Questions tagged [science-based]
For questions that require plausible (better than suspension-of-disbelief) answers based on Real World science that are not necessarily constrained to the known limits of Real World science. Contrast with the hard-science, science-fiction and internal-consistency tags. This tag may not be used alone. This tag may not be used with the science-fiction, hard-science, or internal-consistency tags.
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What could cause a sudden and drastic shift in the position of the Earth's tectonic plates?
Before anyone points out any potential boneheadedness in my question -- I'm not a scientist, just someone with a story device that I want to run with and which I want to investigate the plausibility ...
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Can Victorian engineers build spacecraft with an Epstein drive?
During the 18th century, astronomers discovered a variable star whose variability turned out to be a coded message, describing a simple way to build a rocket engine that (somehow) has performance ...
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How would fantasy sea monsters fare, up against modern technology? [closed]
How would classical sea monsters, such as krakens, giant sea serpents, etc. fare against modern technology such as depth charges, naval ships, torpedoes, sonar, etc.?
Assume the following:
Humanity ...
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What color would the sky be in a multi-star system?
In this scenario, an Earthlike planet is situated in a quaternary solar system clumped into two binaries--a Parent, in which the planet orbits, and a Grandparent, in which the Parent binary orbits.
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What would sunsets look like around different star types? [migrated]
I have always wondered what a sunset would look like around different types of stars. I have tried to do some research into the types of light refraction, but I cannot find any answers anywhere, and ...
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Reasons/excuses to evolve and retain handlike manipulatory appendages [closed]
As you may know, humans' arms and hands are a direct callback to the times when our ancestors lived in more arboreal settings (monkey swing on tree type stuff)... we needed to be able to grip branches ...
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The Lost Continents of Atlantis and Mu reappear: Disruption to Transport
In a single event, the lost continents of Atlantis and Mu arise from the deeps over the course of about half an hour, accompanied by a low-magnitude earthquake felt worldwide.
For the purpose of this ...
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Is it possible for plant life to evolve (and adapt) on a low CO2 planet?
C4 photosynthesis, which can operate in Carbon Dioxide levels as low as 10ppm
A question related to these two questions:
Habitable inner planet with large oceans, fast rotation and earth-like ...
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How would I calculate the damage someone suffered from various strikes? [closed]
So, I’ve been developing a TTRPG and am wanting to present a realistic fantasy world. This doesn’t mean fantastic things wouldn’t happen - demigods can swing swords at the speed of light. But when ...
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Would human-shaped sperm cells work?
After looking at videos of sperm cells, they reminded me of someone swimming. I've decided this was a neat idea for me to integrate in my worldbuilding.
For lore reasons, I have a group of people with ...
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Natural mechanism behind burning oceans
I have an alternate Earth with no humans where massive patches of the oceans are supposed to be burning. The fires do not come from artificial or man-made causes. The flames themselves:
have lasted ...
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What factors can I use determine if my runaway greenhouse planet will have a thick water vapour atmosphere?
A question related to this question
When Earth’s oceans evaporate, one of two feedback situations could occur:
The "moist greenhouse" where water vapour dominates the troposphere while ...
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How will the monsoons work in this boomerang-shaped supercontinent?
Back and forth, I have created a fantasy supercontinent shaped in the likeness of an asymmetrical boomerang, with its elbow enlarged to resemble a fish’s head pointing westward, its lifting arm long ...
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Point defense weapons on bio-mechanical spacecraft that part of von Neumann machine horde
I am currently working on a concept for a science fiction novel about interstellar warfare in the 24th century.
I am wondering about the best point defense weapons for biomechanical space combat ships ...
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Role of mouth size in ability to replicate human phonemes
(If you're uninterested in any of the background info, boiled down question is in the second paragraph)
As part of my worldbuilding, I have become very interested in conlanging; of particular interest ...
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