Alternate Timelines

Contemporary History

Scenarios from 1945 CE to present day

What If Serena Williams Never Played Tennis?

Exploring the alternate timeline where Serena Williams pursued a different career path, dramatically altering the landscape of professional tennis, women's sports, and cultural representation in athletics.

March 22, 2025 Read More →

What If SETI Received a Signal?

Exploring the alternate timeline where the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) detected an unambiguous signal from an alien civilization, fundamentally altering humanity's place in the cosmos and our technological, social, and philosophical development.

March 22, 2025 Read More →

What If Shanghai Developed Differently After Opening Up?

Exploring the alternate timeline where Shanghai pursued a different development model after China's economic reforms, potentially reshaping China's economic rise and global influence.

March 22, 2025 Read More →

What If Shanghai Preserved More of Its Historical Architecture?

Exploring the alternate timeline where Shanghai prioritized architectural preservation over rapid development, creating a dramatically different urban landscape that balances modernity with heritage.

March 22, 2025 Read More →

What If Shenzhen Developed Different Manufacturing Models?

Exploring the alternate timeline where Shenzhen pursued manufacturing strategies focused on sustainability, worker welfare, and indigenous innovation rather than becoming the low-cost manufacturing hub of the world.

March 22, 2025 Read More →

What If Shenzhen Was Never Designated a Special Economic Zone?

Exploring the alternate timeline where China never established Shenzhen as its first Special Economic Zone, potentially altering the trajectory of China's economic miracle and global manufacturing patterns.

March 22, 2025 Read More →