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1500 questions
45
votes
12 answers
Could two planets follow the same orbit and never "see" each other?
Imagine two identical planets planet A and planet B, orbiting the same star.
Is it possible that these two planets follow the exact same "route" as they orbit their sun, but are just distant enough from one another, that their star is effectively…
Hankrecords
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44
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3 answers
So we glassed it, now what?
"Glassing" a planet is a common ultimate tactic in Science Fiction, basically it consists in using high power energy weapons to destroy all life on the planet and reducing the soil and rock of the surface of the world to several centimeters of a…
Ash
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44
votes
10 answers
Randomised bank accounts
One morning, everyone wakes up and finds that the balance in their bank account has changed. In some cases, it's gone down. In others, it's gone up, a lot. A few people even find that they don't appear to have been affected by this. However, most…
Matthew
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44
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9 answers
Is an organism with both animal-like traits and plant-like traits scientifically possible?
Can an organism have traits that resemble both an animal and a plant? Such as bone, chlorophyll, muscles, and cell walls. Not necessarily a hybrid, but something that can be classified in between the two kingdoms. Are there any examples of this if…
AJ D.
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44
votes
9 answers
Is there a scientifically valid explanation for a circle of islands?
A couple friends and I have started a world called Lothaucan. On this world there is a continent called Novara with a circle of islands as its key feature.
(seen in the mid-left of the image)
Is this feature scientifically and geologically viable?…
Elvesflame
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44
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7 answers
What's the largest body in the solar system that you could destroy without endangering humanity?
You're an alien that really likes pyrotechnics. Nothing that goes boom on your home planet (in a safe and responsible manner) satisfies you any more. Why not blow up a planet and see what that's like? However, you're not allowed to do that in…
JesseTG
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44
votes
10 answers
Would instantaneous teleportation encourage or discourage warfare?
Imagine that there are two nations at war, but fighting is limited to a small section where their nations border each other. Travel is "conventional", forces from one nation can block the other from deep incursions by placing themselves in the…
congusbongus
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44
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6 answers
What if a portal is opened from the Mariana trench to the Sahara desert?
The first portal is placed at bottom-most point of the Mariana trench (the deepest part of any ocean, located in the western Pacific Ocean) and the second is placed in the Sahara desert in Africa at the point farthest from any ocean.
The second…
McGucket
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44
votes
16 answers
Suitable jobs in Ancient Rome for time travelers
The people of Handwave-land have created time travel technology and are training people to send back to Ancient Rome and become part of the community without disturbing the future too much (to observe ancient events). They have already been versed…
Cameron Leary
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44
votes
5 answers
Can I train monkeys to fight with knives effectively?
I saw this picture and I wonder if you can train a monkey and use him as bodyguard or soldiers in a medieval world. If so, can they be effective against human troops? How can you make them not betray you?
Monkeys dueling, Postcard art at by Maurice…
Seraph Myrmidon
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44
votes
3 answers
How large can a water bear become before it loses its abilities?
Water bears are about the most impressive organism on our planet. They can withstand extreme temperatures (both hot and cold), can survive for a time in the vacuum and cold of space, are resistant to chemicals and radiation, they can go very long…
mkinson
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44
votes
20 answers
How can I explain English existing in a fantasy world?
My hero travels from our world to a fantasy world where people speak English. While there are other nations that speak non-English languages, the particular land she arrives in does. How can I explain away English developing in a world otherwise…
Austin Arminio
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44
votes
2 answers
How long would it take until we realise that people stopped dying from natural causes?
This would only comprise death by natural causes, no accidents, suicides, homicides etc.
As Wikipedia says:
A death by natural causes is one that is primarily attributed to an
illness or an internal malfunction of the body not directly…
TGar
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44
votes
18 answers
Why did dragons evolve to be smart?
Before you comment "dragons can't happen", we've been there before.
Based on the question linked above, assume dragons are scientifically plausible. You may change
what you need about the accepted answer to the above question if it helps you…
Zxyrra
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44
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21 answers
How much could a time traveler earn from selling 2016 tech having traveled back to 2000?
Joe, the average Worldbuilder accidentally slips through time sixteen years back. From September 11, 2016 to September 11, 2000. He gave saving the World Trade Center a thought, but then he decided to be a bit selfish.
He searched through his…
Pavel Janicek
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