Hang on because we’re about to screech to a halt. That’s right. The Earth is going to stop spinning for five seconds. How much damage would this sudden stoppage cause...
Together, the U.S., Russia, and China control nearly half of the world’s military power, dominate the global economy, and influence the most powerful international...
Throughout history, humanity has faced existential threats like giant asteroids and invisible viruses. Despite the danger, we always bounce back. But how much longer can...
At first, it’s very bright. But then, as your eyes adjust to the light, you start to piece together your surroundings. The moving blobs above you, you realize, are...
Within the vastness of the Universe, humanity is not that big of a deal. We’re not here because we’re meant to be here, we’re just… here. If...
At first thought, volcanoes might seem like the perfect natural disposal system. They are incredibly hot, appear to swallow anything in their path, and seem limitless in...
A total solar eclipse is one of the most breathtaking spectacles in the universe. While we experience them on Earth roughly every year and a half, these events happen in...
Today on What If, we’re going to build the highest bridge on planet Earth. Welcome to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the “Roof of the World.”It’s home to the world’s...
It’s time to live your ultimate supervillain fantasy. Today, you’re going to unleash your masterpiece of mass destruction. An antimatter bomb. How would you build it...
With all the work to do, people to see, traffic jams to get stuck in, we all sometimes wish we could be in two places at once. We’ve already cloned sheep, cows...
The Amazon rainforest stretches for millions of kilometers, hiding ancient tribes, animals and maybe something else. What if under this mysterious canopy lies an...
Thousands of satellites and pieces of debris currently orbit our Earth. They provide us with television, internet, and communications. But what if all these satellites...
Some 13.8 billion years ago, a very hot, small and dense singularity expanded into what we now call the Universe. It hasn't stopped growing since. But what if it did?
What if there are other universes, just like ours? With an infinite number of Earths? With uncountable versions of you? And what if we don’t have to look too far...
This star is about to transform into a black hole. And we’re about to travel inside it to see what’s on the other side. The only problem is that we’ll...
Earth is the only life-supporting planet in our Solar System. Until now. Today, we’re bringing Kepler 22-b into our planetary neighborhood. Where would this planet...
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_v1lP”] Bursts of solar flares from the Sun’s surface look spectacular, but they can pose a danger to us here on Earth...
As you approached Saturn, you would be the first human to take in the glory of its rings and its swirling atmosphere in person. Along the way, you would pass a few of...
If you traveled to the deepest points of Earth, what would you find? Lost cities, mythical sea monsters, rivers of gold? Probably not. But there is still a lot to...
Wouldn’t it be great to have a truly jaw-dropping view? Like windows looking directly into space? Well, it’s time to build your very own cosmic skyscraper. What would it...

