Most Popular
1500 questions
32
votes
23 answers
Why would cyborgs, assuming they are rare, be found in the lower classes rather than the elite?
In my world, advanced technological body modification exists. Those with any sort of modifications are rare, and those with extensive modifications are even rarer. These rare and uncommon cyborgs are not, as one (or at least I) would expect, very…
Clock World
- 329
- 2
- 4
32
votes
23 answers
If magic is programming, then what is mana supposed to be?
So it turns out the universe is a computer. Or at-least that is how it can be analogized to our puny mortal minds.
Human souls/consciousness are simultaneously the equivalent of emergent AI, players, and the dissociated fragments of the universe's…
AllSeeingEye33
- 1,829
- 10
- 21
32
votes
5 answers
Why aren't animals photosynthetic?
Why aren't animals photosynthetic on earth? And what would make it plausible for them to evolve to be?
Kyranstar
- 429
- 1
- 4
- 8
32
votes
5 answers
Would a radio made out of Anti matter be able to communicate with a radio made from regular matter?
I am working with some possible concepts for my world building project and had the idea for two alien civilizations. One made from regular matter and another made out of antimatter in their own solar systems made from their type of matter.
My…
Venik Hue
- 1,222
- 5
- 16
32
votes
7 answers
What would an "excessively sober" dwarf look like if they need alcohol to function?
Some dwarf lore, particularly the video game Dwarf Fortress, depicts dwarves not just as aggressively alcoholic, but as a species that functions better when drunk than when sober. That they need alcohol to get through the working day the same way a…
Cyrus Drake
- 8,007
- 4
- 38
- 61
32
votes
32 answers
Is there any reason why The Chosen One should bother to do anything if their victory is prophesized?
Assume the prophecy says that The Chosen One will defeat the DARK OVERLORD. The spell of the prophecy is always accurate and has a 100% chance of being true. This has been mathematically proven and is consistent with all the observed outcomes of…
TheDyingOfLight
- 17,024
- 3
- 39
- 97
32
votes
5 answers
Creating a realistic world(s) map - Stars
This Query is part of the Worldbuilding Resources Article.
This question is a sort of follow-up to Samuel's previous world map question, Creating a realistic world(s) map - planetary systems.
Lots of science fiction stories involve journeying to…
HDE 226868
- 101,188
- 25
- 303
- 542
32
votes
13 answers
Perfect weapon for two-elbow creature
In the world, I'm designing goblins are described as follows:
100-150cm tall
Skinny
Hairless
About as strong as humans
Devoid of any natural weapon (like teeth or claws)
Skin similar to high quality leather jacket
Highly intelligent and…
Darth Hunterix
- 2,171
- 14
- 20
32
votes
30 answers
Plausible natural reason why you can land on a earthlike planet yet can never get back to orbit from it?
Imagine a future where humanity has reached the stars, an exploration party lands on a earth like planet that's liveable (doesn't have to be perfect but life on it is on the range of what most people would consider comfortable, climate is ok,…
cypher
- 7,113
- 4
- 27
- 51
32
votes
14 answers
What is the point of introducing puzzles into tomb design if you don't want anyone to disturb whatever hidden?
My family comes from a long line of well known tomb designers and my spouse is a part time tomb raider, we really are a perfect match! I explained to my spouse that a tomb is a very sacred place for the deceased to rest in peace and great care are…
user6760
- 47,892
- 24
- 180
- 362
32
votes
6 answers
Can a NASER be used as a weapon?
Before I go to my question, let me refresh the basic principles of operation of a LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation): an active medium is brought in an excited state and, when a trigger happens, all its atoms go back to…
L.Dutch
- 286,075
- 58
- 587
- 1,230
32
votes
12 answers
The erosion problem on floating islands
Even the tallest mountains will be ground to dust with time. Given, of course, nothing sustains them (like tectonic activity which prevents mount Everest from eroding away too quickly, even making it taller each year).
Let time pass and the elements…
El Nitromante
- 1,281
- 8
- 17
32
votes
27 answers
How to limit the usefulness of an anti-gravity mineral to airship construction in steampunk?
Airships are awesome, but making them realistic while retaining the awesome factor is hard due to how relatively little weight they can realistically carry.
I was thinking about ways to mitigate that and came to the idea of introducing some…
Darth Biomech
- 8,868
- 34
- 72
32
votes
14 answers
What reasons would motivate even low level personnel of vast secret organizations to keep the secret going, other than fear?
It’s common nowadays for many different types of fictional, and non-fictional, works to speculate on the possible existence, operation, and further expansion, of hidden organizations such as ‘deep states’, secret branches of known organizations, and…
M. Y. Zuo
- 511
- 4
- 8
32
votes
7 answers
How could a 6-way, zero-G, space constrained, 3D, flying car intersection work?
Built within an asteroid belt (near convenient resources) is a densely populated human settlement. While not a "planned city", the settlement has expanded in a organised, grid like fashion in all 6 cartesian directions. Up, Down, North, South, East,…
User12321313
- 1,320
- 10
- 16