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1500 questions
39
votes
10 answers
Preventing post-apocalyptic society from becoming misogynistic
The apocalypse has happened, but humanity survives. People still remember the technology they had, but too many of the people who really understood how it worked and how to make it have died, leading to many modern technologies being lost. The…
Rob Watts
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39
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19 answers
How long would it take for a new intelligent species to evolve if humans disappeared?
If all humans (but no other species) just suddenly disappeared, leaving all of their structures standing, how long would it take for an intelligent species as dominant as the humans to evolve? Would the disappearance of humans change anything?
Beta Decay
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39
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18 answers
The world is ending, how to convince/force chosen ones to come quietly?
The apocalypse has come - nuclear war+asteroid hitting+alien invasion+Skynet+vampires.
Doesn't matter which, the world government/s knew this was coming (lets say, a year in advance) and they have a plan! They'll get as many "chosen ones"…
Nahshon paz
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39
votes
18 answers
An underwater creature that could take down a boat
Imagine that when Christopher Columbus sailed West in his Carrack to travel around the world to reach India, he had never made it to land, because halfway across the Atlantic Ocean between Europe and America his ship was attacked. It was a creature…
Mike.C.Ford
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39
votes
8 answers
How to modify the human eye to see into the ultraviolet and infrared bands?
If I'm writing a sci-fi story and I wanted to include humans with modified eyesight that see into the ultraviolet and infrared bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, what would I have to change about my character's eyes?
What would things look like…
Andrew
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39
votes
16 answers
Why do only clothes stay in an animal transformation?
I have a race in my world that has the ability to transform into animals at will. For reasons of practicality, the animals do not wear clothes and the clothes disappear during transformation. For reasons of public decency, when the race transforms…
DonyorM
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39
votes
6 answers
How to evolve biological radios?
Radio Thinkers
Creatures that communicate by biological radio pops up in science fiction occasionally and it's a fun idea. However, there are some practical concerns with regards to evolving a radio in a creature's head.
I'm looking for a discrete…
Green
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39
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16 answers
How can a gigantic creature combat neural lag?
For the purposes of the question, it doesn't really matter if the creature's a continent-sized amoeba or a particularly large kaiju. Speed of thought is relatively painfully slow in organic creatures, since it uses electrochemical processes. It is…
Darth Biomech
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39
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25 answers
What kind of war would lead to Ultra-Heavy tanks being useful?
Ultra-Heavy tanks are a fun concept. Simply scale up a tank to weigh 1000+ tonnes, add a stupid amount of guns and armour, and you end up with something like the image below.
Of course, this monster was never built and if it had, it would have been…
MadScientist
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39
votes
21 answers
Should AI have faith too?
Religion plays a major role in human history and shaped our thinking as well as technology, conflict can arise from people who misunderstand each other religion and started an arm race. Set in 24th century AD my question is should we allow AI to…
user6760
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39
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24 answers
If dinosaurs had a civilization, how primitive must it have been to leave no trace in the present?
I am thinking of, yes, a simple story with intelligent dinosaurs, but I am not interested (And I sincerely prefer) that they are not sufficiently advanced in my history to be comparable to modern humans, at most I imagine them similar to the humans…
Invasor
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39
votes
5 answers
Making Rock, Paper, Scissors fair in battle
The year is 1,000 BC
The Rock Tribe, apart from liking very loud music, makes war by throwing rocks. In close combat they can use rocks as primitive (non-handled) clubs.
The Scissors Tribe naturally use scissors of varying sizes. Scissors can be…
chasly - supports Monica
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39
votes
16 answers
What would be the benefits of cauldron usage for witchcraft?
A cauldron is a giant, iron pot that witches use in the creation of potions. These potions serve a variety of purposes, and it was customary for any self respecting witch to own one since the old days for containing their mixtures. However, they…
Incognito
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39
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21 answers
Why might any self-respecting dungeon engineer employ a booby trap which isn't lethal?
I've been thinking on it for a while, and it really doesn't make sense.
If I'm a medieval dungeon engineer, designing a dungeon which will guard my vast riches, why in the world would I install a booby trap which isn't lethal? If I'm going to place…
tuskiomi
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39
votes
26 answers
How would tiny dragons strike TERROR?
Average Medieval times for humans... And everybody fears these fire-breathing, jewel-stealing sentient creatures. There is just one problem. Dragons on this world are sparrow-sized, and aren't very social creatures. (So I don't think they will form…
jhyu89oo990uy
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