All Questions
226 questions
6
votes
7
answers
3k
views
Does it make sense for the governments of my world to genetically engineer soldiers?
In the world - and universe - of Pandemonium, humans have existed for thousands of years in parallel to humans on Earth, having crossed over during periodic collisions between Pandemonium's universe ...
- 67k
2
votes
15
answers
1k
views
Why would aliens want to invade Earth? [closed]
Aliens invading earth is arguably a trope as old as old as the idea of life beyond the stars but many of the justifications for said invasions tend to be rather flimsy.
Resources such as water or ...
- 6,979
4
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Plausible reasons for the usage of Flying Ships [closed]
Inspired by this question, I would like to try a similar question, but for flying ships.
So, assuming that the technology is readily available and that we could build these flying ships as easily as ...
- 421
12
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Can anyone win a "game" of Rocket Tag on an interstellar level against a prepared opponent?
Relativistic Kinetic Kill Vehicles (RKKVs) are all but undetectable until it's far too late to do anything about them; they have a very low radiation profile once at cruising velocity, their exhaust ...
- 51k
8
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Negative pressure projectile propellants (Alternatives to gunpowder)
While I was looking into alternatives to gunpowder I stumbled onto a comment talking about an ignited chemical propellant that could be placed in front of a bullet and effectively suck it forwards out ...
- 89
3
votes
1
answer
177
views
Maximizing the destructive potential of an acoustic weapon
Acoustic weapons are directed energy weapons used by the government to incapacitate and end crowds and protests. They use loud sounds to disturb the ears of those affected and some people even think ...
- 1,543
6
votes
1
answer
705
views
Moving Arrows to Supersonic Speeds
In a sci-fi world that I am making, an infantry held launcher is one of the many weapons developed to counter increasingly tough armor protection, brought on by the advent of advanced materials and ...
- 4,983
8
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Individual Laser-Point-Defense [closed]
Laser point defense is a known concept.
A powerful laser beam, either continuous or pulsed is used to shoot down or deflect either a projectile or object out of the sky. The concept has been ...
- 4,983
0
votes
0
answers
50
views
Wormhole Based Warfare [duplicate]
Let's say that, theoretically, a civilization is capable of utilizing wormholes for travelling to the stars, this wormholes, eventually get turned into a device that can be used as for travel, as a ...
- 109
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Would a Gas Giant be a feasible option for in-atmosphere fighting?
Could it be possible that a large portion (80%+) of a gas giant has thin enough atmosphere that the ships don’t suffer from re-entry effects, but thick enough that conventional dogfighting tactics ...
17
votes
12
answers
5k
views
Are there any good alternatives to firearms for 1920s aircrafts?
Short and simple are there any actually effective alternatives to firearms as the main alternative for WW1-1920s era aircraft including biplanes and airships?
Rules:
1: The weapon must be able to be ...
- 205
11
votes
9
answers
2k
views
What weaponry would a clockwork Skynet use to take over a fantasy world? [closed]
Milennia ago, on another plane of existence, a genius clockmaker dedicated his life to the creation of a thinking machine. The clockmaker imbued the two noblest ideas he could think of into the ...
- 799
4
votes
6
answers
1k
views
How feasible are nukes as a spotting system in space?
In the semi-realistic space combat I design, the following rock-paper-scissors relation holds:
lasers beat rockets
rockets beat armor
armor beats lasers
The level of technology is not too futuristic:...
- 1,374
2
votes
3
answers
209
views
Is there a NON-CHEMICAL weapon that can target the central nervous and/or muscular system?
There is research on nerve agents and gases, but are there any man-portable weapons that may be able to harm the CNS without gas? Thanks.
AMENDED: Results in symptoms like shaking, tremors that are ...
13
votes
9
answers
1k
views
How hard is it to ruin the Earth permanently?
Your average Invading Alien Species shows up and plans to invade Earth. They are Default Dumb Movie Aliens and don't have nanotech, AI, space habitats, diplomatic abilities, self-replicating factories,...
- 17.2k
2
votes
4
answers
140
views
Are we able to generate fusion by firing macroscopic particles really fast?
Big gun in space (let's not care about how the gun will work yet)
Pew pew,
If we fire fusion fuel,
Would we be able to cause a fusion reaction upon the particle's impact?
What speed would that take?
- 461
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is a particle accelerator weapon feasible?
I am envisioning a weapon that operates similarly to a proton therapy machine, only with the aim of killing a person. Essentially, a beam of protons is launched towards the target. However, the proton ...
- 1,023
1
vote
2
answers
172
views
Would a stationary railgun be possible utilizing 1910s electrical technology?
I am building a world in which gunpowder was not invented (chemistry is less advanced compared to other sciences), but other kinds of projectile weapons still dominate the battlefield (compressed air ...
- 109
4
votes
5
answers
287
views
Why does an interstellar civilisation use outdated weapons? [closed]
Backstory
In a distant galaxy, humanity once had an empire sprawling hundreds of thousands of stars. Then it collapsed. Now humanity is beginning to spread again, absorbing its old colonies into a new ...
- 196
7
votes
7
answers
2k
views
How could someone induce a cave-in quickly in a medieval-ish setting?
The idea here is that a commander of an army intentionally caves in a cave for a tactical benefit, and this needs to happen quickly. The best ideas i had were either explosives (obvious, but maybe ...
- 71
2
votes
4
answers
787
views
How many magnetic monopoles are needed to disable an aircraft carrier?
Once upon a time there was an interstellar kingdom with access to hundreds of planets through wormholes. Geniuses or luck gave them magnetic monopoles. They exist!!! The next bit is somewhat magical ...
- 343
4
votes
2
answers
375
views
How would you design an American Civil War Era Napalm/incendiary munitions?
I am working on a Steampunk/Alt history novel of the American Civil war. I would like a plausible way/recipe to include napalm/incendiary munitions fired from the steam tank/mobile artillery that you ...
- 331
2
votes
2
answers
251
views
How would the world's superpowers overcome the fog of war without any satellite left in orbit?
A bit of context : I want to come up with a cascade of events involving a breakdown, even temporary, of international powers' ability to keep tabs on each other's armies.
The situation is, due to a ...
- 465
4
votes
10
answers
2k
views
What kind of 'techniques' would a corrupt, power-hungry government use to dehumanize its army?
I am writing a story that takes place in an alternate universe in which the timeline is all screwed up. The society this question is about (let's call it Rome) has lots of futuristic technology, such ...
- 199
6
votes
8
answers
1k
views
What would a modern fortified castle look like?
Assume that paramilitary siege weapons were proliferated to the general public after America fell. Details below, but basically short of multi-billion dollar tactical weapons such as advanced fighter ...
- 8,209
7
votes
8
answers
2k
views
Designing a railgun to disable man-portable firearms
I'm trying to design a railgun to meet a very particular purpose: to destroy (i.e. render inoperable) modern man-portable firearms, such as pistols, rifles and grenade launchers, from a Glock pistol ...
- 67k
6
votes
2
answers
260
views
Maximum effective range for a modified Long Tom cannon in high density?
My airships in combat come upon each-other and initiate combat with their 12-foot long-tom guns. My problem is, I don't know what range they would be at when they decide to fire, because the post-...
- 8,209
4
votes
4
answers
313
views
Airship combat in dense atmosphere - What charge for 26-lb cannons?
For an airship combat scene with cannons on a world with a dense atmosphere, what would be the powder charge for effective beam-to-beam attacks at a 100-yard range?
The projectiles are 26-lb cannon ...
- 8,209
1
vote
1
answer
81
views
Ideal helmet shape that uses chiton armored goggles
A while back I learned that chitons have hundred's of small eyes that allows them to perceive the outside world without compromising the there armors integrity. This has also lead to some speculation ...
- 4,983
4
votes
4
answers
383
views
Time Dilation and Melee Combat
Recently, I have been pondering the implications of a civilization being able to control gravity in shape they see fit. One of the more amusing uses of such a technology I've heard was that they ...
- 4,983
10
votes
6
answers
2k
views
How could pears be used as ammunition?
In a dramedy science-fantasy children's (for 8 to 15 years old) videogame I want to create, Salade de Fruits (which naturally means Fruit Salad) (my first language is French), there is a villainous ...
- 5,378
-1
votes
3
answers
184
views
What are the minimum historical changes that would permit the use of Tanks at the beginning of World War I? (Central Powers)
What are the minimum historical changes that would permit the use of Tanks at the beginning of World War I for the central powers, so that they accomplish the following requisites:
It should be ...
- 284
4
votes
6
answers
1k
views
What are the minimum historical changes that would permit the use of paratroopers at the beginning of World War I? [closed]
What are the minimum historical changes that would permit the use of paratroopers at the beginning of World War I, so that they accomplish the following requisites:
It should be maintained a heavy ...
- 284
8
votes
10
answers
2k
views
What single change would have given the best chance for the Central Powers to win World War 1?
A common topic in alternate history fiction works is what would have happened if a major war had been won by the other side. These usually focus on the events after the war, and the change itself is ...
- 284
5
votes
4
answers
343
views
How stealthed can a high speed projectile be for space combat?
High power projectile weapons, often firing their rounds near the speed of light, are a staple of sci-fi. Under certain assumption sets these weapons are valid, I'm not interested in the science (or ...
- 51k
1
vote
2
answers
226
views
People who are interested and some what experts of history and maybe tech, what would you do in this very isekai situation? [closed]
In this impossible hypothetical situation, let's say through some supernatural means, you are transported to the royal palace of a rather small but rich kingdom that are rich in resources/raw ...
13
votes
8
answers
1k
views
If stealth in space doesn't work, how might you hide?
While there have been numerous arguments about ways of actually pulling off stealth in space, what I'm interested in is the scenario in which you can't conceal your presence in the conventional sense ...
- 5,165
27
votes
12
answers
5k
views
What could centipedal mechs do that tracked & wheeled vehicles couldn't do?
What could centipedal mechs do that tracked & wheeled vehicles couldn't do?
It's been 6 years since the 2 legged mech question, it's been 3 years since the spider mech question. It's time for the ...
- 5,163
4
votes
7
answers
3k
views
Could genetically engineered horses make cavalry survivable on a battlefield with modern technology?
Could genetically engineered horses make cavalry survivable on a battlefield with modern technology? While machineguns made cavalry obsolete, could there be a way that horses could be modified to be ...
- 5,163
2
votes
1
answer
139
views
How powerful could lasers be at various sizes if the power source issue is solved? [closed]
How powerful and how long a range could lasers get with no power source issue at
the sizes of:
~5-7 kilograms, man portable
~20 kilograms, semi man portable like
the PTRS
~300 kilograms, wheeled ...
- 5,163
5
votes
3
answers
223
views
How to ensure the complete destruction of a body in a warfield?
A commando expedition is sent to country A. The fact that they come from country B must not be known in case they are caught in country A.
In order to do so, they need to have a portable way to turn ...
- 791
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there a weaker alternative to gunpowder?
How plausible is it to have zinc-sulfur as the main propellant of a gun in the absence of better ones, like gunpowder and smokeless powder?
If it isn't possible, is there a weaker, less effective ...
- 1,456
-3
votes
1
answer
145
views
A war for what’s left of space [duplicate]
My story is a space adventure, opera, and war with an advanced alien race going to war with each other using this magic system the warring factions are the remnants of a Kardashev type 3. The biggest ...
3
votes
5
answers
378
views
How would giant mermaids wage raids/warfare against ships?
Part 2 of How could medieval ships protect themselves from giant mermaids?
While hominids may rule the land, giant mermaids dominate the sea! Many nations employ these giant mermaids to wage warfare ...
- 6,979
5
votes
3
answers
205
views
What emerging technologies could put at risk the engine and the exhaust of a diesel submarine with the 10 years ahead technology?
I am trying to build a blog of a short novel about a near-future technology-based sci-fi about the future of conflict. It starts with the stealing of an Israeli Dolphin-class submarine. I thought ...
10
votes
5
answers
5k
views
What would happen if 250 nuclear weapons were detonated within Owens Valley in California?
(NO CIA/FBI/NSA IM NOT A TERRORIST ARMED WITH 250 STOLEN/UNACCOUNTED FOR NUKES)
I’m writing a Godzilla fanfiction and in it, while Godzilla was doing Godzilla things on the West Coast (destroying ...
- 1,261
5
votes
1
answer
117
views
Autonomous homonculi vs mass-produced homonculi, which one would be more restricted by the Geneva Convention?
I needed monsters for my story, but with each added "quirk", dragons became more and more like overgrown, but well-behaved, flying housecats with scales. And I also didn't want them to be &...
- 19.5k
2
votes
2
answers
294
views
Effects of a Rapid Fire Nuclear Weapon on the Environment
One of the weapons I'm planning on having a character use in a sci-fi world is a rapid fire nuclear autocannon. While the strategic use of nuclear weapons is common on inter-galactic battlefields, an ...
- 1,116
3
votes
1
answer
228
views
Effects of a Super High Velocity Cannon on a Planet
In the 23rd century, humans are at war with a technologically advanced alien species. Humans discovered a method of faster than light travel during early stages of this war when an alien capital ship ...
- 1,116
18
votes
10
answers
5k
views
Using our current scientific theories, is it possible to develop better siege equipment than medieval ones? (Updated)
Sieges are not a mystery. Bribe someone to open the gate or starve them out are the popular options. And actual assaults are not very common. Sun Tzu would even advice to
And the worst policy of all ...
- 8,543