This shiny metal is constantly in a liquid state. This is mercury. We normally see this metal in tiny quantities. But what would happen if we took thousands of liters...
Imagine never being able to dream of landing on Mars or traveling to Saturn. Not because it’s impossible to get there, but because they didn’t exist. Because...
With the vastness of the Universe, everything in it seems so spread out. But some objects are closer than you might realize. Every now and then, a random interstellar...
Friction is what allows us to move…and to slow down. Friction is how we pick things up …and hold on to them. To be totally honest, there isn’t much we...
Earth is already known as the blue planet, with 70% of its surface covered by oceans. But what if the remaining 30% of land suddenly disappeared? The consequences would...
Returning for a second term in office, President Trump promised to crack down on illegal immigration using ICE – the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement...
Falling into a black hole may sound like something from a science fiction movie, but it is a very real phenomenon studied by physicists for decades. Black holes are...
They can endure the cold reaches of space. Go without food or water for up to 30 years. And are nearly indestructible. But they’re, like, really tiny. So, there’s not a...
“Below the thunders of the upper deep, Far, far beneath in the abysmal sea, his ancient, dreamless, uninvaded sleep The Kraken sleepeth” That’s right. It’s...
The time for talk is over. Now the biggest countries on Earth are fighting for global supremacy. What would happen if the United States started World War III? Who would...
A massive asteroid just hit Earth, right in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Thanks to NASA’s new infrared telescope, we were able to detect it and prepare for the...
Since the beginning of time, Earth has created life and then wiped out most of it in catastrophic, ultra-destructive moments. Starting with the very first extinction...
Let's say, the Earth's magnetic field took a break and allowed strong solar winds to strip away our protective space-blanket. Would Earth instantly turn into a big...
We visit a lot of planets here on WHAT IF, but K2-141b is the most extreme one yet. Are you ready to jump on board this one-way space shuttle? If you’d rather stay...
For over half a century, we’ve searched for radio signals from extraterrestrial civilizations. But it’s, been, well, a little quiet. Are they ignoring us? Or...
I hope you’ve packed some ice skates for your next trip out to sea because the oceans have completely frozen over. What conditions could cause this massive...
It might sound like a scene from a science fiction movie, but the threat of an asteroid hitting Earth is more realistic than you might expect. One asteroid in...
Why does the Earth have to be either round or flat? What if there could be a happy middle ground? Welcome to your very own polyhedron Earth. What would this Earth look...
Skyscrapers that once pierced the night sky now stand as monoliths of darkness. Streets that buzzed with life are frozen in eerie silence. Cars stall in mid-traffic...
How would the world change if, all of a sudden, every biological man disappeared? Would the world become more peaceful? Why would you have to ration food? And why...
