The Last DROP Of Gasoline!

The Last DROP Of Gasoline!

From What The If? by Philip Shane, Matt Stanley, Gabrielle Paniccia

May 9, 2026 · 43 min

About this episode

The episode explores the implications of running out of gasoline, touching on various scientific and historical aspects.

Listener Helina asks: what the if we just pumped the last drop of gasoline? The answer goes well beyond empty parking lots and quiet highways. Along the way there's some chemistry, some geology, a detour through ancient history, and a look at how a single resource quietly weaves through agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, and the food on your plate. Join us for this super fun thought experiment with some genuinely surprising science along the way. —— 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/ —— Check out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif —— 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

People in this episode

Hosts: Philip Shane, Matt Stanley, Gabrielle Paniccia

Topics covered

  • gasoline
  • chemistry
  • geology
  • history
  • agriculture
  • transportation
  • food

Keywords

  • gasoline
  • chemistry
  • geology
  • agriculture
  • transportation
  • food
  • history

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Harvard, Escape Pod

Books & works: The Automatic Grocery Store

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