Creatures that intentionally blow themselves up
- How could a creature explode itself?
- Why would it?
We see example ideas of these all the time (Scourges, creepers, etc.) but nobody ever said how or why a creature would intentionally explode. I am not referring to intentional combustion, but explosion specifically. This would be an evolutionary process. Would the creature survive?
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1 answer
- How could a creature explode itself?
Use Hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (or another organic peroxide)!
Hexamethylene triperoxide diamine is an organic peroxide, which can be formed when hydrogen peroxide and hexamine (obtainable via the combination of formaldehyde and ammonia). Certain catalysts must be used, but they are obtainable by organisms. Hydrogen peroxide itself is explosive, but is inorganic. You would need a source of it for the creatures to use. Acetone peroxide could be used instead of hexamethylene triperoxide diamine, but it, too, needs to be made using hydrogen peroxide, and it is more unstable.
Other organic chemicals that can apparently explode/ignite/cause something fiery:
- Why would it?
I can think of a number of ways:
- Self-sacrifice to save the herd (or younger animals)
- Self-sacrifice to hunt (if they're carnivores)
- Self-sacrifice to get rid of diseased animals without spreading the disease via rotting carcasses.
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