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Rigorous Science

Q&A with a focus on more stringent analysis. Questions and answers should be well-researched, clearly explained, and supported with references, equations, or empirical evidence based on current, widely-accepted science. Please read the category guidelines.

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66%
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Modelling a monstrous transformation - generalized logistic function fitting.

I'm spitballing a story where the main character goes through a monstrous transformation. Part of the conceit / my enjoyment is that she's an oncology researcher and will be tracking the transform...

0 answers  ·  posted 9mo ago by pureferret ‭  ·  edited 8mo ago by trichoplax‭

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Nuclear energy storage

Could nuclear energy be a basis for energy storage with foreseeable technology? One approach would be to use excited nuclear states, but I suspect they would be too unstable to ever be useful. Al...

1 answer  ·  posted 1y ago by chris-barry‭  ·  last activity 1y ago by Olin Lathrop‭

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Do plants need ambient oxygen?

Do {any, some, all} {unicellular, multicellular} plants require free oxygen? For example, would a cabbage asphyxiate over night, or even in daylight, in an oxygen-free atmosphere?

1 answer  ·  posted 1y ago by chris-barry‭  ·  last activity 1y ago by trichoplax‭

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Producing hydrocarbons by electrolysis

When water is electrolysed with graphite electrodes some of the oxygen reacts immediately with the anode to produce carbon dioxide. Does a similar reaction ever occur at the cathode, producing meth...

0 answers  ·  posted 1y ago by chris-barry‭

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Electricity from nuclear decay

Can electricity be generated directly from nuclear decay? It occurred to me that in alpha decay two protons fly off rapidly, leaving their associated electrons behind. If the alpha particle was ca...

1 answer  ·  posted 1y ago by chris-barry‭  ·  last activity 1y ago by James McLellan‭

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What good are herbivores in an animal army?

This is a multi-species animal army with predators of all shapes and sixes, foxes, lions, bears, tigers, leopards, wolves, lynx, eagles, falcons and so on. The herbivores have been excluded from t...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by Green‭

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How to make Space Habitats spin?

I have seen a variety of outer space megastructures across sci-fi and the minds of most astrologists, such as Bishop Rings, O'Neill Cylinders, Bernal Spheres, and much more. What most of these inte...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by CYCLOPSCORE‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by CYCLOPSCORE‭

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Calculating average sea-level air pressure

Right now I'm currently trying to calculate the average surface pressure at sea level of an atmosphere, but I'm having a struggle finding the relevant formulae with which to determine this number. ...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by Lev‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by Lev‭

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Sanity Check : Utility Fog

Inspired by many questions that make use of utility fog. Utility fogs are not, as the name might suggest, fogs, but rather lattice solids. Cells of the foam are pollen-like micrometer-scale mach...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by James McLellan‭  ·  edited 4y ago by Canina‭

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Would a large gliding predator be viable?

Most animals that glide are rather light and small. Flying squirrels, Colugos, and sugar gliders all weigh but a few ounces. The largest gliding predators are snakes of the Chrysopelea genus. Agai...

4 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by NixonCranium‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by NixonCranium‭

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What needs to be changed in the structure of the human body to drink dirty water?

My question is: what needs to be changed in the body of my genetically modified people so that they can safely drink toxic water ( most often industrial wastewater is contaminated with industrial w...

4 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by French Thompson‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by French Thompson‭

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Could serpentine dragons exist?

Contrary to popular belief serpentine dragons are not in fact magical or related to the European wyvern but instead are descended from the Chrysopelea. some common characteristics of serpentine dra...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by icewar1908‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by icewar1908‭

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Relentless Super marathon?

Humans are not the fastest mammals on the planet, but for very long distances (more than 40 kilometers) we can overtake any species living on land. Except some dogs. The best runners on ultra-long...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by System‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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What improvements in the human body will allow it to withstand critically low or high pressure?

My question: What is it that needs to be improved or added to the human body so that it can withstand critically (fatally) low and high (if, my genetically modified person is underwater or a very d...

5 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by French Thompson‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by French Thompson‭

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Could an animal evolve iridescent horns that appear metallic like chrysina resplendens' chitinous exoskeletons?

Sort of two questions here, but very related. One about whether a mammal-like animal could evolve to have a chitinous endoskeleton, I guess. Then a question of whether, if they grow horns, that ske...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by LukasExemplar‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by LukasExemplar‭

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What would it take to build a ship capable of crossing the Pacific? [duplicate]

In my story, I have a small extended family of 30 to 40 individuals ranging in age from 0 to 50 who are on the run from Chinese and Japanese forces in 1400AD. No place in Asia is safe for them. By...

0 answers  ·  posted 3y ago by Green‭  ·  closed as duplicate 3y ago by Canina‭

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How would a "zombie fungus" work on humans?

Short question: which hormones should high contagious fungi spores produce to make their human host spread the joy and infection (by hugging and kisses) on early stages of infection, and become p...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by vodolaz095‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by vodolaz095‭

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What are possible energy carriers besides ATP?

I'm thinking about designing an alien race. The race is carbon-based and evolved on a world with an average surface temperature between 40 and 60 degrees Celsius. Now, on Earth, almost all lifeform...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by user73910‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by user73910‭

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How to speed up the perception of a person? ( more than 25 frames per second )

The response time of the human visual channel in a relatively quiet state is approximately 40 milliseconds, which provides a" frame rate " of 25 frames per second. At the same time, it is not just ...

5 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by French Thompson‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by French Thompson‭

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A character steps outside in the upper atmosphere of Venus- how sunburned is he?

For complicated reasons our hero's blimp in the Venus atmosphere at an altitude of 50 km gets a tear in it and sunlight floods inside (there is no gondola, the blimp is a semi-ellipsoid of breathab...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by qazwsx‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by qazwsx‭

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Modification of the digestive system?

What needs to be changed in the structure of the human stomach so that a person is almost completely immune to poisons and toxins ( especially interesting regarding the poison of puffer fish, Gray ...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by French Thompson‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by French Thompson‭

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How big can a giant get before losing human level intelligence?

In many fantasy worlds, giants are as intelligent as human beings and others races that they either avoid stepping on or step on regularly. However, due to the square cube law, giants have a limit...

4 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Seraphim‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by Seraphim‭

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How can an Earth-like moon meet these angular diameter conditions?

NOTE: If there is anything about this question that needs clarification or editing, please don't hesitate to let me know in the comments. Get ready, because you're in for quite a ride. I have t...

4 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by overlord - Reinstate Monica‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by overlord - Reinstate Monica‭

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How do I determine the physical size of a quartz crystal of a given shape and vibrational mode needed to approximate a specific resonant frequency?

So, one of my D&D characters has a cut/relief-carved quartz crystal amulet (medallion shaped) that's both an arcane focus (crystal) and a holy symbol (amulet), and I thought it would be a good ...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by Shalvenay‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by Shalvenay‭

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what are the signs and effects of two realities combined into one reality

I have posted a similar question where I asked how can two realities mix into one reality in which I received many helpful comments. I realise I should've expanded on the details I posted, so I wil...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by Morrigan loftwyth‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by Morrigan loftwyth‭

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Factors that determine the geology of a planet (what factors determine the elemental composition of the planet)

This is my first world and I want to build in a way that is physically possible (if this is possible, otherwise make the necessary changes) for my civilization (which is mostly fleshed out) but I d...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by A. Soreq‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by A. Soreq‭

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Biological creation of respirocytes and clottocytes?

Respirocytes are an artificial analogue of red blood cells. Tiny sapphire capsules that can absorb oxygen in the lungs and release it in the capillaries. From the capillaries to the lungs, they, in...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by French Thompson‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by French Thompson‭

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How much energy does a bee/micro robot need per second of flight?

In my scifi setting small utility robot swarms are used for many purposes. I'm currently trying to estimate how much energy such a swarm would need to operate. Since biology, robotics and nanotechn...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by TheDyingOfLight‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by TheDyingOfLight‭

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Intermediate Structures Along a Space Elevator

Assuming all the primary hurdles in building a space elevator are overcome, would it be structurally feasible to attach intermediate stops along the length of the tether (between the planet and GSO...

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Rusty‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by Rusty‭

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What's the limit of my rockets weight?

I want to launch the heaviest booster + spaceship possible in about 1.5 of earths gravity, using the technology we currently have. To make things easier, imagine there was the same atmosphere as on...

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by justthisonequestion‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by justthisonequestion‭

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Difference between 'AWPP' and standard quantum physics

Quantum Computers are considered a more powerful type of computer than so called 'classical' computers. While a typical classical computer could be considered as a black box that can solve Polynomi...

0 answers  ·  posted 3y ago by Mithrandir24601‭

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Lagrange systems: What is the mass range for a gas giant if I want to place a earth-like planet on L4 and L5

I am wanting to make a 3 world lagrange system around a Sol analog star that includes 1 gas giant and 2 terrestrial worlds with large moons. I want the terrestrial worlds to have a similar gravity ...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by skout‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by skout‭

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Santa's new delivery service: a... cannon?

Let's say Santa got himself a new toy: a present delivery cannon. With this new cannon, he wants to deliver presents to children by shooting their presents from the cannon into their chimneys. Let'...

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by John Zhau‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by John Zhau‭

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Solving the biggest problem of relativistic interstellar spacecrafts

In FTL-free universes, interstellar travel is often done by vessels capable of continuous acceleration (the drives themselves are often magitech), which can use the effects of relativistic time dil...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by TheDyingOfLight‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by TheDyingOfLight‭

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How long will it be until the cosmic microwave background is undetectable?

I've had a number of interesting conversations with people about how the cosmic microwave background (CMB) will evolve in the future. The CMB is the sea of photons left over from the epoch of recom...

0 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by HDE 226868‭  ·  edited 4y ago by HDE 226868‭

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1g Acceleration Spaceship Design

In my story, a ship is built in orbit around Earth, designed for a 20-person scientific expedition to a planet 11.4 ly away. It will accelerate at 1g for half the distance, then flip around and acc...

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Gilad M‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by Gilad M‭

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Could a prosimian conveniently evolve sapience?

Prosimians on average are not as intelligent as their simian counter parts with the notable exception being lemurs which live in semi large groups. what I want to know is could a group of prosimian...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by icewar1908‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by icewar1908‭

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Flare star vs electrical grid

My planet is tidally locked, airless, and has no magnetosphere. It's located close to a flare star (5% solar mass, 11 Gyr old), and is in it's habitable zone. The strongest flare ever detected on E...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by David‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by David‭

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Alternative evolution mechanisms using cell fusion

I am trying to understand if it would be possible for organisms to evolve by different means other than random mutations and natural selection. Eukaryotes were predicted to be formed by fusion with...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by LDR‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by LDR‭

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Flying commercial airliners with ground power?

A thought occurred to me, and I wondered if it could be made practical... This video talks about the possibility of electrical battery powered planes, and in short, while it may be practical to bu...

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by FlyingLemmingSoup‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by FlyingLemmingSoup‭

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The moon will fall to earth in 100 years, how fast is the asteroid that knocked it down?

We have at most 100 years to abandon earth. The 10-km asteroid which killed the dinosaurs has hit the moon head-on instead. As a result, the moon has slowed down and it's orbit will decay by 400,00...

4 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Vogon Poet‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by Vogon Poet‭

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What would one experience travelling through an invisible Krasnikov tube, and how much could they be used to cut travel times?

Effectively what the title says; What would different observers experience while travelling through / seeing one travel through the tube, and how could they be used to cut travel times? (Just answe...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by MrKred‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by wizzwizz4‭

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Would it ever be theoretically possible for future humans to prevent the sun from increasing in luminosity to the point of killing all life?

I am currently brainstorming a hard (like the hardest possible; everything that occurs in the story must at least be theoretically possible) sci-fi story which will take place far in the future. I ...

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Darien Springer‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by Darien Springer‭

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What is required for advanced lungs to filter dangerous chemicals (so to speak, to carry out the detoxification process) and then use oxygen?

What is required for advanced lungs to filter dangerous chemicals (so to speak, to carry out the detoxification process) and then use oxygen? (It is advisable to take into account the above record,...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by French Thompson‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by French Thompson‭

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Popping "vacuum bubbles" loudness

Stun-wizards specialize in blinding and deafening opponents at a distance. To do so, they can exert their magical power to manifest a spherical region of vacuum by essentially "telekinetically" pus...

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Dragongeek‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by Dragongeek‭

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Could the Breakthrough Starshot probes be detected in their taget system by modern or near-future technology?

The Breakthrough Starshot is a method of robotic interstellar exploration by launching thousands of small centimeter-sized probes, each equipped with a 4 x 4 meter light-sail. Thanks to their small...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by vsz‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by vsz‭

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Cold-and heat-resistant people?

My question is: What needs to be added or improved in the human body so that my genetically modified people can fully withstand temperatures of several degrees below zero ( "” 40 ° Celsius) for a ...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by System‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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What are the most likely effects of a human(oid) shape moving at Mach 50 to the surrounding environment?

For the purposes of my story, seen here someone who went through a similar procedure involving parallel dimensions (see here), becomes nearly indestructible , invulnerable to damage related to exce...

0 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by ProjectApex‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by ProjectApex‭

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What would it take to make a scientific second equal exactly one traditional second?

A scientist is resetting the clock on his microwave one day as he considers the hopelessness of keeping the time exactly right. Not for the reasons we worry about like power outages and daylight s...

4 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Nosajimiki - Reinstate Monica‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by Nosajimiki - Reinstate Monica‭

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Superhuman reaction speed (dodging bullets )?

My question is: I need to improve the muscle fibers and nervous system of my genetically modified human so that it has dexterity and physical responses 4 to 10 times faster than the average human.Â...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by French Thompson‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by French Thompson‭