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
Energyvore; Super-Efficient continuation of Carnivore/herbivore/omnivore?
Topic Started: Jul 30 2011, 04:00 AM (743 Views)
Dinotherium09
Member Avatar
I has 4 life bar
 *  *  *  *
Energyvore or Energy-eaters is a staple in science-fiction world. These creatures absorb energy as it is without any chemical or process 'middlemen' (e.g.: sugar, protein, digestion, photosynthesis, etc) so the can be seen absorbing radiation, light and heat from fire, and other non-chemically-locked energy source (i.e.: electricity from lightning/ambient static electricity in the air, etc). The energy they absorb is then used to fuel their own metabolism or stored chemically or otherwise. It seems terribly efficient way to feed, as the energy extracted from food source is transferred fully (i.e.: no loss from not being able to digest the food fully) to the energyvore.

And we know that some fungi can use radiation to grow (particularly found in the heart of Chernobyl ruined reactor). Is it possible that animals lifeform will, at one point in their evolution, switch to absorbing energy instead of relying on digestive system? Or is it just another sci-fi hockey dreamed by shiny-eyed amateur?
Edited by Dinotherium09, Jul 30 2011, 04:01 AM.
War is fought, waged, and won in the planning room thus knowing what you're up against is half of the war won.

There is no such thing as 'Good vs. Evil'. There's only 'The Educated Vs. The Ignorant'. Which one are you?

My Deviantart Account

Posted Image

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

I doubt enough energy can be reliably supplied without any use of chemicals.

The heat, light, and radiation flux on a typical plain wouldn't suffice, and lightning is too dangerous.

Plants do use light, by converting it into electrons and through them chemical bonds. But without the chemical processes, nope.
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
 
Empyreon
Member Avatar
Are you plausible?

I'm moving this to General Spec, since it's speculative and it has to do with biology.
Take a look at my exobiology subforum of the planet Nereus!

COM Contributions


food for thought
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
T.Neo
Member Avatar
Translunar injection: TLI
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
You can't have energy without something to contain it.

I think the closest thing would probably be plants, which use energy from sunlight to drive chemical processes...
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
 
colddigger
Member Avatar
Joke's over! Love, Parasky
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Like T. Neo said you're going to probably need some system to store and transport the energy even if the source of energy is a variety of things.
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
 
Russwallac
Member Avatar
"Ta-da!"
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
On a chemical level, we're all energyvores... we break down our food and extract energy from it. If you're talking about direct, "life-force" draining predation, though, I can only see that in mechanical life. (Plausible Transformers, anyone?)
"We've started a cult about a guy's liver, of course we're going to demand that you give us an incredibly scientific zombie apocalypse." -Nanotyranus

Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Dinotherium09
Member Avatar
I has 4 life bar
 *  *  *  *
@Russwallac
Sorry, I'm not talking about 'life-force' and that kind of thing. I'm talking about energies we know: radiation, light, heat, electric, etc other than chemical-potential energy.

I never said that energyvore don't use chemical compound to store the energy they harvest

Quote:
 
...fire, and other non-chemically-locked energy source (i.e.: electricity from lightning/ambient static electricity in the air, etc). The energy they absorb is then used to fuel their own metabolism or stored chemically or otherwise.


Sorry for confusing you guys.
War is fought, waged, and won in the planning room thus knowing what you're up against is half of the war won.

There is no such thing as 'Good vs. Evil'. There's only 'The Educated Vs. The Ignorant'. Which one are you?

My Deviantart Account

Posted Image

Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
colddigger
Member Avatar
Joke's over! Love, Parasky
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Ooooh, then you're just talking like a super autotroph!
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
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · General Spec · Next Topic »
Add Reply