| Speculative biology is simultaneously a science and form of art in which one speculates on the possibilities of life and evolution. What could the world look like if dinosaurs had never gone extinct? What could alien lifeforms look like? What kinds of plants and animals might exist in the far future? These questions and more are tackled by speculative biologists, and the Speculative Evolution welcomes all relevant ideas, inquiries, and world-building projects alike. With a member base comprising users from across the world, our community is the largest and longest-running place of gathering for speculative biologists on the web. While unregistered users are able to browse the forum on a basic level, registering an account provides additional forum access not visible to guests as well as the ability to join in discussions and contribute yourself! Registration is free and instantaneous. Join our community today! |
| Future Predators of Humans | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: May 17 2009, 06:07 PM (9,983 Views) | |
| rufus | May 17 2009, 06:07 PM Post #1 |
Newborn
|
I rememebr that once in Peter Ward's book he mentions the differnt things that could possibly thin the human population. He mentioned, then dismissed at once the possibility of a new sort of predator. As he correctly observes, any such predator would be quickly elininated or contained if it started preying on our species. Humans would simply not allow ourselves or our children to become food. But that got me to thinking. Suppose some future genetic scientist, engineered some sort of future predator to prey upon humans, perhaps as a way of cleansing the population of :defectives" or undesirables". The species could be genetically programed to hunt only humans as a food source. And it might be programed to eliminate only those humans who carried certain traits such as genetic maladies. This would have to be done in such a way that the human population would not know what was happening, and could not take the action needed to eliminate the predators. This creature would be engineered from humans themselves.The creature could have engineered traits from other animal species, such as camaflauge abilites, and perhaps sonar from bats to stun their prey. BTW, I thought of this idea long before that "future predator" thing from Primeval, and I thought of posting this today, even before I read that other thread. I also thought of making this idea into a story, in which the heor has to find who is releasing and controlling these predators and how to stop them. I usually try not to bash genetic science in my stories, like some authors do, but in this case the plot would demand that I do have a rogue geneticist. |
 |
 
|
| Replies: | |
|---|---|
| T.Neo | Jan 6 2010, 10:48 AM Post #256 |
Translunar injection: TLI
|
Hard does not mean strong. Tungsten carbide is actually very brittle.
No, but when something unexpected arises, we get working and deal with it, as we do with diseases etc. And what shouldn't we expect? Flesh-eating space-sharks with lasers coming out of their dorsal fins? Sorry, don't buy it.
Yes we could, but not with guns. Blowing up asteroids ala Hollywood isn't the way to do it either. There are several asteroid mitigation stratagies out there, and with enough money and effort (and time) we'd certainly be able to pull them off. |
| A hard mathematical figure provides a sort of enlightenment to one's understanding of an idea that is never matched by mere guesswork. | |
|
|
|
| lamna | Jan 6 2010, 11:28 AM Post #257 |
 
|
We might not be able to do it right now, but if we had 10 years we easily could. And that has nothing to do with predators. Oh and the clouds are rubbish hiding places, what with use watching them for weather forecasts and penetrating them with radar. |
|
Living Fossils Fósseis Vibos: Reserva Natural 34 MYH, 4 tonne dinosaur. [flash=500,450] Video Magic! [/flash] | |
|
|
|
| T.Neo | Jan 6 2010, 12:38 PM Post #258 |
|
Translunar injection: TLI
|
Don't underestimate the ability of the space program when enough funding is granted.  We could have warning of an asteroid impact in the terms of years or even decades. Comets are more tricky; we might discover then only months before impact. The only defining problem at the moment is the lack of a true "Heavy-lift launcher" anywhere in the world at present. If one existed, it would make launching an asteroid deflector far easier, and would reduce the design/build time required. Ideally there would be a couple of vehicles in storage waiting to be launched on an available rocket. You want all the time you can get, and the vehicle still needs to transfer to the asteroid.
|
| A hard mathematical figure provides a sort of enlightenment to one's understanding of an idea that is never matched by mere guesswork. | |
|
|
|
| Holben | Jan 6 2010, 02:32 PM Post #259 |
Rumbo a la Victoria
|
The best asteroid deflecting method i know involves a lot of fore-warning. Tungsten carbide is brittle, but that doesn't mean not bulletproof. Us humans don't expect anything that doesn't happen in their routine. |
|
Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea. "It is the old wound my king. It has never healed." | |
|
|
|
| T.Neo | Jan 6 2010, 03:01 PM Post #260 |
|
Translunar injection: TLI
|
There's much debate on which method is the "best". Some need less fore-warning then others. And as I said before, if you're dealing with an asteroid, you could have decades to prepare, which would easily allow time for even the slowest methods.
Plaster of paris is brittle, but that doesn't mean not bulletproof. The weaker your armor, the more you need of it. Tungsten is already pretty heavy, so that doesn't help. You end up with huge amounts of it to be useful. This "predator" needs to be fast to (a) stay alive and (b) catch humans. Weigh it down with tons of tungsten carbide armor and it can do neither. If you want plausible armor, go for some sort of biological substance (perhaps a sort of bio-kevlar) with intermingled mineral deposits (essentially, like bone, but stronger). It would be far more plausible to grow, would be lighter and would be stronger then tungsten carbide (ideal would be steel... that would perhaps be too heavy though, and difficult to "grow" into a strong alloy. The "alloy growth" problem goes the same for titanium.). This would make an animal firearm resistant not totally firearm proof. But it would give it a chance. You could still use thermal/chemical weaponry on it though... regardless of the armour. |
| A hard mathematical figure provides a sort of enlightenment to one's understanding of an idea that is never matched by mere guesswork. | |
|
|
|
| Holben | Jan 6 2010, 03:03 PM Post #261 |
|
Rumbo a la Victoria
|
Silicon. It's tough, able to form many compounds, and can form many textures and shapes. A silicate organism grafted on the surface of a carbon form? The carbon form doesn't even have to be a sophont if it can kill us without self-damage. |
|
Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea. "It is the old wound my king. It has never healed." | |
|
|
|
| T.Neo | Jan 6 2010, 03:15 PM Post #262 |
|
Translunar injection: TLI
|
I'm not sure what you mean. A silicon-based organism in a symbiotic relationship with a carbon-based one? A silicon-based creature growing around a block of carbon? A carbon-based creature encased in silicates? Silicate is rock. You can't have a creature based in rock. You need a liquid (or at least a dense enough fluid) to transmite chemicals and information. If or when we find silicon-based life, it'll probably look similar to carbon based life. The real differences in their chemistry would be microscopic.
Could you elaborate? Can you only be a sophont to kill while inflicting self-damage? Or must you be a non-sophont to kill vai self damage? I'm afraid the way you've worded it makes it a bit difficult to grasp. |
| A hard mathematical figure provides a sort of enlightenment to one's understanding of an idea that is never matched by mere guesswork. | |
|
|
|
| lamna | Jan 6 2010, 03:38 PM Post #263 |
|
I think he chose Tungsten because it's the heaviest element used in organisms. Also like many people Holbenilord confusing hardness with strength. Diamonds are very hard but shatter rather easily. Indeed when it come to protecting from bullets you don't want much hardness at all. You need the material to deform and absorb the shock, not transmit it while turning into shrapnel. And a heavy armour animal would just be pointless, it would cause to be slow, so people could just use a bigger gun. Which means you need more armour and are even easer to hit. If you want to make a non-intelligent animal that can hunt people you are better off with agility, speed and stealth. |
|
Living Fossils Fósseis Vibos: Reserva Natural 34 MYH, 4 tonne dinosaur. [flash=500,450] Video Magic! [/flash] | |
|
|
|
| Temporary | Jan 6 2010, 04:26 PM Post #264 |
|
Transhuman
|
I was thinking in a way that we'd mistake for other humans. Like disapearances and so forth. But I have to admit, the best predator against humans already exist, humans. If a sociopathic cannibal shows up, I'd say a lot of people are going down. Don't take that seriously, just an idle thought I had. |
I'm here.  Uploaded with ImageShack.us Should we bring back Recon? Click here to share your opinion. | |
|
|
|
| T.Neo | Jan 6 2010, 04:55 PM Post #265 |
|
Translunar injection: TLI
|
Perhaps. Humans are not immune to predation (Numerous bear/shark/tiger/lion/etc attacks prove this), we're immune to being wiped out or severly affected by one. Unless said predator is also a sophont. |
| A hard mathematical figure provides a sort of enlightenment to one's understanding of an idea that is never matched by mere guesswork. | |
|
|
|
| sam999 | Jan 6 2010, 06:12 PM Post #266 |
Adult
|
Pinon sickness. |
I am not suffering from insanaty. I truely enjoy being mad.   Comeon, thy dragons need YOU! Visit them here please... | |
|
|
|
| Temporary | Jan 7 2010, 09:45 AM Post #267 |
|
Transhuman
|
What's that? |
I'm here. Uploaded with ImageShack.us Should we bring back Recon? Click here to share your opinion. | |
|
|
|
| T.Neo | Jan 7 2010, 10:29 AM Post #268 |
|
Translunar injection: TLI
|
Sickness of the pinons, I believe... 
|
| A hard mathematical figure provides a sort of enlightenment to one's understanding of an idea that is never matched by mere guesswork. | |
|
|
|
| Holben | Jan 7 2010, 11:58 AM Post #269 |
|
Rumbo a la Victoria
|
Hey, how about a collective? Neo will be happy because it has a gestalt consciousness. It has keratin armour, which is light but hard. Not immune to bullets, but since they feed off a fungus which feeds off anything organic, which is stored in stomach sacs, they have enough biomass to reproduce faster than we can kill them. They can fly, and are quiet, and have toxin sacs and mighty jaws. They climb up walls and along ceiling with equal ease, and can lay eggs in bodies without the host knowiung using histamine, like a mozzie. They have shielded DNA, so radiation doesn't affect them so much, and can support ten times their own strength. They can swim, and breathe through very efficient book lungs. |
|
Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea. "It is the old wound my king. It has never healed." | |
|
|
|
| T.Neo | Jan 8 2010, 07:30 AM Post #270 |
|
Translunar injection: TLI
|
Sounds shaky, they'd have to reproduce at some insane rate. It isn't dependant on the amount of biomass available, but dependant on the metabolism of the creature. And you can only go a certain point before that metabolism breaks the laws of chemistry...
The eggs must be pretty small, or else the host will definitely know- I don't think anyone would like a fist sized hole in their abdomen...
Strength seems more then plausible, radiation resistance also does, since there are (AFAIK) bacteria living in nuclear waste and thriving. They can still be attacked by chemical and thermal means. And if they can essentially feed off anything, why even bother with humans? They could live happily eating plants or even sifting through our garbage without the trouble needed to solely survive off of humans. |
| A hard mathematical figure provides a sort of enlightenment to one's understanding of an idea that is never matched by mere guesswork. | |
|
|
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · Evolutionary Continuum · Next Topic » |
7:39 PM Jul 13