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1500 questions
108
votes
18 answers
Would somebody from the middle ages be able to identify an atomic / nuclear bomb?
Setting: a fantasy world with a culture loosely based on the late middle ages or early renaissance, with more value placed on the fantasy elements than strictly adhering to a proper "time period" (i.e., more World of Warcraft than Game of…
Aldaine
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107
votes
14 answers
Is there a scientific explanation as to why aliens should look similar to us?
In almost all science-fiction stories that include alien races, said aliens are similar to humans in many ways: bipedal (and often humanoid), communicate with sounds coming out of a mouth, orient in space thanks to light, are fleshy (they look like…
Sheraff
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106
votes
13 answers
If I went back in time, how could I handle being among the Black Death and survive?
In the near future time I invent time travel. But when perfecting it, something goes wrong and I'm transported back to the time and place of the Black Death. I wasn't prepared for this, and try as I might, I can't find my time machine (those parts…
matty
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106
votes
25 answers
How to build a trap to last the ages?
While considering Ancient Light Trigger Mechanism, it occurred to me that any ancient trap mechanism is unlikely to work very long without regular maintenance. It seems far too easy for dust to clog the triggering mechanism, or for animals to burrow…
Rob Watts
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105
votes
9 answers
What could make a star green?
Stars are never green.
When a star's spectra "peaks" in the green range, it also releases a significant number of waves of the adjacent colors - so "green" stars appear yellow or white.
I want a green star anyways.
How can such a star come about if…
Zxyrra
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105
votes
28 answers
How to monetize uploaded consciousness?
In 2039, our company was the first to bring a safe and reliable solution to upload someone's mind to the cloud. Although it was 10 years ago, you probably remember the news, don't you?
We guaranteed that your mind would be able to wander through the…
Pavel Janicek
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101
votes
6 answers
Would a Moon made of water pose a threat to Earth during eclipses?
Is a moon made entirely of water possible?
Could a planet made completely of water exist?
I was inspired by the above questions to ask the following:
Assume that our current Moon is replaced instantaneously by a moon made entirely of water but of…
chasly - supports Monica
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100
votes
31 answers
Awesomeness powered magic - why would a group of awesome magicians want to keep their "kryptonite" near them?
Fair warning - just rewatched Bill & Ted, so this is going to be a bit crazy.
Imagine for a moment there exists a world where “awesomeness” is a true force of nature.
Awesome people have the ability to perform awesome magic by channeling their inner…
cypher
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99
votes
13 answers
A mosque on Mars?
Premise
Mars has been terraformed and has seen its first few stages of large-scale colonization. The colonists are middle to upper class Earthlings. Earth is not a dystopian planet per se, but Mars offers great air quality, job opportunities and…
Arash Howaida
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98
votes
27 answers
The Challenge of Controlling a Powerful AI
By now, everyone is familiar with the remarkable achievements of special-purpose AIs like Deep Blue and Watson. Now, it is clear that as our accumulated knowledge of algorithmic methods and of the intricacies of human neural systems progresses, we…
Serban Tanasa
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98
votes
31 answers
My time machine needs to know when it is
I've built a time machine and it works in unmanned testing... sorta. I tell it to go into the past, it disappears, and then comes back to the present. The problem is that it isn't terribly accurate. I need to know how far back it's going in order to…
Andrew Brēza
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98
votes
18 answers
Great Old Ones Limited, or Why does Cthulhu need a Company?
A world much like our own. A city like the one in which you live. A corporation whose doors you pass every day. Maybe you notice the subtle sans-serif fonted words adorning the entrance, maybe you pass by obliviously engaged in finishing your latte…
neophlegm
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97
votes
14 answers
Lembas bread (2000 kCalories per bite)
In The Lord of the Rings, the elves invented an incredibly nutritious bread/biscuit; as Legolas clearly says, only a small bite is just enough to satisfy the needs of an adult man for 1 day.
An adult person needs about 2000 kilocalories per day...…
Charon
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97
votes
19 answers
Why would vampires be incapable of entering a non-vampire human’s house uninvited?
I'm looking for a scientific explanation as to why vampires would be incapable of entering a human's house uninvited.
There have been many terrific scientific explanations for some of the most interesting vampiric traits over the years, but this is…
Nahshon paz
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95
votes
33 answers
How would it make sense that spellbooks or grimoires teach only one spell?
In a JRPG-like setting; Spells are chanted, mana is consumed, and spells can be learned through grimoires or spellbooks, how would it make sense that a spellbook teaches only one spell?
If it is like cooking, like say, how to bake a cake. Why would…
Bwrites
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