The world often looks to powerful nations to stop conflicts, negotiate peace, and restore stability. But when it comes to a major war involving Iran, China’s role may...
Voyager 1 is on a journey that will outlast civilizations, outlive the Sun’s familiar neighborhood, and eventually drift into regions of space no human made object has...
Mountains can seem eternal, but they are constantly changing. They rise through geological forces, slowly erode, and eventually become part of the landscape around them...
Our oceans are a place of constant contrast. Calm surface waters hide a world of darkness, pressure, and strange life forms that most humans will never see. While many...
Reptiles have ruled the planet for hundreds of millions of years, and some of them still inspire the same fear they did in prehistoric times. From giant constrictor...
You’re 100 m (330 ft) up in the air, moving at 130 km/h (81 mph). Your heart is pounding as you scream your lungs out. Suddenly, a sharp hit to your chest. The...
So, is our world just an illusion? Why do some physicists believe that physical matter isn’t real? What scientific experiments have changed our view of reality...
Ever feel like the Earth is just too small? Well, let’s make it bigger. Much, much bigger. Welcome to a new Earth that is just as big as Jupiter. In what ways would the...
Every six years in Japan, thousands of people gather in the Suwa region to witness one of the world’s most dangerous religious festivals. Massive logs thunder down steep...
Have you ever played your favorite song for your dog or cat and wondered whether they actually enjoy it? Your pet may sit quietly beside you while the music plays, but...
Imagine you’re out for a blissful swim, trying to catch a glimpse of some beautiful whales. The sun is shining, the water feels refreshing, and, uh oh, something just...
In 2020, when Kim Jong-Un disappeared for three weeks, the world went into full speculation mode. Was he ill? Dead? On a secret mission to binge-watch K-dramas? South...
Ever had a freshly cooked steak, delivered straight from the International Space Station? Let me tell you — it’s not going to be what you might expect. You must be...
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...
The water is rising. It’s nearly up to your neck. You’re being sucked under the surface of the river. What began as a stroll in the countryside has become...
For decades, marine parks presented killer whales as intelligent, powerful animals that could be trained to perform spectacular tricks. Audiences watched trainers swim...
Who doesn’t love a good race? But this time you’re going headfirst at 132 km/h (80 mph) down an icy track. Only 2.5 cm (1 in) separates the hard cold ice from your...
It sounds like science fiction, but imagining a collision between Jupiter and a black hole helps reveal just how delicate our Solar System really is. Space is not empty...
The reason why we’re able to see Betelgeuse so clearly from 640 light years away is because it’s massive. In fact, it’s 12–20 times more massive than...
Insects play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystems and supporting life on Earth. While some insects damage crops, cause irritation, or transmit diseases, the vast...
