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| Dystopia by Gorgonbreath; Alternate Earth with dying Sun | |
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| Topic Started: Nov 7 2009, 12:11 PM (3,956 Views) | |
| Jurassic-Gothic | Nov 7 2009, 12:11 PM Post #1 |
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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 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. ![]() 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): ![]() 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.... ![]() 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!! ![]() Further updates for humans, flora and fauna. Suggestions, critiques, feedback is welcome
Edited by Jurassic-Gothic, Nov 7 2009, 12:28 PM.
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| Jurassic-Gothic | Nov 12 2009, 04:49 PM Post #31 |
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Both the things
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| Ddraig Goch | Nov 13 2009, 12:27 PM Post #32 |
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Ar hyd y nos
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Really? Interesting. |
| Save the Blibbering Humdinger from extinction! | |
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| Holben | Nov 13 2009, 12:57 PM Post #33 |
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Rumbo a la Victoria
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You think so? Interesting... |
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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." | |
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| Ddraig Goch | Nov 14 2009, 03:49 PM Post #34 |
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Ar hyd y nos
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What are the animals like on this world? Are they all small, or are there some larger ones? Do the "humans" hunt food, or do they still farm it? |
| Save the Blibbering Humdinger from extinction! | |
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| Holben | Nov 14 2009, 03:55 PM Post #35 |
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Rumbo a la Victoria
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Seemingly hunt. |
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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." | |
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| Jurassic-Gothic | Nov 21 2009, 04:42 AM Post #36 |
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Thread bump about lifeforms. No pictures for the moment. Coming soon. In Dystopia Earth, severe mass extinction has occurred since Sun started evolving off the main sequence (though yet in lively but hot subgiant phase). Few clades of Animal Kingdom have survived or have been selected and have "allied" with same bacteria the men live together. Here the survivors, displayed in percentage according to their number: - Arthropods (Insects included) = 60 % - Mammals = 10 % - Reptiles = 12 % - Anellida and other worm-like forms (Nematoda, Sipunculida etc.)= 8 % - Mollusks = 4 % - Fishes = 3 % - Echinoderms = 2.5 % - Coelentherates = 0.3 % - Other = 0.2 % I hope percentages match. Here some orders and families to get familiar with *oh the pun*: Mammalia - Sthenothrotheria ("strong but lazy beasts") = clade of heat and pressure bearing mammals, descended from South-American xenarthrans (armadillos and sloths). They look as stout, "fortress-armoured" animals with massive bony shields covering nearly the whole body. Armour pigmentation is usually pale in order to reflect sunlight and to allow heat dispersal. Some resemble halfway between a Cenozoic glyptodont and a Mesozoic nodosaurid. Plant-eaters, they use to feed with lichens of dried out oceans prairie of former Atlantic. Types: * Lithostrotherium zeolithoides * Feldspelta leucomelas * Riftherium bathygaeum - Sthenocytheria ("Strong but swift beasts") = sister group of Sthenothrotheres, Sthenocytheres are armoured but slender and cursorial (running) mammals. Scavengers either plunderers of little creatures, they vaguely look like hares, with aardvark snouts and slim and slender body alike cheetah. The armour includes backbone osteoderms and a roofed neurocranium, sometimes girded with bone spikes as defense. Types: * Achillepus tachete * Pentacolax sidonayi - Phobotubulia ("Aarghvarks") = boar or tiger-sized mammals, likely descendants of Tubulidentates (Aardvarks, Orycteropus). Usually predators, lurker hunters or scavengers, they show long snout filled of sharp teeth to pierce flesh and strong molars to crunch bones. Occurring along Atlantic Rift and Eastern White Plains (former Indian Ocean). Types: * Deinotubulops ravana * Sarcocentetes longirhinus * Ptoophaganax albiplanorum Reptilia Hydrophylacidae ("Water reservoirs") = highly diversified reptilian order, likely derived from Lepidosauromorphs, with highly efficient osmoregulation. * Hydrophylax xeros * Xerenchymasaura tamias - Phobosauria = stout rhino-sized lizards, descendant of Phrynosomatidae. Aggressive grazers with long horn features and tough osteodermic armour girding the body. Types * Odontotyrannus terrificus * Deimolacerta phobetor * Phobetosaurus traustes More mammals shall be added. To be continued Edited by Jurassic-Gothic, Dec 19 2009, 10:54 AM.
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| Holben | Nov 21 2009, 05:36 AM Post #37 |
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Rumbo a la Victoria
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I'm surprised there are so few reptiles compared to mammals. I'd have thought mammals would boil, but reptiles with low water loss, scaly skin and cold-bloodedness would thrive. |
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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." | |
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| Jurassic-Gothic | Nov 21 2009, 06:12 AM Post #38 |
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But if you look carefully you see both with relatively high percentages. They are the most representative Vertebrates on Dystopia's Earth, with Reptile in slight advantage. |
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| Holben | Nov 21 2009, 07:00 AM Post #39 |
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Rumbo a la Victoria
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Yesss, but i would expect two- or three- to-one for reptiles. |
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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." | |
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| Jurassic-Gothic | Nov 21 2009, 07:33 AM Post #40 |
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You must account the unfair competition with Arthropods in such harsh conditions
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| Holben | Nov 21 2009, 08:34 AM Post #41 |
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Rumbo a la Victoria
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I 'spose the reptiles would eat the arthropods though. |
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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." | |
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| Jurassic-Gothic | Nov 21 2009, 09:48 AM Post #42 |
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Those that not exceed the size of a molecricket, I think... Even snakeshrimps could be edible....
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| Holben | Nov 21 2009, 01:49 PM Post #43 |
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Rumbo a la Victoria
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Anyhting can be eaten if the digestive juices are enough and it can go in the mouth. Whether the eater survives, however... |
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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." | |
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| Ddraig Goch | Nov 21 2009, 03:44 PM Post #44 |
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Ar hyd y nos
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Finally, animals! I notice that all the amphibians are dead (although that's understandable). Although I agree with Holby. Surely the reptiles are better placed to become overall more successful than mammals? |
| Save the Blibbering Humdinger from extinction! | |
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| Holben | Nov 21 2009, 03:48 PM Post #45 |
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Rumbo a la Victoria
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Oh yeah! |
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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." | |
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