About

A YouTube channel for curious grown-ups.

Each episode takes one ridiculous what-if, the kind of question you'd only ask late at night, and answers it properly. A lazy tiger in sunglasses would rather be asleep, but he digs up the facts anyway, runs the numbers on screen and follows the question all the way to the end. Every number and fact has a source.

What this site is

Every episode gets a page here with the same story and the same sources as the video: the short answer, the numbers and how they were worked out, and the full write-up. If you'd rather read than watch, the page stands on its own. If you'd rather watch, the video is at the top of every episode page and on the channel.

What it is not

Nothing here is financial, medical or legal advice, and please don't try the what-ifs at home. The channel explains what the records and the numbers show; it doesn't tell you what to do about it.

Corrections

If a figure is wrong or a source has been updated, leave a comment on the video or email us via the contact page. Corrections go in the pinned comment on the video and in the Corrections box on the episode page.

Ask the tiger

Got an absurd question? Send it to the tiger. He reads every one. Eventually. Questions we pick get answered on the channel, with your name or handle on screen if you'd like.

Part of Idle & Awake

The channel is part of a small family of sites: Tools, Essays, Time and Blog.