What If
What if you never aged? What if dinosaurs were alive today? Explore the hypothetical with these and more 'what if' scenarios.
Top 10 Ghost Tours
Top 10 Hotels That Will Scare the Daylights Out of You
What's So Scary About The Winchester House Story?
The Meaning and Significance of Angel Number 555
Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of These Debunked Conspiracy Theories
Does Bad Weather Really Mean More Joint Pain?
Two of Wands: Exploring New Paths in the Tarot World
Nine of Swords Tarot Card: Understanding Anxiety and Overcoming Challenges
Five of Wands Tarot Card: Unraveling the Depths of Conflict
The Yeti, aka Abominable Snowman: A Classic Cryptid
A Deep Dive on the Kraken, a Shipwrecking Sea Monster
Does the Bunyip Really Haunt the Australian Wetlands?
What's Going on With Detroit's Mysterious Zug Island?
10 Unidentified Sounds That Scientists Are Seriously Looking Into
10 Famous Paranormal Hoaxes
Learn More
A world without cows would be a world without burgers, right? Yes, and to beef eaters that's bad news, but it would also be a world with less methane. So would losing all cows be worth it?
By Jeff Harder
Earth's magnetic field has flipped many times before, and scientists say it will flip again (though probably not in our lifetime). While it might not be catastrophic, a major change in the magnetic field would present a special set of problems.
We wouldn't stop requiring power. So how would a turn to alternative energy sources work out for transportation, international trade and our daily diets?
Advertisement
Remove that pesky drowning risk, and the world formerly under the sea opens with possibility — despite our inefficient limbs and tendency toward hypothermia.
Picture this: You're floating through space, minding your own business, when some super-scary alien attacks you. Clearly you need to defend yourself, but all you have is a handgun. Will it do you any good, or are you mincemeat?
Coral reefs are pretty cool. More than just snorkeling destinations, they shelter tons of marine life — creatures many of us depend on for food and medicine. So what would happen if the coral reefs disappeared? Here's a hint: It isn't good.
Cockroaches are among the most reviled creatures on the planet. They bring bacteria and allergens wherever they go — along with severe cases of the creepy crawlies. But would we really want to live in a world devoid of these little pests?
Advertisement
Snakes get a bad rep. They've become so associated with dishonesty, deception and temptation that many might prefer the world just rid itself of them altogether. But creepy as they may be, it turns out that snakes are pretty handy to have around.
Imagine going outside in the summer and not being eaten alive by mosquitoes. Yeah, no mosquitoes! Well, don't celebrate just yet, because a world with no mosquitoes might have a radically different food chain.
It's going to take billions of years, but one day the sun will die. Read on to find out how the end of the sun will affect life on Earth.
Call up your travel agent because we're booking a one-way flight to an exotic, five-star black hole. What are you in store for on this unique journey?
Advertisement
The core of our planet is about as hot as the sun. Could it ever cool down? That's one thing you don't want to happen.
By Chris Opfer
A helium shortage threatens more than just the balloon industry. Way more. Here's what at stake should we run out of this gas — which is a real possibility.
By Chris Opfer & Sascha Bos
What could happen if we poked one of these sleeping giants? There are two scenarios. One is good. One is very, very bad.
By Chris Opfer
Welcome to Yellowstone, a natural wonderland that's home to stunning vistas, vibrant plant and animal life ... and a massive and potentially devastating supervolcano.
By Chris Opfer
Advertisement
Your vacation would be ruined, and that's not all.
By Chris Opfer
Sans gravity, would we all just bounce up and down like astronauts on the moon? No. It would look a little more like a Michael Bay movie.
By Chris Opfer
Our planet's path around the sun defines life on Earth. What would happen if it changed?
By Chris Opfer
Climate change and industrial activity are wiping out large sections of the world's largest rainforest.
By Chris Opfer
Advertisement
If you've found yourself screeching while a bug scuttled through your kitchen, you're not alone. But we need bugs more than they need us.
By Chris Opfer
In the classic film "Cool Hand Luke," the title character gulps down 50 hard-boiled eggs in less than an hour. Is this a trick you can (or should) try at home?
By Debra Ronca
Solar flares disrupt Earth's magnetic field when they hit the planet, causing issues with power and GPS. But if a major solar storm hit Earth, the consequences could be catastrophic.
Neanderthals are long gone, but they live on in the DNA of some modern humans. If they were still alive today, the differences (and similarities) between us and our ancestors would be astounding.
Advertisement
If you don't recycle, you should. If you do recycle, you should do more. And what if everybody in the world started to recycle? At the very least, it would help us attack that enormous plastic patch in the middle of the ocean.
It's a strange thing to think about, but have you ever wondered what would happen if the ozone layer suddenly wasn't there? Here's a hint: Getting a bad sunburn would be the least of your problems.