Episodes

  • From WASTE To TASTE - BONUS - Beyond The IF!

    From WASTE To TASTE - BONUS - Beyond The IF!
    Nov 24 2024
    Here's our Bonus show, "Beyond The IF" which we record each week for our Patreon supporters. I'm sharing it here so you can get a taste of what it's like. If you're not a Patreon supporter, you can learn more about the benefits available to all our wonderful members at patreon.com/whattheif. On this week's bonus after-party show... What starts with toilet water and ends with dissolving takeout containers? We began with Singapore's recycled water beer at COP29 and found ourselves exploring everything from Massachusetts' fancy locking compost bins to New York's experimental waste programs. The conversation flowed through the surprisingly dramatic history of why we ditched glass for plastic (spoiler: it wasn't for the planet), and landed us in the world of disappearing food containers and compostable bags that actually break down instead of sticking around for a few centuries. We thank all our Patreons for supporting our weekly adventures through science, even when they start in unusual places. Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with good food, warm company, and minimal food waste. May your compost bins be full and your recycling sorted correctly! Cheers, Philip
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    23 mins
  • From WASTE To TASTE!

    From WASTE To TASTE!
    Nov 23 2024
    What happens when your toilet water gets a career change and becomes a craft beer? At COP29 in Azerbaijan, Singapore's showing off exactly that with their hoppy pilsner made from recycled wastewater. Discover the fascinating world of water reclamation where sewage gets a spectacular makeover through advanced treatment systems. Learn how treatment plants transform waste into pure water through an incredible process involving bacterial helpers, sand filters, and high-tech purification. From delegates sipping recycled brew to a future where every drop of water might get a second chance, explore what our beverage scene could look like when we push sustainability to new limits. Today's episode is inspired by the article "This Beer Is Made From Sewage. And at the Climate Summit, That's OK" by Rebecca F. Elliott in The New York Times at https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/22/climate/cop29-beer-toilet-water.html —- Hear Matt's upcoming lecture: On November 25, 2024 he will be doing a virtual lecture on "Historical Solar Eclipse Observations". Tune in! https://factorvalue.org/2024/11/16/eclipse/ --- 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 mins
  • NUCLEAR Next Door!

    NUCLEAR Next Door!
    Nov 17 2024
    Ready to meet your friendly neighborhood nuclear reactor? Join us for a wild exploration of what could happen if mini atomic power plants popped up on every block! We'll peek into a future where spent fuel rods might be stored in the local "parking lot," and your next-door neighbor could be a nuclear engineer. Discover the surprising possibilities (and peculiar problems) of bringing nuclear power into suburbia, why those iconic cooling towers might become as common as coffee shops, and what it would really mean to have atomic energy right around the corner. This week's episode is inspired by the New York Times article "U.S. Bets on Small Nuclear Reactors to Help Fix a Huge Climate Problem" by Brad Plumer on Nov. 12, 2023. Read it here: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/11/12/climate/nuclear-reactors-clean-energy.html?smid=url-share Hear Matt's upcoming lecture: On November 25, 2024 he will be doing a virtual lecture on "Historical Solar Eclipse Observations". Tune in! https://factorvalue.org/2024/11/16/eclipse/ --- 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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    50 mins
  • Jellyfish FUSION and You!

    Jellyfish FUSION and You!
    Nov 10 2024
    Would you merge with someone if you could? When scientists discovered comb jellies spontaneously fusing into single organisms, it opened up wild possibilities for human fusion powers. Picture medieval knights sporting extra arms from fusion transplants, towering academic hive minds preserving centuries of knowledge, and partners literally sharing brain space to understand each other's fields. From coordinated jellyfish movements to the cultural implications of a fusion-powered society, we explore what happens when biology meets Dark Souls. Episode inspired by Carl Zimmer's New York Times article "When Two Sea Aliens Become One" (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/07/science/comb-jellies-fusing-bodies.html?smid=url-share). --- 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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    48 mins
  • White Dwarf SUN!

    White Dwarf SUN!
    Nov 4 2024
    Based on new research reported by Matt Williams in Universe Today, an Earth-like planet orbiting a white dwarf star 4,000 light years away might offer a preview of our own solar system's distant future. Journey through the dramatic transformation as our Sun expands into a massive red giant, consuming Mercury and Venus before shedding its outer layers and shrinking to a tiny white dwarf. Explore how Earth might survive this cosmic evolution, migrating to a more distant orbit in a permanently frozen state where ice badgers could theoretically evolve to thrive in the dim light of our shrunken star. Read the article in Universe Today: https://www.universetoday.com/168746/an-earth-like-planet-around-a-dead-sun-provides-some-reassurance-about-the-future-of-earth/#more-168746 --- 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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    45 mins
  • SOUND WAVES Make Plants RAVE!

    SOUND WAVES Make Plants RAVE!
    Oct 28 2024
    Scientists discover that playing white noise can make beneficial fungi grow seven times faster than usual. This breakthrough could help restore damaged forests by using sound to promote fungal growth that supports tree health. Explore how fungi act as nature's traders, exchanging nutrients with trees through complex underground networks. Learn about the potential applications, from healing ecosystems to growing prized black truffles, and imagine a future where music helps plants thrive and highway noise creates blooming roadside gardens. --- 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 mins
  • FACE Blindness: Beyond The IF!

    FACE Blindness: Beyond The IF!
    Oct 21 2024
    We're excited to share a special treat with all our listeners - a "Beyond the IF" segment usually available only to our Patreon supporters! This bonus episode extends our fascinating conversation with Sharrona Pearl, author of "Do I Know You: From Face Blindness to Super Recognition." In this deeper exploration, we shift our focus to the opposite end of the face recognition spectrum - super recognizers. These individuals possess an extraordinary ability to remember and identify faces. But is this superpower all it's cracked up to be? We explore the daily challenges faced by super recognizers, from accidentally creeping people out to the art of pretending not to recognize everyone. Learn about the practical applications of this ability, including Scotland Yard's "super recognizer squad," and ponder the potential downsides that researchers have yet to explore. This glimpse into our "Beyond the IF" content showcases the kind of in-depth, mind-bending discussions our Patreon supporters enjoy regularly. If you've enjoyed this bonus content, consider becoming a Patreon supporter at https://patreon.com/whattheif. Your support fuels our exploration of these fascinating "what ifs" and beyond, allowing us to dive deeper into the extraordinary. Join our community of curious minds and get access to exclusive content like this in every episode!
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    26 mins
  • FACE Blindness with Sharrona Pearl!

    FACE Blindness with Sharrona Pearl!
    Oct 21 2024
    Join us as we welcome special guest Sharrona Pearl, author of "Do I Know You: From Face Blindness to Super Recognition" from Johns Hopkins Press. What if everyone suddenly woke up face blind? Together with Sharrona, we explore the fascinating world of face recognition and its absence, delving into the challenges and unexpected benefits of living in a society where no one can recognize faces. From diverse friend groups to biometric surveillance, discover how our world might adapt. Explore the coping mechanisms developed by those with face blindness and ponder how these strategies might become universal in a face-blind world. Embark on a thought-provoking journey through the implications of losing facial recognition abilities and their impact on our daily lives and society at large. Buy Sharrona's book: Via Independent Bookstores: https://bookshop.org/p/books/do-i-know-you-from-face-blindness-to-super-recognition-sharrona-pearl/19780511?ean=9781421447537 Via Hopkins Press: https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12700/do-i-know-you Via Amazon: https://a.co/d/9o4azvU
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    52 mins