Category Archives: What If? Rejects

What If? Rejects #6.1: A Well-Balanced Meal, Part 1

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Alex R. Howe

Previous post in this series: Cutting the Cheese Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. What If? bonus: How Many Seconds in Eternity? Q: What is the total nutritional value (calories, fat, vitamins, minerals, etc.) of the average human … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Medicine, What If? Rejects | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

What If? Follow-up: Can a Wire Cut a Person in Half?

Posted on May 10, 2015 by Alex R. Howe

In my last post, I determined that it is not possible for a human being to be cut in half by running into a cheese-cutting wire that is stretched across a road. The wire will break long before the human … Continue reading →

Posted in Science, Technology, What If? Rejects | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on What If? Follow-up: Can a Wire Cut a Person in Half?

What If? Rejects #5.2: Cutting the Cheese

Posted on May 3, 2015 by Alex R. Howe

Previous post in this series: Balancing Act. Follow-up post. What If? bonus: How Many Seconds in Eternity? Next post in this series: A Well-Balanced Meal. Q: How fast would a human have to run in order to be cut in … Continue reading →

Posted in Science, Technology, What If? Rejects | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

What If? Rejects #5.1: Balancing Act

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Alex R. Howe

Previous post in this series: In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream. Next post in this series: Cutting the Cheese. Q: If global warming puts us in danger through temperature rise, and super-volcanos put us into danger of global … Continue reading →

Posted in Geology, Science, What If? Rejects | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

What If? Rejects #4.2: In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream

Posted on April 7, 2015 by Alex R. Howe

Previous post in this series: Volcanoes. Next post in this series: Balancing Act. Q: A friend of mine is convinced that there is sound in space. There isn’t, right? Randall’s response: A guy floating in space speaks, but the speech … Continue reading →

Posted in Space, What If? Rejects | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

What If? Rejects #4.1: Volcanoes

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Alex R. Howe

Well, it’s been a while, but it’s finally time I got back to my What If? Rejects series, where I answer the questions that Randall Munroe declined to answer in his book, What If? Previous post in this series: Umm…? … Continue reading →

Posted in Geology, What If? Rejects | Tagged , , | Comments Off on What If? Rejects #4.1: Volcanoes

What If? Rejects #3.3: Umm…?

Posted on December 19, 2014 by Alex R. Howe

Randall Munroe’s What If? Previous post in this series: Planet of the Apes Next post in this series: Volcanoes Q: If people had wheels and could fly, how would we differentiate them from airplanes? Randall’s response: No response. My response: … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, What If? Rejects | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on What If? Rejects #3.3: Umm…?

What If? Rejects #3.2: Planet of the Apes

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Alex R. Howe

Randall Munroe’s What If? Previous post in this series: Stars Next post in this series: Um…? Q: What sort of logistic anomalies would you encounter in trying to raise an army of apes? Randall’s response: No response. My response: I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, What If? Rejects | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

What If? Rejects #3.1: Stars

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Alex R. Howe

Start of series: Teeth Previous entry: Tears Next entry: Planet of the Apes Q: Given humanity’s current knowledge and capabilities, is it possible to build a new star? Randall’s response: A guy with a weapon labeled Sun Obliterator (Beta) says, … Continue reading →

Posted in Science, What If? Rejects | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

What If? Rejects #2.2: Tears

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Alex R. Howe

Previous post in this series: Antimatter. Next post in this series: Stars. Today’s question for What If? Rejects: Q: Is it possible to cry so much you dehydrate yourself? Randall’s response: “…Karl [submitter], is everything OK?” My response: Surprisingly yes…if … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading, Science, What If? Rejects | Tagged , , | 1 Comment