エピソード

  • Microgravity MOVIE Making!
    2025/04/01
    What if filmmakers took their cameras to space? Prepare for a world of zero-G cinematography! From weather-sealed cameras designed to handle unexpected astronaut vomit to the perpetual hum of life-support systems ruining your audio, documentary filmmaking in orbit presents unique challenges. Discover why the International Space Station's lighting is "just awful," how playing a guitar in microgravity sends you spinning in unexpected directions, and why the first task in every Mars simulation is fixing the eternally broken toilet. Explore how future space workers will need specialized trade skills—from plumbers to welders—as humanity expands beyond Earth. This thought-provoking "what if" scenario features insights from documentary filmmaker Sam Burbank and Explore Mars CEO Chris Carberry. —— Chris Carberry is the CEO and co-founder of Explore Mars, Inc. (Explore Mars), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit space advocacy organization that was created to advance the goal of sending humans to Mars by the mid-2030s. Carberry is a well-respected expert and influential director of strategic alliances in the space community as well as with non-traditional organizations. Carberry has presented oral (and written) testimony to both the United States Senate as well as the United States House of Representatives and has been active in all levels of policy engagement with both the Executive and Legislative branches of government. In recent years, he has overseen Explore Mars’ annual Humans to Mars Summit, the largest annual conference focused on sending humans to Mars. He has also spearheaded dozens of programs including the Mars Innovation Forum, the annual Community Workshops for the Achievability and Sustainability of Human Exploration of Mars series, the AR/VR and Space workshop series, the ISS and Mars Conference in Washington, D.C. and in Strasbourg, France, and the Women and Mars Conference in Washington, D.C. He has also conducted programs overseas, in such countries as the United Arab Emirates, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Carberry is also the creator, and one of the senior editors, of the annual publication known as the Humans to Mars Report that was highlighted in the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017. In 2013, Carberry was awarded a NASA Group Achievement award. Carberry is the author of the 2019 book, Alcohol in Space: Past, Present and Future, and the upcoming book, The Music of Space (to be released in 2022). Both volumes are being adapted into documentary films.Learn more about Chris at https://exploremars.orgCheck out his books at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Chris-Carberry/author/B0CZWN4JNF?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1743558561&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true Watch his film at https://www.amazon.com/Alcohol-Space-Movie-Sam-Burbank/dp/B0DJQZGLG2 —— Sam Burbank is a science-writer and science-documentary filmmaker. Mr. Burbank has worked with PBS, Discovery Channel, and has produced and written two dozen programs for the National Geographic, ranging from renewable energy to the X-Prize. Sam studied creative writing at San Francisco State University, and is a long time member of AAAS. He has spent three summers on Devon Island, near the magnetic north pole, and was a member of the founding crew of the Mars Society FMARS station in 2001. In 2002 he joined a crew at the MDRS station for the one-of-a-kind ICoMP experiment Sam loves snowboarding, journal writing, and dancing a fast 1930's swing step, the Balboa. In 1995, he and wife Linda spent their honeymoon riding a motorcycle to the arctic circle. Some notable quotes about Mr. Burbank include the following: "Sam Burbank is elevating the video-journal to an art genre." Kim Stanley Robinson, author Antarctica, Red Mars. "Sam is a true artist, who makes visible to the eye what before could only be seen by the mind." Robert Zubrin, author The Case for Mars, Entering Space. Learn more about Sam at https://www.samburbank.com/
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    43 分
  • OLYMPICS Of The Solar System! (Encore)
    2025/03/14
    Note from Philip: Matt and Gaby are both on assignment this week, so we proudly present an encore of one of our most popular episodes ever. ——— We welcome our newest Patreon supporter, Martin from Frankfurt, Germany! Inspired by the Paris Olympics which open today, we imagine Olympic events spread across the solar system in the year 3024! High jumps on the Moon, luge races on asteroids, and synchronized swimming in Titan's methane lakes. Athletes train in centrifuges to prepare for different gravities, while spectators watch solar sail races near the Sun. The episode explores the physics of sports in various planetary conditions, from the dense atmosphere of Jupiter to the microgravity of space stations. Learn about the challenges of organizing interplanetary competitions and the potential for new sports unique to each celestial body. --- 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 feedback@whattheif.com 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
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    49 分
  • 2025-03-07 A World Without WINGS!
    2025/03/06
    In a world where no creature ever evolved wings, island ecosystems would be barren wastelands, Darwin might never have filled his bathtub with broccoli, and wars might be less explosive due to the absence of bird guano for making gunpowder. Explore an Earth where dragonflies never buzzed, butterflies never fluttered, and humans might have focused exclusively on land speed instead of aerospace. From the philosophical implications of never seeing flight in action to the surprisingly massive ecological importance of flying poop-dispersers, this episode dives into the cascading consequences of a planet permanently grounded. This thought-provoking "what if" scenario was suggested by listener Steve Scalici. Find out more about how to march in support of American science by visiting https://standupforscience2025.org --- 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
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    41 分
  • American BRAIN DRAIN: Beyond The IF!
    2025/02/24
    We're sharing our bonus show this week that is usually available only to our Patreon supporters. This week's Beyond the IF continues our sobering discussion about the rapidly deteriorating state of science funding in America. The conversation took us deeper into the real-world impacts we're already seeing - from major universities canceling all graduate admissions to a student who landed a Park Service job only to have it eliminated before she could even start. These aren't hypothetical scenarios anymore; they're happening to real people right now. We also discussed the historical precedents for what happens when countries drive out their scientific talent. From Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union's collapse, the pattern is disturbingly familiar - and often ends with those experts enriching other nations instead. For those of you wondering what you can do, we shared information about the Stand Up for Science event on March 7th and other ways to make your voice heard. Your support is more important than ever as we navigate these challenging times. If you're one of our Patreon members, we thank you for being part of this community and allowing us to have these critical conversations that many aren't willing to have. If you're not a member yet, go to https://patreon.com/whattheif to find out what it's all about. Keep on iffin', Philip, Gaby & Matt
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    20 分
  • American BRAIN DRAIN
    2025/02/24
    The current US Administration's sudden gutting of science funding is creating an unprecedented crisis. Scientists are waking up to find themselves unemployed, as anonymous officials pull the plug on research programs with no warning or debate. This episode examines the immediate fallout as laboratory freezers shut down, irreplaceable samples are lost, and researchers scramble to preserve years of work. What comes next could be devastating - a potential mass exodus of scientific talent. If funding isn't restored, we face an imminent brain drain as researchers seek opportunities elsewhere, mirroring historical parallels from Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union's collapse. Major universities have already canceled graduate admissions, threatening to eliminate an entire generation of future scientists. The consequences of these actions extend far beyond academia - agricultural failures, increased disease outbreaks, and environmental deterioration await a society that abandons its scientific foundations. We finish with concrete ways you can take action, from contacting your representatives to joining organized protests like the upcoming Stand Up for Science event on March 7th. We also invite you to share your own ideas and strategies for stemming this tide - whether you're in the US or watching from abroad, your voice and solutions matter in this critical moment.
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    55 分
  • NONSTOP Meteor Madness!
    2025/02/16
    Picture a world where meteor showers aren't just annual events - they're a constant barrage of cosmic debris raining down from above. From sonic booms that make sleep impossible to the challenges of titanium umbrella manufacturing, explore how humanity might cope with endless celestial bombardment. Discover why the moon's pockmarked surface could become Earth's new normal, why your local cathedral might be built from meteorite fragments, and how our atmosphere would transform into a perpetual blanket of dust that could make plants nostalgic for sunlight. Based on ideas sparked by Dr. Matthew Stanley's upcoming book on the history of asteroid impact awareness. --- 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
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    55 分
  • The Great GARBAGE Apocalypse!
    2025/02/10
    Imagine a world where garbage grows faster than we can handle it. From towering mountains of trash transforming Central Park into a burn pit, to fashionable gas masks becoming the next big trend, to super-sized Pizza Rats dragging entire pies down subway stairs - Matt touches on what happens when our waste production spirals out of control. Discover the fascinating science behind Norway's garbage-to-energy programs, learn why your building's trash chute might be too small for modern waste, and find out how launching garbage into space could create daily meteor showers. Whether we end up building higher and higher on top of our refuse or turning landfills into beautiful parks, one thing's certain: the future is trashy. Here are links to the article that inspired today’s “If,” and also links to the work of photographer Jade Doskow, the official photographer of the Fresh Kills transformation project, turning the old landfill into a vast wooded parkland in New York City. - NYTimes - "A Century of Human Detritus, Visualized" (Dennis Overbye) - The podcast encourages checking out a New York Times article titled "A Century of Human Detritus, Visualized," written by Dennis Overbye and published December 27, 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/27/science/biomass-garbage-construction.html?unlocked_article_code=1.v04.UxBK.oaS6T2HeFINh&smid=url-share - Jade Doskow’s Official Website - The hosts direct listeners to Jade Doskow’s official photography website, which showcases her work. https://jadedoskowphotography.com/ - Jade Doskow at Freshkills Park - The official Freshkills Park page about Jade’s role as Photographer-in-Residence. It features her ongoing project documenting the transformation of the former landfill into a park. https://freshkillspark.org/os-art/jadedoskow - "Jade Doskow: Photographer of Lost Utopias" Documentary - A short documentary by filmmaker Philip Shane following Jade’s decade-long project photographing World’s Fair sites. https://www.philipshane.com/lost-utopias - "Extra Terrestrial" on Urban Omnibus - An article written by Jade Doskow (Nov 2022) about the evolving landscape of Freshkills, recommended for further reading. It offers insight into her approach and findings as the site’s photographer-in-residence. https://urbanomnibus.net/2022/11/extra-terrestrial/ --- 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
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    49 分
  • Nobody POOPS!
    2025/02/07
    What if humans only needed to poop twice a year? Listener Randy Woods sent in this fascinating question that explores everything from subway systems suddenly smelling fresher to plumbers planning career changes in a world where human waste becomes a rare event. Dive into the fascinating science of gut microbiomes, learn why having "zero waste" might wreak havoc on Earth's ecosystems, and discover why some scientists think the total elimination of poop could cause an evolutionary crisis. Through engineered gut bacteria or artificially created super-digestible food, this episode examines how our bodies would need to change to achieve this drastically different biological reality. --- 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
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    53 分