Mike Nichols‭

If a planet had such a large imbalance of protons and electrons that it possessed a net negative or positive charge what would happen to it and its solar system? First, could it be stable, or woul...

6 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by Mike Nichols‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by Mike Nichols‭

The idea of hollowing out asteroids, spinning them on their longest axis, and filling them with air, water, and soil is common in science fiction (Rendezvous with Rama, or 2312 for good examples). ...

3 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by Mike Nichols‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by Mike Nichols‭

What would be the effects of high or low gravity on human body development? How would the human body develop under a different gravity? Many science fiction stories explore the idea that people fro...

7 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by Mike Nichols‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by Mike Nichols‭

Could a Dwarven society as described by Tolkien mythology actually work? Dwarves for the purposes of this question are short, stout, bearded men and women who live primarily underground. They have ...

11 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by Mike Nichols‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by Mike Nichols‭

In my fantasy world I want fantastically large trees, particularly in the height category. The tallest trees on earth grow just over 100 meters tall. Why can't they get taller? What circumstances w...

3 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by Mike Nichols‭  ·  last activity 8y ago by Mike Nichols‭

A Type II civilization on the Kardashev scale has decided to build a telescope. This civilization spans its home galaxy and wields vast energies capable of moving and shaping matter on the scale of...

2 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by Mike Nichols‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by Mike Nichols‭

This question is inspired by NASA's recent TRAPPIST-1 announcement. Imagine two planets orbiting a star with orbits very close together. At the nearest point in their respective orbits they are onl...

4 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by Mike Nichols‭  ·  last activity 8y ago by Mike Nichols‭

Animals on Earth have 2 or 4 legs they use for walking. On another world, however, animals have 3. I want to know how these animals will walk. How will their legs be placed and how will they move t...

19 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Mike Nichols‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by Mike Nichols‭

A common, matter-efficient science-fiction habitat is a hollow cylinder or ring in space that is spun to simulate the pull of gravity on its interior surface. These habitats have been imagined as s...

4 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Mike Nichols‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by Mike Nichols‭

In the course of designing fictional species I often find myself wishing to use exotic senses which we humans lack. This poses a unique and interesting challenge as without possessing the sense mys...

3 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Mike Nichols‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by Mike Nichols‭

In Kim Stanley Robinson's new novel Red Moon the first few pages describe a method of Earth-to-Moon transportation that I had not encountered before. The idea is to use a magnetically levitated and...

7 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Mike Nichols‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by Mike Nichols‭

Hydrogen and oxygen gases can be combined to form water and a lot of heat. As with many exothermic reactions, the heat from this process can provide activation energy to the reaction of more H2 wit...

2 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Mike Nichols‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by Mike Nichols‭

A common, matter-efficient, science-fiction habitat is a hollow cylinder or ring in space that is spun to simulate the pull of gravity on its interior surface. While for most purposes this artifici...

4 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Mike Nichols‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by Mike Nichols‭

A common, matter-efficient science-fiction habitat is a hollow cylinder or ring in space that is spun to simulate the pull of gravity on its interior surface. These habitats have been imagined as s...

4 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Mike Nichols‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by Mike Nichols‭

A common, matter-efficient science-fiction habitat is a hollow cylinder or ring in space that is spun to simulate the pull of gravity on its interior surface. These habitats have been imagined as s...

1 answer  ·  posted 6y ago by Mike Nichols‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by Mike Nichols‭