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1500 questions
40
votes
12 answers
How would a person be able to find out if they're their own show?
Background Details
In this world, a single man (let's call him Morgan) lives in a ginormous steel structure designed to be a perfect model of a small American town. From inside the dome, everything appears to be normal, but once you reach the edge,…
TrEs-2b
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11 answers
Do we actually have the technology for a permanent Moon outpost?
Do we have the technology to go to the Moon now, and stay this time?
I'm not talking about the political will or economic rationale for doing so, I just want to know if there are any unsolved (and difficult to solve) problems that would prevent us…
Serban Tanasa
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40
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8 answers
A three foot cell?
In one of my fictitious planets, there are large cells that reside in the ocean and are 3 feet (almost 1 metre) in diameter. The cells themselves are aggregates of many amoeboid cells, have only one cell membrane, but many nuclei.
My question is: is…
user15036
40
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16 answers
Given an "indestructible" material used for armor - what are ways to explain that material not being used as a weapon as well?
Usually this "indestructible" material is unnaturally strong for its weight; the armor "just exists" and doesn't go into the feasibility of such a material.
Given that the material isn't "hard to obtain" (anybody is capable of obtaining the armor)…
DoubleDouble
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5 answers
Why would PMCs be in politically-unstable places, as opposed to waiting in comfort to be called?
I'm writing a story, based vaguely off of the Stars Without Number system. There are lots of things bugging me, but by far the biggest issue is this: the military contractors and bounty hunters and the like are all congregating in the war-torn…
anon
40
votes
17 answers
Why would someone want to be free if slavery offers better quality of life?
I'm having a problem, I think, in a world I've built. From previous questions I've asked here, the world is a near to mid-future dystopia of the United States in which the government has collapsed under debt and now functions primarily to transfer…
KeithS
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12 answers
What are the evolutionary benefits of mating for life, as opposed to serial monogamy?
I have a sapient (alien) species that behaves more or less similarly to humans, and that includes their romantic interactions. However, although they court/date each other much like we do, there is a certain mechanic that shapes their cultural…
Fuzzlewuzzlekins
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18 answers
With current technology, what would be the best way to store energy for future generations?
Let's say that the world has successfully converted and only depends on renewable resources for our home energy needs. In fact, we have a massive surplus - currently in the form of raw electricity being generated from some science-fiction…
DoubleDouble
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10 answers
Can a planet stay cracked?
Images like this
and this
are common in sci-fi/fantasy settings, for the obvious "rule-of-cool" reasons. And while the 'rule-of-cool' is certainly worth using (in moderation) when appropriate, I can't help but wonder just how realistic are giant…
Harthag
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18 answers
How do I create a religion unlike greek pantheon?
Most of the religions I see GMs make (& even myself) are basically just rehashed Greek pantheon-esque religions. Several gods, each one governing a specific thing, sometimes different regions have different gods governing them. They are all still…
thatonefriend61
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11 answers
An engineering enigma: the useless "wings" behind giant robots. What is their TRUE purpose?
An engineering enigma: the useless "wings" behind giant robots.
"Bold design choice."
"What? I like anime."
"Worst-case scenario, we'll end up with the world's most expensive
Gundam model."
―Tony Stark and Erik Killmonger
More than an aesthetic…
LiveInAmbeR
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40
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10 answers
Could an underground civilisation deduce the size and shape of their planet?
Not sure if this still falls under worldbuilding. Let's assume a civilization living with the following restrictions:
No access to the surface or ability to observe it (no sky, no atmospheric samples from the surface, no distant large objects,…
Katai
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votes
22 answers
Why combat machines in this world are colorful
For all of the combat machine we see in real life, they are painted in colors to blend into the background and lower visibility in every spectrum. Except for when they are participating in a parade, their paintjob will always put "stealth" and "you…
Faito Dayo
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14 answers
You are a minor character in a fictional story. How do you get to be the hero?
Please see my re-open request below (the question is currently closed). Thanks
You come to realise that you are a fictional character in a story.
EDIT In the light of a couple of answers, I need to emphasise that you are a character in a story…
chasly - supports Monica
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40
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17 answers
What society might survive the 3 generation rule
A not widely accepted psycho-social phenomenon but one our descendents might sometime face, the Three Generation Rule states:
that the degree of social discipline needed for a space habitat to
survive indefinitely is beyond the capability of…
Jim2B
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