rumguff‭

I'm seeking a hard science setting for a piece of xenofiction with a decidedly non-sciencey feel. That said, there is no magic or magic technology. The idea is as follows: A red dwarf star has a...

6 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by rumguff‭  ·  last activity 9y ago by rumguff‭

What scientifically, socially and logically plausible mechanisms allow two (or more) sapient land-based species (either closely placed on the phylogenetic tree, such as Homo sapiens and Homo neande...

5 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by rumguff‭  ·  last activity 9y ago by rumguff‭

TL;DR: suggest human traits of mind/society that one should (a) tweak (b) leave well alone, in order to generate an alien worldview that allows a novel length tale to be told purely from perspectiv...

4 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by rumguff‭  ·  last activity 9y ago by rumguff‭

Question: Are there are any serious biological or evolutionary plausibility issues with separating the energy storage/production function from the production of structural/regulatory biomass? Back...

3 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by rumguff‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by rumguff‭

The trope here is a world with 3-4 X earth atmosphere with high oxygen content (30%). Nice things about this are it enables heavy beasts to fly, and the high pressure smoothes out the negative effe...

4 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by rumguff‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by rumguff‭

Hydrogenic photosynthesis reduces methane and water to build biomass ($\text{CH}_2\text{O}$) and releases hydrogen: $$\text{CH}_4 + \text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{photons} \to \text{CH}_2\text{O} + 2\...

2 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by rumguff‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by rumguff‭

Mycolaria is my working name for an alien planet featuring a much more visible role for fungi of all kinds, large and small. There are also animals and plants on this world. This is the second in a...

3 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by rumguff‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by rumguff‭

I would like to explore how to design an alien planet featuring plants and animals but with a much more prominent ecological role for fungi. More fungi, larger fungi, more complex and beautiful fun...

3 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by rumguff‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by rumguff‭