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
floating fish; can they be without being gasbags?
Topic Started: Jul 8 2011, 07:39 PM (1,550 Views)
Holben
Member Avatar
Rumbo a la Victoria

The swim bladders of fish are lined with... guanine crystals... prevents air leakage. Wouldn't work so well with hydrogen, but it would definitely help.

EDIT: Wrong nucleobase. :r
Edited by Holben, Jul 17 2011, 10:23 AM.
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
 
T.Neo
Member Avatar
Translunar injection: TLI
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Yeah, but they don't really have the thin/strength properties of mylar, do they?

Or am I missing something, and achieving good gas retention is more important than a thin, strong balloon membrane?
A hard mathematical figure provides a sort of enlightenment to one's understanding of an idea that is never matched by mere guesswork.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Holben
Member Avatar
Rumbo a la Victoria

What you want is an average density less than that of air (because you'll be picking up material). If you have a strong material which has bad retention, you're going to fall, but if you have a weak membrane which has good retention, you'll stay up.

I think it's a compromise really- between durability and retention.
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
 
colddigger
Member Avatar
Joke's over! Love, Parasky
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Having a bladder that can expand to hold more bouyant gases would make quite a bit of difference for a creature taking in and expeling materials.
Oh Fine.

Oh hi you! Why don't you go check out the finery that is SGP??

v Don't click v
Spoiler: click to toggle

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Jasonguppy
Member Avatar
Cardinal
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
swim bladders pop thoough. especially when poked with sharp objects. during dissections
I do art sometimes.

"if you want green eat a salad"

Projects:
Amammalia: A strange place where mammals didn't make it and the land is, once again, dominated by archosaurs.

Oceanus: An endless sea dotted with islands, reefs, and black holes. Literally endless, literal black holes.

❤️❤️~I'm not a boy~❤️❤️
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · General Spec · Next Topic »
Add Reply