About this episode
What the if scientists were as famous as football stars? Picture packed bars, roaring crowds, and a physicist on the big screen getting absolutely destroyed by a rival's data. Come find out who wins.
Inspired by "What People Get Wrong About Scientists" by Dava Sobel, Scientific American, June 16, 2026.
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When she's not studying zombie fungus at Harvard or helping us break the universe every week, our very own Gaby Paniccia writes science fiction. Her short story "The Automatic Grocery Store" is now featured on the popular podcast Escape Pod! Listen here: https://escapepod.org/2026/02/19/escape-pod-1033-the-automatic-grocery-store/
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Check out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif
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Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Visit https://whattheif.com/contact and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big!
Keep On IFFin',
Philip, Matt & Gaby
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