9 "What Ifs..." That Would Change Everything

7. What If The Earth Was Bigger?

We're always talking about how we're running out of space for the ever-expanding human population. We crowd ourselves into cities, onto trains and into lifts. We're so short of space, that you even have to share your armrest with some mouth-breather on your commute. It's just not on. But what would happen we made it all a bit bigger to give ourselves some breathing space?

For a start, doubling the Earth's diameter would increase its mass eightfold and the force of gravity would be twice as strong, causing your weight to double. If the Earth suddenly bloated, then everything would immediately become more difficult. You'd struggle to stand, hold anything or even lift your head. Bridges and buildings would collapse, trees would topple, plants would flatten, animals would freak out, unable to move.

Alternatively, if the Earth had always been double the size, life would look very different. We probably would have evolved to either a short, stocky troll race, capable of withstanding the increased gravity, or taller, thinner and lighter, with light but insubstantial bodies - we might even walk on all fours. Other life would be the same. Strong, woody stems would take the place of delicate flowers and plants, trees would be shorter and wider, flying animals may well be fewer and further between.