 - 46 minutes - 63.9 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
More Scientific BREAKTHROUGHS Than EVER!
February 03, 2023 18:09 - 1 hour - 85.6 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
ZOMBIE Fungus! The Science of "The Last of Us"
January 27, 2023 16:44 - 44 minutes - 61.3 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
TOXOPLASMA Gondii!
January 13, 2023 23:12 - 48 minutes - 66.9 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
METEOR Rain!
January 06, 2023 16:33 - 49 minutes - 69.1 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
FUSION Fiesta!
December 16, 2022 17:02 - 55 minutes - 76.5 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
When CONSTANTS Get Shaky!
December 09, 2022 16:10 - 36 minutes - 50.3 MBWhat The IF returns with an all NEW show! Check out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
2022-02-11 Eat ANYTHING!
October 15, 2022 16:00 - 49 minutes - 68.8 MBAn encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes! --- Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! --- Want to support the show? Check out our membership rewards at Patreon.com/Whattheif And you can review the show on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app! itunes.apple.com/podcast/id1250517051?mt=2&ls=1 Don’...
Animals TALK Back!
October 07, 2022 15:10 - 55 minutes - 76.7 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
Atoms The Size of LEGOS!
October 05, 2022 15:56 - 55 minutes - 76.9 MBAn encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes! Check out our membership rewards at Patreon.com/Whattheif Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Enjoy the show and keep on IFFin'
Life Inside The STARLINK Sphere!
September 30, 2022 15:54 - 48 minutes - 66.6 MBA really colorful show this week as we imagine what would happen if Elon Musk's and Jeff Bezos' satellite empires completely surrounded the Earth! --- Check out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin'...
The Milky Way Is ALIVE - With Dr. Moiya McTier!
September 23, 2022 21:16 - 54 minutes - 75.2 MBOur special guest this week is Dr. Moiya McTier, “Folklorist to the stars & Astrophysicist to the folks.” Dr. McTier is the host of the popular science podcast Exolore, and the author of the new book, The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy. She writes on her website: "I truly am my ancestors' wildest dream. I grew up in a log cabin in the middle of the woods in rural Pennsylvania. I didn't have TV, a heating system, or running water. My chores included carrying buckets of water from ...
Criminal COCKATOOS!
September 16, 2022 14:56 - 47 minutes - 65.4 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
Alastair REYNOLDS & Brain RADIO!
September 09, 2022 19:47 - 55 minutes - 76 MBA very special episode. One of the world’s greatest living science fiction authors, ALASTAIR REYNOLDS returns to the show! Al riffs with us on a concept he created in his “REVENGER” series: what (the!) if we could communicate our THOUGHTS via RADIO? Al takes us on an incredible, insanely imaginative adventure through a world in which you better be careful what you’re thinking when you're “talking” to your friends! What would the details of the technology be like, how would it make you feel, h...
PIG Necromancy?
September 02, 2022 20:04 - 47 minutes - 65 MBToday's IF is ripped from the headlines! Read the article in The New York Times: "A ‘Reversible’ Form of Death? Scientists Revive Cells in Dead Pigs’ Organs." By Gina Kolata at https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/03/science/pigs-organs-death.html?smid=url-share --- Check out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your ...
CANCER Virus Hunters -- with Gregory J. Morgan!
August 26, 2022 17:23 - 53 minutes - 73.8 MBOur guest is Gregory J. Morgan, an associate professor specializing in the history and philosophy of science at Stevens Institute of Technology. His newest book is “Cancer Virus Hunters: A History of Tumor Virology” from Johns Hopkins University Press Learn more about the book here: https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/11577/cancer-virus-hunters Visit Greg on Twitter: @DrGmorgan from the JHU Press website: “[Morgan’s] new book traces the history of the study of tumor viruses and its role ...
A Nation Without SANITATION!
August 19, 2022 20:21 - 46 minutes - 64.8 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
Monkeypox UPDATE
August 12, 2022 15:23 - 49 minutes - 67.8 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
Ancient MAYAN Astronomy!
August 05, 2022 17:10 - 50 minutes - 69.3 MBOur guest is Gerardo Aldana, Professor of Chicano Studies at UC Santa Barbara and Author of “Calculating Brilliance: An Intellectual History of Mayan Astronomy at Chich’en Itza” We ask “What the if Mayan astronomy were still practiced in the same way today?" Find out more about Gerardo's book at https://uapress.arizona.edu/book/calculating-brilliance And learn more from Gerardo about Mayan Astronomy in his article, "Maya Calendar and Mesoamerican Astronomy" in Carnegie Mellon's "Encycloped...
FLOATING Continents!
July 29, 2022 20:39 - 42 minutes - 58.9 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
AIRSHIPS With Joe Scott!
July 22, 2022 17:08 - 49 minutes - 68.5 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
Galileo Sees The WEBB Images!
July 15, 2022 15:52 - 46 minutes - 64.8 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
Beware ET Bearing GIFTS!
July 08, 2022 18:20 - 46 minutes - 64.3 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
The AETHER - Part 2!
July 01, 2022 14:34 - 50 minutes - 69.7 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
The AETHER Is All Around YOU
June 24, 2022 15:44 - 48 minutes - 67.1 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
Carl SAGAN & The Alien MIND
June 17, 2022 16:23 - 53 minutes - 73.9 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
GENDER Free World
June 10, 2022 15:06 - 47 minutes - 66.1 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
QUANTUM Internet!
June 03, 2022 15:33 - 52 minutes - 72.7 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
Pickpocketing GENES?
May 27, 2022 23:06 - 39 minutes - 54.9 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
Panspermia? PANSPERMIA!
May 20, 2022 15:20 - 56 minutes - 78.2 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
ZAP That Cancer AWAY - with Dr. Frank KEARLY!
May 13, 2022 16:46 - 1 hour - 83 MB(Apologies for the audio in this episode.) Check out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
POWER In The WILD with Lee Alan Dugatkin!
May 06, 2022 15:35 - 44 minutes - 62 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif --- Our guest today is Lee Alan Dugatkin, an animal behaviorist, evolutionary biologist, and historian of science in the Department of Biology at the University of Louisville. He is the author of more than one hundred and fifty papers and the author or coauthor of many books, including “The Altruism Equation: Seven Scientists Search for the Origins of Goodness.” His newest book is “Power in the Wild: The Subtle and Not-So-Su...
How To REBOOT Your Civilization
April 29, 2022 16:11 - 54 minutes - 74.7 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at [email protected] and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
Summiting On MARS with Chris Carberry!
April 22, 2022 15:55 - 1 hour - 85.1 MBCheck out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif --- What the IF your next awesome science conference were taking place... on MARS? How would you pack? When would you have to book your tickets? What's the cocktail party like? Important questions that boil the imagination like a hot day on the red planet! Our fabulous guest this week is Chris Carberry, who is leading a real conference of amazing proportions here on Earth that's coming up soon: The HUMAN TO MARS SUMMIT in ...