| 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! |
| The Moon, Pandora, from the film "Avatar" | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Dec 20 2009, 02:13 PM (8,077 Views) | |
| Yorick | Dec 20 2009, 02:13 PM Post #1 |
|
Adult
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I took someone's suggestion and created another topic to speculate on the moon's inhabitants' evolution. So...speculate! |
|
"I believe, that whatever doesn't kill you, simply makes you...stranger" -The Dark Knight (2008) | |
![]() |
|
| Replies: | |
|---|---|
| Empyreon | Dec 21 2009, 05:33 PM Post #16 |
|
Are you plausible?
![]()
|
Let's see, plants... Universal bioluminescence, and everything is oversized: vines are big enough to be treated as rope bridges, and branches are as wide as sidewalks. |
|
Take a look at my exobiology subforum of the planet Nereus! COM Contributions food for thought
| |
![]() |
|
| lamna | Dec 21 2009, 05:35 PM Post #17 |
![]() ![]()
|
I have not seen the film, what is the day night cycle like? The only books I know about a inhabited moon round a gas giant has the planet something that does not seem to move in the sky, and is only visible on the side of the moon nearest the planet. On the other side of the planet you would never know you were orbiting a gas giant. And it's not that strange for a moon round a gas giant to be warm and habitable. I mean the air is earth like but not breathable, maybe it just as a lot of Carbon Dioxide or Methane in it? |
|
Living Fossils Fósseis Vibos: Reserva Natural 34 MYH, 4 tonne dinosaur. [flash=500,450] Video Magic! [/flash] | |
![]() |
|
| Empyreon | Dec 21 2009, 05:57 PM Post #18 |
|
Are you plausible?
![]()
|
It seems pretty much like Earth. At least, close enough that it doesn't really come up in the story. And yes, Pandora is most likely tidally locked. Its parent planet would remain in the same position at all times. As it orbits, the sun would move through the sky, disappearing behind the jovian at "noon" and below the horizon at sunset. On the side of the planet facing away from the planet, day and night would be pretty much like it is on Earth.
It never specifies what the atmospheric mixture is precisely, but it is lethal to humans. CO2 or Methane might fit that bill. |
|
Take a look at my exobiology subforum of the planet Nereus! COM Contributions food for thought
| |
![]() |
|
| lamna | Dec 21 2009, 05:59 PM Post #19 |
![]() ![]()
|
And neatly explain why it's nice and warm. Or the Planet could be closer tot he sun, most exoplanets are gas giants near their star. |
|
Living Fossils Fósseis Vibos: Reserva Natural 34 MYH, 4 tonne dinosaur. [flash=500,450] Video Magic! [/flash] | |
![]() |
|
| Empyreon | Dec 21 2009, 06:02 PM Post #20 |
|
Are you plausible?
![]()
|
Both ideas work, together or separately. Since you bring it up, I'd like to know how the movie explains why we haven't found this exoplanet around Alpha Centauri yet. We've found planets that aren't too much bigger than Jupiter around stars further away than Alpha Centauri. Why haven't we found Pandora's parent (which I just discovered is named Polyphemus)?
Edited by Empyreon, Dec 21 2009, 06:04 PM.
|
|
Take a look at my exobiology subforum of the planet Nereus! COM Contributions food for thought
| |
![]() |
|
| Ànraich | Dec 21 2009, 08:42 PM Post #21 |
![]()
L'évolution Spéculative est moi
![]()
|
There's probably no planets orbiting Centauri A or Centauri B, but it's actually a triple-star system; Centauri A and B orbit each other, and orbiting them is a third, much smaller star, called Proxima Centauri. It's really small, smaller than the sun; probably not much bigger than Jupiter. In fact, it may be a gas hypergiant, or a brown dwarf that managed to get some kind of small amount of fusion going. There might be something around it, but orbits would be too complex, and there probably wouldn't be any life anywhere in the system. |
|
We should all aspire to die surrounded by our dearest friends. Just like Julius Caesar. "The Lord Universe said: 'The same fate I have given to all things from stones to stars, that one day they shall become naught but memories aloft upon the winds of time. From dust all was born, and to dust all shall return.' He then looked upon His greatest creation, life, and pitied them, for unlike stars and stones they would soon learn of this fate and despair in the futility of their own existence. And so the Lord Universe decided to give life two gifts to save them from this despair. The first of these gifts was the soul, that life might more readily accept their fate, and the second was fear, that they might in time learn to avoid it altogether." - Excerpt from a Chanagwan creation myth, Legends and Folklore of the Planet Ghar, collected and published by Yieju Bai'an, explorer from the Celestial Commonwealth of Qonming Tree That Owns Itself
| |
![]() |
|
| Empyreon | Dec 21 2009, 10:11 PM Post #22 |
|
Are you plausible?
![]()
|
Polyphemus actually orbits Alpha Centauri A.
I've heard such bodies that sit in the hazy realm between jovian planets and actual stars referred to as brown dwarfs. I also found a more itemized list of atmospheric components at this site:
|
|
Take a look at my exobiology subforum of the planet Nereus! COM Contributions food for thought
| |
![]() |
|
| Canis Lupis | Dec 21 2009, 11:02 PM Post #23 |
![]()
Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.
![]()
|
Whoa whoa whoa. Back up. Hydrogen cyanide? I'm assuming that the Na'vi (and thus all creatures on Pandora) have similar biochemistries to Earth creatures. Otherwise, the Avatar program would fall through and the Na'vi poisons would have different effects on both the Na'vi and the Humans. So: cyanide is lethal to humans. Shouldn't cyanide also be lethal to the Na'vi? Or have they evolved resistance to cyanide over time? |
![]() |
|
| Canis Lupis | Dec 22 2009, 01:01 AM Post #24 |
![]()
Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.
![]()
|
Whelp, just posted my four-page review of "Avatar" on the other "Avatar" thread. The one actually discussing the movie. So I thought I'd repost the biology aspect of that review, since we are discussing Pandoran biology on this thread.
|
![]() |
|
| lamna | Dec 22 2009, 09:30 AM Post #25 |
![]() ![]()
|
Well I am sure their are things that can kill organic life and the other kind of life that is fine with cyanide, I forgot which kind and can't find my copy of New Scientist that would tell me. Ammonia? Maybe? |
|
Living Fossils Fósseis Vibos: Reserva Natural 34 MYH, 4 tonne dinosaur. [flash=500,450] Video Magic! [/flash] | |
![]() |
|
| ATEK Azul | Dec 22 2009, 12:47 PM Post #26 |
|
Transhuman
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Thanks for sharing with us. The Dire Horses from your description sound different enough so they don't cause much problem evolution wise. Also if they don't connect with them selves in the movie it might mean that the Na'vi have kinda made it a bad thing to bond to them selves for you loose some part of your individuality. I agree with the start of Plant nerve evolution but a part of it might be that they purposely evolved nerves compatible with Vertebrates, simular to how our Plants offer necter from flowers. Maybe bonding with these Plants has another benefit for the Vertebrates and the Plant gains sensory imput about it's surroundings allowing it to grow in certain directions? Also the Hydrogen Cyanide could either be extreted from the body so that it can't enter the main organs or life might just be immune. |
| I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's! | |
![]() |
|
| Empyreon | Dec 22 2009, 04:18 PM Post #27 |
|
Are you plausible?
![]()
|
Or at the very least close relatives evolved from some common ancestor.
The question that still floats around in my mind is why it's in a braid with the Na'vi. The nerve "braid" is universal, with no other stylistic variations. We all know how 'creative' hairstyles can get (and the Na'vi exhibit similar variety), so why not variety in this as well? Also, the Avatars are shown with a braided ponytail while still in their gestation tanks. Who braided it? Did it naturally grow that way, and the Na'vi are just naturally born with a braided ponytail? If so, how does hair grow like that?
I would imagine all life has developed an immunity to hydrogen cyanide. Stephen Gillette's World Building book talks about a similar path of universal resistance with chlorine, and even points out that there was a point when life on Earth needed to adapt to an increase in highly reactive oxygen. I don't know how the Na'vi dealt with it, but your idea seems plausible ATEK Azul. |
|
Take a look at my exobiology subforum of the planet Nereus! COM Contributions food for thought
| |
![]() |
|
| lamna | Dec 22 2009, 04:29 PM Post #28 |
![]() ![]()
|
Presumable braiding is to protect it and the humans do it so when the human wake up they don't bang it into anything without padding. |
|
Living Fossils Fósseis Vibos: Reserva Natural 34 MYH, 4 tonne dinosaur. [flash=500,450] Video Magic! [/flash] | |
![]() |
|
| ATEK Azul | Dec 22 2009, 07:29 PM Post #29 |
|
Transhuman
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Thanks for the mention Empyreon. Also the nerves might be braided in that way inorder to be more effective when connecting to others. Also If their closest living relatives are Lemures then they have alot of extinct relatives. Maybe that's why the Na'vi are so peaceful they evolved from hyper agressive Primates which are agressive enough to actively destroy other related groups they come in contact with. When the Na'vi became sentient this agressive behavior threatened their enviroment even more than Humans to Earth life leading to an extinction and almost obliteration of the Na'vi themselves forcing a change of behavior towards peaceful coexistence as they rebuilt their planet? |
| I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's! | |
![]() |
|
| lamna | Dec 23 2009, 05:31 AM Post #30 |
![]() ![]()
|
Or perhaps they are not native to the region and have expanded. I mean their are people on Madagascar after all. |
|
Living Fossils Fósseis Vibos: Reserva Natural 34 MYH, 4 tonne dinosaur. [flash=500,450] Video Magic! [/flash] | |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
![]() ZetaBoards gives you all the tools to create a successful discussion community. Learn More · Register for Free |
|
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · The Habitable Zone · Next Topic » |
















9:33 AM Jul 11