What The If?

Latest Episodes:

Report from CHINA! Nov 23, 2020

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Special guest Howard Zheng has just returned from China and reports on the state of the pandemic there. Gaby and the team compare China's methods with those we experience ourselves in the USA. Every week, Rockefeller University Virologist GABY PANICCIA explores the science behind the headlines. More info at RockEDU: rockedu.rockefeller.edu and covid-19-research.rockefeller.edu --- Like the show? Share your love for the IF by dropping a review on Apple Podcasts! itunes.apple.com/podcast/id1250517051?mt=2&ls=1 Have you subscribed? Grab one (always free!) at pod.link/1250517051 and never miss an episode! Comments, questions, and more are welcome! Visit WhatTheIF.com/contact or email us at feedback@whattheif.com.

93 - EINSTEIN'S WAR - Part Two Nov 20, 2020

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For Thanksgiving, a special encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes! Matt has a new amazing book! We dive into Professor Stanley's incredible story about how, while living through hunger, freezing and fear, the unknown and unheard of Professor Albert Einstein became... EINSTEIN. What The IF, we ask: World War I never, ever happened? Would Einstein have solved his Theory of Relativity sooner -- or, perhaps, NEVER AT ALL? REVIEW the show: itunes.apple.com/podcast/id1250517051?mt=2&ls=1 SUBSCRIBE for free: linktr.ee/whattheifshow Thanks & Keep On IFFin'! -- Philip & Matt

92 - Einstein's War - Part One Nov 20, 2020

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REINCARNATION, Let's Do This! Nov 13, 2020

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Spooky children?! Past lives?! Astrology?! What could we possibly be talking about? What The If past lives, and reincarnation were real? On this episode, we talk about an article Philip found on NYTimes about reincarnation and how they actually considered the occult as scientific?! WHAT?! This if is dedicated to the comment section of this article: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/26/parenting/pretend-play-creepy-kids.html — 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! --- Special thanks to Kyle Crichton and Howard Zheng for their help with the show. --- Want to support the show? Click a rating or add a review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app! itunes.apple.com/podcast/id1250517051?mt=2&ls=1 Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip & Matt

WTIF News - GOOD News? YEAH!!! Nov 09, 2020

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Science wins in the USA! Vaccine research looking good so far! As she does every week, Rockefeller University Virologist GABY PANICCIA explores the science behind the COVID-19 Pandemic’s headlines. Three fascinating stories this week: "Pfizer’s Early Data Shows Vaccine Is More Than 90% Effective" - The New York Times - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/09/health/covid-vaccine-pfizer.html "Pfizer announced positive early results from its coronavirus vaccine trial, cementing the lead in a frenzied global race that has unfolded at record-breaking speed." By Katie Thomas, David Gelles and Carl Zimmer "Children Produce Weaker Coronavirus Antibodies, Study Finds" - The New York Times - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/05/health/covid-children-antibodies.html "The research suggests that children clear the infection much faster than adults and may help explain why many don’t become seriously ill." By Apoorva Mandavilli "Antibodies may explain some of COVID-19 clotting risk" - Time - https://time.com/5906911/covid-19-antibodies-blood-clotting/ "Scientists Have Uncovered the Likely Cause of a Serious COVID-19 Symptom: Blood Clotting" By Alice Park More info about the virus at RockEDU: rockedu.rockefeller.edu and covid-19-research.rockefeller.edu --- Like the show? Share your love for the IF by dropping a review on Apple Podcasts! itunes.apple.com/podcast/id1250517051?mt=2&ls=1 Have you subscribed? Grab one (always free!) at pod.link/1250517051 and never miss an episode! Comments, questions, and more are welcome! Visit WhatTheIF.com/contact or email us at feedback@whattheif.com.

WTif Humans Had TAILS?! Nov 06, 2020

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We are joined by Historian of Medicine, Professor of History at Clarkson University, Stephen Casper! You've got a tailbone, but WTiF Humans actually had TAILS?! Hang off those trees like our ape-like ancestors, chill out with a nice cool drink and enjoy this ride on the Human evolution train! — 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! --- Special thanks to Kyle Crichton for help with today's show. --- Want to support the show? Click a rating or add a review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app! itunes.apple.com/podcast/id1250517051?mt=2&ls=1 Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip & Matt

WTIF News - It Came Outta NOWHERE! Nov 03, 2020

Show notes

The New York Times headline is ominous: "How Are Americans Catching the Virus? Increasingly, ‘They Have No Idea’" As she does every week, Rockefeller University Virologist GABY PANICCIA explores the science behind this scary headline and we aim to learn how it is that the Corona Virus seems UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED! Read the article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/31/us/coronavirus-transmission-everywhere.html More info at RockEDU: rockedu.rockefeller.edu and covid-19-research.rockefeller.edu --- Like the show? Share your love for the IF by dropping a review on Apple Podcasts! itunes.apple.com/podcast/id1250517051?mt=2&ls=1 Have you subscribed? Grab one (always free!) at pod.link/1250517051 and never miss an episode! Comments, questions, and more are welcome! Visit WhatTheIF.com/contact or email us at feedback@whattheif.com.

SMILE, Aliens Are WATCHING! Oct 30, 2020

Show notes

Reality TV in SPACE! What The If Aliens are WATCHING us!? Tune your televisions to the intergalactic channel, or open up your streaming app on your smart TV and watch the show called EARTH! Article mentioned in this weeks episode from Gizmodo: https://gizmodo.com/aliens-from-these-worlds-could-be-watching-us-right-now-1845452421 — 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! --- Special thanks to Kyle Crichton and Howard Zheng for their help with the show. --- Want to support the show? Click a rating or add a review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app! itunes.apple.com/podcast/id1250517051?mt=2&ls=1 Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip & Matt

WTIF News - When DATA Gets AGGRAVATED! Oct 26, 2020

Show notes

NBC News reports, "A rare Covid-19 complication was reported in children. Now, it's showing up in adults." Gaby helps us understand what scientists do when alarming data appears. How do scientists even gather so much data, how do they digest it, what can they do when something is extremely rare but highly concerning? Also, we discuss trick or treating this year when Halloween occurs in the middle of real horror. Levity provided by... unexpected country music! Woohoo! Pandemic pickles all our brains, join us for the fun, for science! Every week, Rockefeller University Virologist GABY PANICCIA explores the science behind the headlines. More info at RockEDU: rockedu.rockefeller.edu and covid-19-research.rockefeller.edu --- Like the show? Share your love for the IF by dropping a review on Apple Podcasts! itunes.apple.com/podcast/id1250517051?mt=2&ls=1 Have you subscribed? Grab one (always free!) at pod.link/1250517051 and never miss an episode! Comments, questions, and more are welcome! Visit WhatTheIF.com/contact or email us at feedback@whattheif.com.

ZOMBIES! Oct 23, 2020

Show notes

What The If Zombies were real!? Start armoring your vehicles, boarding up your windows, and stocking up on toilet paper! We've got a spooky episode for you, just in time for Halloween! The Walking Dead roam the earth! George Romero, eat your brain out! It's time for the RISE OF THE DAWN OF THE DEAD! — 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! --- Special thanks to Kyle Crichton and Howard Zheng for their help with the show. --- Want to support the show? Click a rating or add a review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app! itunes.apple.com/podcast/id1250517051?mt=2&ls=1 Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip & Matt

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