Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
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!

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Dystopia by Gorgonbreath; Alternate Earth with dying Sun
Topic Started: Nov 7 2009, 12:11 PM (3,952 Views)
Jurassic-Gothic
Member Avatar
Infant
 *  *  *  *
Premiss: all the things I'm going to write here belong to the deviantArtist Gorgonbreath. She is writing a science fiction taking place on a post-apocalyptic Earth and drawing swanky, coloured and eerie original characters.

We are currently working together on a speculative biological project involving the fiction of her.

She writes stories and situations and draws characters too.

I build up a scientific fictional background and sometimes do fan service :P

Pratically I offer scientific consultation *lol*

Anyway her gallery is viewable here:

http://gorgonbreath.deviantart.com/


Dystopia is the name of the fiction.


It takes place on an alternate Earth, and alternate Solar System. Apparently nothing differs from our Universe, even life has developed in specular way as in our Universe and so have Mankind and its History.
Everything alike our World

...but here difference is...

In Dystopia Universe star's life lasts half than expected time calculated in our Universe. If a Sun-like star, with 1 solar mass, takes 10 billion years before dying in Our Universe, in Dystopia's one takes only 5. And Sun is just 5 billion years old.

So in Dystopia's Universe the Sun is close to death.

And so are other evolved stars in Solar Neighborhood
Especially the brightest ones alike Sirius and Procyon


How does Dystopia Universe appears?


The Sun has nearly exhausted hydrogen and is slowly beginning burning helium in its core. Mankind's technology has allowed to terraform and settle Mars and to emigrate towards younger Solar System analogues too. Indeed Earth's inhabitant have gone elsewhere, alike Epsilon Eridani, Epsilon Indi, Sigma Draconis et cetera, where other "blue dots" are present and can host newborn colonies.

On the other hand here how other nearby stars appear:

- Alpha Centauri A-B: star A is slightly older than Sun, thus it's evolving off the Main Sequence alike Sun. Star B is less massive and will live more. But it won't be so lively due to evolving primary and increasing luminosity of its.

- Tau Ceti: much older than Sun (7 billion years) it does appear as a K2III giant, with radius 15 times larger than Sun and nearly 80 times more luminous.

- Sirius: the Dog's Star is already experiencing the second phase of red giant phase, appearing as a bright giant of spectal class K0II (luminosity=700 times that of Sun, 28 times brighter than before). White dwarf companion B is appear much dimmer than before and really hard to resolve.

- Procyon: much more evolved than nearby Sirius, Procyon is passing through first stage of red giant star. Effective temperature significantly lowered (T=3,460 Kelvin from former 6,650) and radius enormously bloated (180 Solar radii) let the star being classified as Mira-type pulsating giant, with S6III spectral type. Luminosity nearly 4,200 higher than Sun. Moreover the star that now interacts with white dwarf companion as symbiotic binary (alike much further away stars R Aquarii, CH Cygni).

- Arcturus: the star lies in advanced phase of stellar death, appearing as briefly luminous post-AGB star, a hot but shrunken subdwarf star (sdB-type star) surrounded by hot gas forming a planetary nebula.

- Altair: the prince star of Aquila constellation (the Eagle) appears as a cold but bright K5/7III giant star. Radius 55 times larger than Sun, 700 times more luminous.

There would be much more to talk about, but since the forum is about biology, I would quit here the astrophysical discussion.


How does Dystopia Earth appears?

The Sun is dying but hasn't reached the red giant phase yet, but passing through lively subgiant stage. So our star appears twice more luminous than before and radius twice larger. With these conditions the habitable zone has shifted from 1 Astronomical Unit to 1.4 (nearly the Mars' orbital zone). Mars indeed has been terraformed and forms a world apart with its human population.
Earth is slowly turning into a Venus' analogue.

Posted Image

Oceans have almost gone evaporated, filling the upper stratosphere, increasing greenhouse effect. Essiccation reaches ocean floor and few abyssal trenches still host liquid water forming few sparse seas. Everything appear harsh and barren above and below ancient ocean levels. A concept map is viewable here (it is also available at deviantArt account of mine, with much better full-view resolution):

Posted Image


Solar evolution and a wicked management of natural resources, wars and biotechnologically-driven epidemies have caused mass extinction has erased 90% of lifeforms but new ones are developing. Notwithstanding evolution has taken million years to "create" and "select" lifeforms, infections by bizarre microrganisms are causing occurrence of new species, humans included. These microrganisms act as Wolbachia bacterium does (or better did) with certain mosquitos, but in much intrusive and mutagenic way.


What's happened to Mankind?

As previously hinted, "Earthlings" have at first terraformed and settled Mars, where currently live in thoughtless way, whereas other people has built arks to reach other, younger and more comfortable extrasolar systems. These arks obviously carry genomes of all Earth previous lifeform, in the order to re-establish a "Terra Nova" one day, elsewhere.
On the Earth few have remained and live in "Blade-Runner-like" fortress towns, with pressurized modified atmospheres but ruled by decadent oligarchies. Ocean level has dramatically lowered, dropping down to -5,000 meters below ancient level.
For example this is Ancient United Kingdom's ocean floor map. What once was submarine features (seamounts, gyots, trenches, continental shelf ...), now appear mountains, ridges, plateaux, volcanoes etc....

Posted Image

In order to survive out from the towns, humans need a peculiar compound to bear heat and pressure of dried out oceanic trenches. Nevertheless new human species (and even genera!) are able to bear such harsh conditions.


Some example: "Paleskins" (Cyanobion caeruleus caeruleus)*

(*)=named I propose here are tentative

http://gorgonbreath.deviantart.com/art/Pretend-Like-You-re-Immortal-136741115
http://gorgonbreath.deviantart.com/art/Resist-Your-Humanity-137107454
http://gorgonbreath.deviantart.com/art/Bismuth-137684901
http://gorgonbreath.deviantart.com/art/Hot-for-creature-137391627
http://gorgonbreath.deviantart.com/art/Desert-Rose-139830898

Their skin is pale blue due to the symbiosis with abyssal bacteria. These bacteria secrete compounds that allow bearing heat and pressure and even tolerate presence of heavy metals in their metabolism (as occurred in tubeworms).

- "Eerieeyes" (Cyanobion xenommatis): rapid reproductive isolation has brought to a new species of Paleskins, quite differing from the formers for the presence of double pupils in the eyes. They can be rolled alike microscope oculars. No clear reason for such an evolutive character. Further aberrant apomorphy can generate a rare subspecies with four separated eyes alike spiders (Widoweyes, Cyanobion xenommatis tetraopsis)

http://gorgonbreath.deviantart.com/art/Rebel-Girl-140386766
http://gorgonbreath.deviantart.com/art/Dr-Mouflette-Jones-142316754
http://gorgonbreath.deviantart.com/art/Sheema-September-142585301


- ScalyJerries (Homo (?Viridhomo) squamiger): green skin humans with modified epidermid where scales cover standard mammalian skin. This constrains water loss, since the symbiont they live with does allow to bear pressure and breath but requires great amount of water. Symbionts give peculiar greenish skin color of course, whereas other microrganisms are hosted in the eyes allowing infra-red vision in the night (iris looks usually reddish).
Ear shape enhances better perception of sound alike bats.

http://gorgonbreath.deviantart.com/art/Lolita-Royale-140878806
http://gorgonbreath.deviantart.com/art/Gunslinger-Lolita-142574281
http://gorgonbreath.deviantart.com/art/Smile-of-insanity-138010458
http://gorgonbreath.deviantart.com/art/Lothario-Serpentine-141511838
http://gorgonbreath.deviantart.com/art/Deadlands-Devil-139385500

- "Desert Vampires" (Homo (?Viridhomo) squamiger haemophilus ): likely a geographical race, their blood contains reduced iron (Fe++) rather oxydated one (Fe3+) as in other human populations. Thus fluid appears dark green alike the chlorocruorin of certain abyss worms and need more efficient hemoglobin to be assumed with diet.

http://gorgonbreath.deviantart.com/art/Count-of-the-Deadlands-138851974
http://gorgonbreath.deviantart.com/art/The-Deadland-Vamps-138786940

- Bahrbt'aels Abe'rhants (Homo sapiens urodelus): subspecies of humans with elongated coccyx and tiny barbed tail and longer ears alike bats, employed in the same way ScalyJerries do. Weird hair colours due to symbiont phytoflagellates.

http://gorgonbreath.deviantart.com/art/Sanguine-Rose-141570864
http://gorgonbreath.deviantart.com/art/Out-of-the-dust-138070893
http://gorgonbreath.deviantart.com/art/The-Innocent-One-140445437
http://gorgonbreath.deviantart.com/art/Kumo-137105853



WHOA! What a huge thread to read carefully!! :o

Further updates for humans, flora and fauna.

Suggestions, critiques, feedback is welcome ;)
Edited by Jurassic-Gothic, Nov 7 2009, 12:28 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Holben
Member Avatar
Rumbo a la Victoria

The homo species sound like monsters.
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."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Jurassic-Gothic
Member Avatar
Infant
 *  *  *  *
Holbenilord
Nov 7 2009, 12:23 PM
The homo species sound like monsters.
I hope you have viewed pictures made by Gorgonbreath.

As for me I find them really interesting and original.

On the other hand I have just built up a scientifical (fictional) background to explain the reasons of such incredible mutations.

Freaky people able to survive in a hellish world must turn into eerie forms.

Even living together bacteria that once dwelled in tubeworm vestigial stomach. :rolleyes:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Holben
Member Avatar
Rumbo a la Victoria

Ewwww...
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."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Jurassic-Gothic
Member Avatar
Infant
 *  *  *  *
Abyssal Pogonophores lived this way to bear heat and pressure... :rolleyes:
Edited by Jurassic-Gothic, Nov 7 2009, 03:28 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Holben
Member Avatar
Rumbo a la Victoria

Your emoticon didn't come up.
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."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Iowanic
Adult
 *  *  *  *  *  *
You guys make such cool maps(sigh).

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Holben
Member Avatar
Rumbo a la Victoria

Yeah, how do you make them?
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."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Jurassic-Gothic
Member Avatar
Infant
 *  *  *  *
Secret. I can only say there is a software that generates good maps even with satellite resolution (not as realistic as GoogleEarth, but works nice) and then there is another one to edit colours, hue, saturation etc...

However I meant for an evaporated ocean and an highly modified humanity, to live in symbiosis with those bacteria that once dwelled the abyss to survive new world could be the most suitable solution.
At least in the fiction and to explain the eerie look of the characters.

I would like to hear your impressions
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Holben
Member Avatar
Rumbo a la Victoria

My impressions? Icky people.
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."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Jurassic-Gothic
Member Avatar
Infant
 *  *  *  *
Icky?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Holben
Member Avatar
Rumbo a la Victoria

Monstrous.
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."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Jurassic-Gothic
Member Avatar
Infant
 *  *  *  *
TWLM
Nov 7 2009, 04:13 PM
Monstrous.
Be careful. Gorgonbreath may offend :P

Now go back, edit thread and correct "icky" and "monstrous" with "wickedly cute" *lol*
Edited by Jurassic-Gothic, Nov 7 2009, 04:20 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Holben
Member Avatar
Rumbo a la Victoria

Does she want that?
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."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Jurassic-Gothic
Member Avatar
Infant
 *  *  *  *
TWLM
Nov 7 2009, 04:19 PM
Does she want that?
She's a girl. What do you think, man? :lol:

However I was asking you what do you think about the sci-fi background. If it is feasible or quite unlikely

Since we are talking about "speculative biology", aren't we? :geek:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Alternative Evolution · Next Topic »
Add Reply