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alien technology
Topic Started: Jul 17 2008, 06:29 PM (1,686 Views)
ChumZar
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Entheogenic Shaman
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I know that there are some pretty realistic concepts of alien lifeforms that I've seen around, but what I've noticed is that the technology of many aliens is WAY to earth-like, such as guns, dwellings, starships, and tools, heck, alien technology might not be based off of metals at all, it could be based on telekenesis, organic manipulation, crystals, or materials not even native to earth. I want to see some more realistic technology of alien races.
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zypher
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hwo about the manipulation of water? if a race could somehow harness water, they could traverse seas without need of any solid craft, perhapse traveling in an underwater air pocket controled by currents the technology creates... weapons could work in the same way, a sort of blanket of water could wrap around an air breather, and drown it in that way.
because there are an infinite number of alternate realities, withen them an infinite ammount of infinite things are possible... infinitly.

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I think the main thing that would lead to technology developing different for different civilizations is their environment. Think about it like this, the gun (weapons are some of the most common tech in sci-fi) was invented using (A) a chemical process that relies on (B) the ability to combust in our atmosphere. Now, different planets would not all have the same chemical composition, the farther away from the star the lighter and lighter the elements on the planet will most likely be, and if the civilization lives underwater or in an atmosphere that lacks gases needed for combustion, then the gun would be rendered useless.

On the other hand, perhaps a plant-like lifeform evolved here that is highly elasic. This could be used to make better twine for better bows and crossbows.

Don't get me wrong, neccesity is what causes the technology to develope in the first place (don't need to kill then why have a weapon?) but the kind of weapon will undoubtedly be most influenced by where the species lives.
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ashwinder
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I could imagine a creature that communicated using radio-waves and would therefore appear psychic. Such a creature might design ways of enhancing this to use as a weapon.
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CarrionTrooper
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Forced Alien Combustion through the use of specific microwaves? Neat.
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ATEK Azul
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awsome tchnologys i like the idea of super bows and water control along with radio communication.
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Xenophile
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I have a question about alien technology that hopefully some of the geniuses like Giant Blue Anteater, Canis Lupis or pretty much anyone else on this site might be able to help me with. I have an idea for an intelligent alien species that uses biological technology instead of metal based technology. This species would have a long tail it would use to take genes from other species and alter its DNA if it found genes to improve its genome from whatever species it got the DNA from. This alien would act sort of like a multicellular virus. It would determine if a gene was of value to itself by using special chemicals to "read" whether a strand of DNA was of value to itself. It would then either hold on to the DNA or alter its genome or discard the DNA. Sorry for the long post, but is such a species possible? I did not know where to post this so I posted it here. Thanks!
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ATEK Azul
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Well your description makes me think of the tyrranids, xenomorphs, zerg and cell from dragon ball z. As for the plausibility of this I think that with the right organs and adapttations it could be possible though I am having a hard time with how this is technology from your description could you explain?
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Maybe, if this 'gene-grabbing' developed as/from a reproductive system then yeah. Though, to make the changes with in the same organism that did it might me complicated.

First, if it only grabs genes, then how does it predict the out come? If it's in offspring, then I could imagine producing tons with different genes whoever survivers survives. But in one organism one gene could have a variety of different outcomes, so developing an instinctive understand of genetics would be needed. Which, I doubt the randomness of evolution could lead too.

Second, the organism would need a viroid-based tissue to change the DNA in each cell and release the right horomones constantly, or have a different enough physiology to allow for, the changes to take place.

Frankly, I think it would be easier if the organsim stole entire cells and grew the tissue from that as body parts, turning itself into a Chimera. We have organisms in the oceans that do similar to this, at least one species, anyway.
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ATEK Azul
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We have creatures that can be chimeras? Please share which!

Maybe the creature would have normal cells and then symbiotic transmission viruses?
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Xenophile
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Oh well :( .Thanks you guys! I am trying to design a creature that started with biological technology before it began to use things like electricity. That idea was one of the ways a creature might be able to start with biological technology instead of electronic technology.
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We have creatures that can be chimeras? Please share which


I don't remember the name, but I can I kinda remember it. Basically, sea-slug that, since it didn't create poisons or toxins on it's own, it would take cells from organisms that did. These would end up on special areas on it's back that would grow out the entire parts from the cells.
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ATEK Azul
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Wow interesting I'll have to look it up thanks.
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Ànraich
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Jul 11 2009, 05:25 PM
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We have creatures that can be chimeras? Please share which


I don't remember the name, but I can I kinda remember it. Basically, sea-slug that, since it didn't create poisons or toxins on it's own, it would take cells from organisms that did. These would end up on special areas on it's back that would grow out the entire parts from the cells.
I've heard of that, interesting behavior; genovampirism.
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Xenophile
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What about organic technology? This seems to be one of the most interesting technologies in science fiction. Would it be possible for an intelligent alien race to develope organic technology before it developes electrical technology?
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Ànraich
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We do it on Earth, I don't see why it wouldn't be common amongst powerful, space-faring races. It's simple to make, requires few resources, can be made compatible with anything, is more powerful than normal computers, and repairs itself. Organic technology is pretty much the perfect kind if you can master it.
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

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