What If We Could Build an Alderson Disk?

This is not some DVD floating in space. It's a megastructure that might one day become humanity's home. The Earth might not remain habitable forever. It could get engulfed by a massive solar flare, or become too hot due to climate change, or have all its life wiped out by one enormous asteroid. What if I told you we could outlive all these disasters? And that we could do that by building a space megastructure bigger than the Sun itself?
Just how big would we have to make it? And what would life be like on a structure like that?

Take a deeper dive into What If episodes with the help from the world's top thinkers in science.

Watch more what-if scenarios:

What If elsewhere:

Thank you to our loyal patrons:
Gabe
Steve H.

What If is a mini-documentary web series that takes you on an epic journey through hypothetical worlds and possibilities. Join us on an imaginary adventure through time, space and chance while we (hopefully) boil down complex subjects in a fun and entertaining way.

[TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

Nothing better than learning about a DVD shaped celestial body in quarantine

[justinb.]

Imagine having a Round Earth Society there

[PremonitionGamingVid]

"I told you the earth was flat!" - Flatearther.

[beloit]

What if someone watching this in 10 years didn't know what a DVD was...

[KrishnangaKalita]

Seeing all these, makes me wonder how perfect Earth is and how lucky we are to exist

[jarucium]

this should be called what if we could do the most impossible thing ever

[lukegrim]

Sounds infinitely more difficult than just moving to another system

[redsquirrelrichard]

What are we waiting for, I'll get the cement mixer😊

[yashbhardwaj]

This thing is like the heaven of flat earthers.

[kamisama]

Meanwhile flat earthers
*IT's AlrEaDy A DisC*

[mikeangeles]

Flat earthers: my gang will send in the Alderson Disk bois.

[kevinduliesco]

His voice is perfect for relaxing listening in an audiobook and a headphone in my ears.

[cookwith_tabasum]

Me 60 years later: Back in my days we used to live in
A Round globe planet!

[peterwong]

Why build a huge Anderson disk, when you can build an artificial planet? 🤔

[JadedeaJade]

I just want to say I'm so thankful to come across your channel. My family and friends can finally experience some solace, because I will no longer run up to them and say, "What if..." Lol

[gavinattalahadiyan]

"Brb, i'm finishing this mission"
-Master Chief

[Sadeye]

Meanwhile in the flat Earth dimension:
“What if we created a spherical planet Earth?”

[dylanpursel]

What if: "what would happen if we built an Alderson disk?"
Flat earthers *𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙑𝙔 𝘽𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙉𝙂*

[EASYTIGER]

Wouldn't it be much easier to build an Earth size/mass planet with the facility to move it wherever you want?

[PK-xrgb]

What a great video. They'll show this in classrooms 59 million years from now when the Alderson Disk becomes a reality.