Questions tagged [science-fiction]
For questions relating to worlds with a setting of common science-fiction.
1,509
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With as much scientific accuracy as possible, how would chemicals injected in one's body be removed?
I am currently writing the world, setting and characters for a project of mine called the ORION Project - a story set in a dystopian America in the near future of 2050, where the government has taken ...
8
votes
3answers
180 views
Is this a reasonable way to enforce a ban on exotic weapons in an interstellar setting?
In the late 23rd century certain groups of mankind stared down the barrel of what may be possible in the future: cross galactic relativistic kill missile storms, gamma-ray Dyson Beams, Kugelblitz ...
1
vote
1answer
71 views
Is there a place in which a portal to another dimension could be hidden for five years, but then discovered by children? [closed]
I am writing a story in which two children, ages 12-14 years old, discover a portal to another dimension. The portal is roughly the size of an average door and has existed for five years prior to ...
3
votes
2answers
97 views
Is there a way to reduce one's processing speed and perception of time?
My protagonist, a victim of a similar accident from my previous question, looks and acts the same on the outside, while being very different on the inside. In this question however, the main ...
11
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7answers
2k views
Black Hole Power Plant
I had this idea for my sci-fi book, there's not going to be a central galactic government, very contested little time, but I do wanna pursue this.
The more shadowy inhabitants of the center of our ...
8
votes
5answers
138 views
Most Likely Way to Protect Against Infectious Disease When Visiting Other Planets?
In various science fiction works, we see our plucky heroes beaming down to, or flying down to planets other than their own. They meet with the inhabitants there, be they human or otherwise and then ...
4
votes
3answers
283 views
Name of scientists that study sapient life
In a fantasy world I'm creating, one of the characters biologist who studies the other intelligent beings. Originally, I was going to name them a Xeno biologist. But that would implies that other ...
7
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4answers
1k views
Which map below would make more sense for a post-apocalyptic federal government to control if it wanted to liberate the country?
So I’m currently stuck between the peninsula-map and this one .
Between the two, which would make more sense for the federal government to have control over 17 years after zombies and a virus both ...
4
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2answers
88 views
Humanity's Response to Earth's Destruction? [closed]
In a science-fiction scenario set several hundred years in the future, most of humanity lives on various O'Neill-type space habitats, with maybe 1/4 to 1/3rd of the total human population living on ...
2
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2answers
74 views
What defensive technology for starships that would make them invulnerable? [closed]
Imagine a science fiction universe where...
most races have a large amount of excess energy (i.e., fusion),
AGI is very rare (not a consideration),
interstellar travel is fairly standard via ...
6
votes
3answers
920 views
Storing a human consciousness in a flash drive or similar piece of technology [closed]
In a dystopian trilogy I'm writing, I want to include a way to have the government store a person's ideas in a small piece of technology.
Basically, the government has a test of strength after you ...
7
votes
1answer
71 views
Lightsaber + Pogostick: How would deceleration work on an extendable “arm” of pure handwavium-energy?
In my setting, I'm trying to develop interesting movement/combat mechanics. I asked a related question about ways of slowing free-fall descents in an effort to develop exoskeleton-enhanced parkour. ...
3
votes
2answers
73 views
portal powered gun
Is a portal powered gun feasible? By portal powered I mean a projectile in dropped into one portal then goes through the portal into the other portal and is basically in freefall until the portal is ...
3
votes
5answers
157 views
reactor powered by explosives
Is it feasible to power a reactor using explosives with today's technology? Just using the heat of the explosion to turn a turbine is not the idea I am looking for. Keep the handwavium to a minimum. ...
0
votes
1answer
82 views
How long would a planet that losses its gravity take to break up?
In my setting, one of the fallouts due to interstellar war between civilisations is that a planet's gravity can be removed. This capability is part of the setting's hyperspace mechanics so the exact ...
4
votes
3answers
132 views
What adaptations would a tree need to survive an area with monthly fires?
Imagine a plain made of tall grass that sways in a gentle breeze. Everything is a deep green and there is a riot of life sprouting from the black ground. A few days later, the grasses turn brown and ...
2
votes
3answers
67 views
Adopting a new calendar for a multi-generational space journey [Generations Novel]
This is a mixed physics and conceptual exercise: In my story, we are aboard a multi-generational mission to resettle Humanity on a new planet in our galaxy.
In the internal life of the ship ...
1
vote
2answers
71 views
How many people could fit into a spaceship? [closed]
I’m writing a story where the world is coming to an end but I want it to sound as realistic as possible.
The story takes place in 2024, not too far from now, and NASA sends out a crew in space to ...
10
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10answers
924 views
Would shotguns be a practical weapon to arm certain members of an anti-zombie military unit?
Let’s get some backstory first:
So I’ve recently came up with the idea of this combat support anti-zombie unit that’s dedicated towards fighting both human enemies and zombies (but mostly zombies (...
8
votes
6answers
1k views
Space-based black hole weapon effects
For the fluff of my story one of the space-ships is equipped with what I hope is one of the biggest F-you weapons in ship-to-ship combat: a miniature black hole launcher.
The launcher fires a ...
8
votes
5answers
191 views
Someone invents a Darkness Generator. What commercial applications would it have? [closed]
If someone invented a field manipulator that created a region through which no form of light could enter or pass through, effectively making a sphere of complete darkness, what sort of practical ...
17
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23answers
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A clothing material or other method to slow free-fall descent down walls
I'm working on a military sci-fi piece that involves a lot of exo-skeleton enhanced, well, parkour -- for lack of a better term -- and was wondering how to deal with descents from great heights.
The ...
3
votes
2answers
90 views
Aircrafts during Carrington Flare
TLDR: Sun is barraging Earth with frequent but unpredictable EMPs.
I have an event in a story inspired by Carrington event
set in near future, but the event duration already passed several years. ...
0
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0answers
44 views
Warfare under lasting EMP field [duplicate]
I have world destroyed by a war, but still on certain level of technological advancement. The basic thesis is that due to technological advancement of warring nations the people came up with lasting ...
2
votes
1answer
62 views
How would Aliens care for “endangered” humans? [closed]
Sci-fi novel. Book is told from the POV of a alien that works at the sanctuary.
I don't think this is too important, but the aliens are sort of an anthro-snail that lives on the underground and ...
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votes
9answers
231 views
how to siege a small island nation that is the most powerful country in the world [closed]
this question is linked to this question
The governments of the world have come together and decided to attack the small island nation after many failed attempts at stealing their technology.
...
6
votes
3answers
169 views
What would happen if the mass of air around earth doubled?
So the mass of air around the earth has doubled. How it doubled isn't part of the question, but for the curious let's say a space station floating around earth processed all the nitrogen, oxygen, ...
3
votes
6answers
2k views
What would happen if a small island nation became the strongest country in the world? [closed]
What could happen if, say, a small island off of the coast of Africa became overnight the most powerful country in the world? Can we predict what would happen? Would the world's superpowers be nice ...
5
votes
3answers
195 views
Could one use electricity to divert bullets?
My main character is one with the gift to control electricity. Despite this obvious flaw in reasoning I try to keep it as scientifically accurate as possible so he cannot for example zap someone from ...
2
votes
0answers
73 views
Specific gravity change for my world
Ok, so this is a culmination of a few questions into one final question: am I doing this right? I am trying to figure out the gravitational difference from one end of a continent to another. There is ...
3
votes
2answers
81 views
How does gravity change between points within a spinning sphere? [duplicate]
In a world where life exists within a spinning sphere (so you are standing with your head toward the center), how would gravity change as you traveled? Would the rate of reduction be the same as you ...
4
votes
2answers
121 views
Is a 7% reduction in gravity noticable? [duplicate]
If gravity were to be gradually reduce by 7%, over the course or weeks of months, would an average human be likely to notice? Specifically the reduction in weight, not atmospheric changes or other ...
3
votes
4answers
150 views
a ranged weapon only powered by electricity [closed]
Requirements
must be powered just by electricity
must-have an effective range of 45 meters or more.
must be easy to repair no fancy parts unless they last for a long time
lightweight
must cause ...
1
vote
0answers
56 views
A world that exists within the crust of the earth [closed]
Let's say that world was created where life existed within the crust of the planet, rather than on the outside, what would the ramifications be? I am hoping for someone with an education in some of ...
3
votes
4answers
194 views
What laws of physics would need to be broken in order to travel in space faster?
I have a spaceship which I want to have travel very quickly around a system like our own solar system -- let's say about 10 million miles per minute, which would go from Mars to Earth in ~15 minutes. ...
3
votes
3answers
145 views
What is the best form of powered vehicular flight within a McKendree habitat?
Background
A McKendree cylinder is a spinning space habitat in the style of an O'Neill cylinder (below), but orders of magnitude larger. McKendree habitats are hundreds of kilometres in diameter and ...
3
votes
2answers
158 views
living at mach 50
After an acident in the research of parallel dimensions, a portal was opened and one of the researchers fell inside. He was successfully rescued, however the rescued scientist wasn't like before. ...
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1answer
80 views
Do chemicals from nuclear reprocessing waste remain radioactive? Are they flammable?
I'm writing a story about a town whose residents all work at a nuclear reprocessing site. Some teenagers begin to hang out near a small body of water close to the site that they call "the swamp". The ...
1
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1answer
84 views
a tribe of neanderthals survive on a tropical island off of the coast of india into the modern day. how might they evolve?
lets say this island is an exact copy of the climate and ecosystem of tropical India. how might Neanderthals evolve in order to survive this environment?
7
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4answers
592 views
Human labor required to setup automated mining outpost on faraway planet?
Glossing over the technological implications of interstellar travel, what sort of human labor might still be required in a future where we are capable of setting up nigh-fully automated endeavors on ...
1
vote
1answer
104 views
What would happen if someone could remotely manipulate atoms?
Those of you who are familiar with the DC Comics hero Firestorm know that he can alter the chemical structure of any form of inorganic matter, provided he knows the chemical equation. In my story, I ...
2
votes
2answers
122 views
Using electromagnetic fields to achieve an unbreakable blade
A while ago I stumbled upon the idea of a stasis field, which shined the light in the tunnel for a question I have. Let's assume that a character has the magical ability to control electricity, could ...
5
votes
2answers
150 views
Speed of a Spider Tank?
Disregarding all the impracticalities of a legged vehicle, assuming one was created, how fast would it be? I know there are a ton of variables, so I’m just looking for a ballpark estimate for a ...
4
votes
4answers
134 views
What super-dense solid could be produced in large quantities using only Earth's atmosphere?
Assuming the power and tech existed to do so (addressing the requisite heat, pressure, etc), would it be possible to draw in atmosphere, condense and heat/cool the particles, and then produce a highly-...
4
votes
2answers
162 views
Cylindrical radiators on spacecraft?
Having your radiators tactically protected from enemy fire by the armor shape of your space warship is nice, but having a regular one or double-sided radiators is still a vulnerability. Other concepts ...
4
votes
7answers
1k views
Powertrain for mid-19th century mecha
I’m writing a steampunk/weird west story set in 1867 and I want to incorporate some form of armored battle “walkers” (aka mechs). Looking for ideas for powertrains that could conceivably run such a ...
3
votes
3answers
121 views
Weakspots of a Humanoid Iguana
Well. This is for a hard sci-fi fiction. The main protagonist, an Action Girl, has just met her sidekick: an humanoid Iguana (it makes sense and it is explained why Iguana-people people exist (has to ...
3
votes
1answer
157 views
Science of Green Lantern and solid light constructs
Many know that the Lantern Corps of DC Comics are capable of constructing objects of any shape or size out of hard light using their power ring fueled by their emotions. However, I'm wondering what ...
15
votes
10answers
4k views
Is there any advantage to using a centralized hivemind?
Basically, there are 2 types of hiveminds: the common centralized and the uncommon distributed.
Centralized means that all units are extensions of the master entity (the badguy alien/robot ...
17
votes
8answers
4k views
How can I explain a device that blurs vision within a localized area?
For context a person has stolen a piece of junk military equipment that can allegedly "warp reality". Turns out to be a false rumor, the device actually has a limited ability to alter/warp visual ...
