What The If?

Philip Shane, Matt Stanley, Gabrielle Paniccia
  • 4,6 (60)
  • SCIENCES
  • CHAQUE SEMAINE
What The If?

Learn 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?

  1. NUCLEAR Next Door!

    -4 J

    NUCLEAR Next Door!

    Ready to meet your friendly neighborhood nuclear reactor? Join us for a wild exploration of what could happen if mini atomic power plants popped up on every block! We'll peek into a future where spent fuel rods might be stored in the local "parking lot," and your next-door neighbor could be a nuclear engineer. Discover the surprising possibilities (and peculiar problems) of bringing nuclear power into suburbia, why those iconic cooling towers might become as common as coffee shops, and what it would really mean to have atomic energy right around the corner. This week's episode is inspired by the New York Times article "U.S. Bets on Small Nuclear Reactors to Help Fix a Huge Climate Problem" by Brad Plumer on Nov. 12, 2023. Read it here: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/11/12/climate/nuclear-reactors-clean-energy.html?smid=url-share Hear Matt's upcoming lecture: On November 25, 2024 he will be doing a virtual lecture on "Historical Solar Eclipse Observations". Tune in! https://factorvalue.org/2024/11/16/eclipse/ --- Find out more about Gaby's science fiction short story! Here are the links for the anthology. The physical copy can be ordered here : https://www.neonhemlock.com/books/luminescent-machinations-queer-tales-of-monumental-invention The ebook can be ordered here: https://www.neonhemlock.com/ebooks/luminescent-machinations-queer-tales-of-monumental-invention

    50 min
  2. Jellyfish FUSION and You!

    10 NOV.

    Jellyfish FUSION and You!

    Would you merge with someone if you could? When scientists discovered comb jellies spontaneously fusing into single organisms, it opened up wild possibilities for human fusion powers. Picture medieval knights sporting extra arms from fusion transplants, towering academic hive minds preserving centuries of knowledge, and partners literally sharing brain space to understand each other's fields. From coordinated jellyfish movements to the cultural implications of a fusion-powered society, we explore what happens when biology meets Dark Souls. Episode inspired by Carl Zimmer's New York Times article "When Two Sea Aliens Become One" (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/07/science/comb-jellies-fusing-bodies.html?smid=url-share). --- Find out more about Gaby's science fiction short story! Here are the links for the anthology. The physical copy can be ordered here : https://www.neonhemlock.com/books/luminescent-machinations-queer-tales-of-monumental-invention The ebook can be ordered here: https://www.neonhemlock.com/ebooks/luminescent-machinations-queer-tales-of-monumental-invention

    48 min
  3. White Dwarf SUN!

    4 NOV.

    White Dwarf SUN!

    Based on new research reported by Matt Williams in Universe Today, an Earth-like planet orbiting a white dwarf star 4,000 light years away might offer a preview of our own solar system's distant future. Journey through the dramatic transformation as our Sun expands into a massive red giant, consuming Mercury and Venus before shedding its outer layers and shrinking to a tiny white dwarf. Explore how Earth might survive this cosmic evolution, migrating to a more distant orbit in a permanently frozen state where ice badgers could theoretically evolve to thrive in the dim light of our shrunken star. Read the article in Universe Today: https://www.universetoday.com/168746/an-earth-like-planet-around-a-dead-sun-provides-some-reassurance-about-the-future-of-earth/#more-168746 --- Find out more about Gaby's science fiction short story! Here are the links for the anthology. The physical copy can be ordered here : https://www.neonhemlock.com/books/luminescent-machinations-queer-tales-of-monumental-invention The ebook can be ordered here: https://www.neonhemlock.com/ebooks/luminescent-machinations-queer-tales-of-monumental-invention

    45 min
  4. SOUND WAVES Make Plants RAVE!

    28 OCT.

    SOUND WAVES Make Plants RAVE!

    Scientists discover that playing white noise can make beneficial fungi grow seven times faster than usual. This breakthrough could help restore damaged forests by using sound to promote fungal growth that supports tree health. Explore how fungi act as nature's traders, exchanging nutrients with trees through complex underground networks. Learn about the potential applications, from healing ecosystems to growing prized black truffles, and imagine a future where music helps plants thrive and highway noise creates blooming roadside gardens. --- Find out more about Gaby's science fiction short story! Here are the links for the anthology. The physical copy can be ordered here : https://www.neonhemlock.com/books/luminescent-machinations-queer-tales-of-monumental-invention The ebook can be ordered here: https://www.neonhemlock.com/ebooks/luminescent-machinations-queer-tales-of-monumental-invention

    55 min
  5. FACE Blindness: Beyond The IF!

    21 OCT.

    FACE Blindness: Beyond The IF!

    We're excited to share a special treat with all our listeners - a "Beyond the IF" segment usually available only to our Patreon supporters! This bonus episode extends our fascinating conversation with Sharrona Pearl, author of "Do I Know You: From Face Blindness to Super Recognition." In this deeper exploration, we shift our focus to the opposite end of the face recognition spectrum - super recognizers. These individuals possess an extraordinary ability to remember and identify faces. But is this superpower all it's cracked up to be? We explore the daily challenges faced by super recognizers, from accidentally creeping people out to the art of pretending not to recognize everyone. Learn about the practical applications of this ability, including Scotland Yard's "super recognizer squad," and ponder the potential downsides that researchers have yet to explore. This glimpse into our "Beyond the IF" content showcases the kind of in-depth, mind-bending discussions our Patreon supporters enjoy regularly. If you've enjoyed this bonus content, consider becoming a Patreon supporter at https://patreon.com/whattheif. Your support fuels our exploration of these fascinating "what ifs" and beyond, allowing us to dive deeper into the extraordinary. Join our community of curious minds and get access to exclusive content like this in every episode!

    26 min
  6. FACE Blindness with Sharrona Pearl!

    21 OCT.

    FACE Blindness with Sharrona Pearl!

    Join us as we welcome special guest Sharrona Pearl, author of "Do I Know You: From Face Blindness to Super Recognition" from Johns Hopkins Press. What if everyone suddenly woke up face blind? Together with Sharrona, we explore the fascinating world of face recognition and its absence, delving into the challenges and unexpected benefits of living in a society where no one can recognize faces. From diverse friend groups to biometric surveillance, discover how our world might adapt. Explore the coping mechanisms developed by those with face blindness and ponder how these strategies might become universal in a face-blind world. Embark on a thought-provoking journey through the implications of losing facial recognition abilities and their impact on our daily lives and society at large. Buy Sharrona's book: Via Independent Bookstores: https://bookshop.org/p/books/do-i-know-you-from-face-blindness-to-super-recognition-sharrona-pearl/19780511?ean=9781421447537 Via Hopkins Press: https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12700/do-i-know-you Via Amazon: https://a.co/d/9o4azvU

    52 min
  7. EUROPA'S Icy Enigma!

    14 OCT.

    EUROPA'S Icy Enigma!

    Strap in for a frosty adventure as we dive into the Europa Clipper mission, set to blast off towards Jupiter's enigmatic ice moon. Imagine an alien world with an ocean containing twice the water of all Earth's seas, hidden beneath a 12-mile thick ice cube! We'll crack open the mysteries of Europa's crimson streaks, ponder the possibility of glow-in-the-dark sea monsters, and unravel how scientists use fancy metal detectors to peek inside planets. Join us as we speculate about potential alien sushi bars and wonder if Europa's ocean creatures might hold the key to intergalactic medicine. Get ready for a chilly space odyssey that'll have you seeing Jupiter's moons in a whole new light! --- Find out more about Gaby's science fiction short story! Here are the links for the anthology. The physical copy can be ordered here : https://www.neonhemlock.com/books/luminescent-machinations-queer-tales-of-monumental-invention The ebook can be ordered here: https://www.neonhemlock.com/ebooks/luminescent-machinations-queer-tales-of-monumental-invention

    53 min
  8. MINI-MOON Madness!

    7 OCT.

    MINI-MOON Madness!

    Inspired by the recent news of Earth's temporary mini-moon 2024 PT5, this episode explores a universe where such celestial visitors become commonplace. What if Earth regularly captured bus-sized asteroids as mini-moons? From space hippie lifestyles to asteroid time-shares, discover how these cosmic dance partners could impact astronomy, space travel, and human evolution. Dive into the potential of mini-moons as conveyor belts through the solar system, the challenges of asteroid mining, orbital dynamics, and the birth of nomadic space cultures. --- Find out more about Gaby's science fiction short story! Here are the links for the anthology. The physical copy can be ordered here : https://www.neonhemlock.com/books/luminescent-machinations-queer-tales-of-monumental-invention The ebook can be ordered here: https://www.neonhemlock.com/ebooks/luminescent-machinations-queer-tales-of-monumental-invention

    52 min
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À propos

Learn 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?

Informations

  • Création
    Philip Shane, Matt Stanley, Gabrielle Paniccia
  • Années d’activité
    2017 - 2024
  • Épisodes
    375
  • Classification
    Tous publics
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Site web de l’émission
    What The If?

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