What If

Peter is the on-screen host of the What If science show, guiding viewers through each episode's hypothetical scenario. He is named directly in the channel's own YouTube description, making him the face of the series, though the show itself is produced by the media company Underknown.

What If is produced by Underknown, a media company that specializes in science and educational content. The show credits @weareunderknown in its official Instagram bio and operates across platforms under the handle @whatifscienceshow.

A Type III civilization, drawn from the Kardashev scale, is one that can harness the energy of an entire galaxy. What If has produced episodes exploring what it would mean if Earth reached that level of development, applying real physics and astronomy to trace what that future might actually look like.

Yes — What If explicitly grounds each episode in established scientific theory, drawing from physics, biology, astronomy, and geology rather than pure speculation. The show follows real science to trace where each hypothetical scenario could plausibly lead, even when the starting premise is extreme or far-future.

The episode explores what would hypothetically happen if NASA's Voyager 1 probe, currently traveling through interstellar space, were to crash-land on an alien world. It applies real data about Voyager's trajectory and velocity to imagine the consequences of that collision, both for the probe and for any environment it might hit.

The episode walks through the hypothetical of detonating nuclear weapons on each planet, using real planetary science to work out what would actually happen in each case. It's one of the channel's more dramatic thought experiments, using an extreme premise to teach real physics and highlight how vastly different each planet's environment is.

What If regularly brings its hypothetical format down to Earth by exploring extreme real-world locations alongside its space content — Lake Natron, a highly caustic and calcifying lake in Tanzania, is exactly the kind of environment that generates compelling 'what if' questions rooted in real chemistry and biology. These Earth-based episodes broaden the show beyond deep space while keeping the same science-first approach.

The South Atlantic Anomaly is a region where Earth's magnetic field is significantly weaker than average, allowing increased radiation to reach lower altitudes — it's a real phenomenon tracked by NASA. What If has used it as a topic hashtag, fitting the show's pattern of applying scientific hypotheticals to real and little-known Earth science phenomena.

What If has worked with sponsors including Abacus.AI, Incogni, CyberGhost, Ground News, and CleanCore Solutions, all placed as YouTube integrations. The lineup leans heavily toward tech and privacy tools, which aligns well with the channel's science-interested, digitally engaged audience.

What If has surpassed eight million subscribers on YouTube, placing it firmly in the Mega tier of science and education channels, with additional followings of over two million on TikTok and several hundred thousand on Instagram. Full episodes live on YouTube, while short-form clips and highlights appear regularly on TikTok and Instagram under @whatifscienceshow.