Realistic Aliens?

Reliant121 · Post by **Reliant121** » Sat May 03, 2008 1:47 pm

Legs on a woman, buttocks and you know what on a man

stitch626 · Post by **stitch626** » Sat May 03, 2008 10:30 pm

Best alien ever... Tribbles

Post by **Teaos** » Sun May 04, 2008 2:01 am

Well they can kick Klingon arse.

Captain Picard's Hair · Sun May 04, 2008 5:08 pm

Argus was certainly unique.

What do we think of shapeshifters? The Trek version might stretch realism, but some more limited form might be possible, combined with color changing ability.

Sionnach Glic · Post by **Sionnach Glic** » Sun May 04, 2008 5:12 pm

Any real shapeshifters will be more along the lines of the Clawdites from Star Wars. The ability to change colour, combined with an ability to change their superficial features are the only real plausable options. Of course, why this trait would evolve in the first place is the difficult question.

KuvahMagh · Post by **KuvahMagh** » Sun May 04, 2008 5:14 pm

Of course, why this trait would evolve in the first place is the difficult question.

In response to a predator such as a Chameleon which can change its pigmentation slightly to appear closer to its surroundings in an effort to hide from predators as well as attracting its own food.

Sionnach Glic · Post by **Sionnach Glic** » Sun May 04, 2008 5:19 pm

The colour changing one would make sense. It's the ability to slightly change form that's the hard one. The colour changing ability allows you to blend into your surroundings. Any realistic shapeshifting ability will be very minor. We won't see animals turning into rocks, or even doing a good impression of a rock. Things like evolving a body that already looks like a rock would win out instead. Any realistic shapeshifting would be limited to superficial things, such as changing how your face looks, or how wrinkled your skin is. Stuff like that has very little effect on hiding from predators, and the easier option of being "pre-hidden" would win out.

Granitehewer · Post by **Granitehewer** » Sun May 04, 2008 5:39 pm

The Indonesian Mimic Octopus, Thaumoctopus mimicus is the best,i can think of

Captain Picard's Hair · Sun May 04, 2008 5:47 pm

Something like a blowfish wouldn't count, would it?

How about a snake-like creature disguising itself as a tree limb?

Sionnach Glic · Post by **Sionnach Glic** » Sun May 04, 2008 6:42 pm

Granite wrote:The Indonesian Mimic Octopus, Thaumoctopus mimicus is the best,i can think of

I don't think that really counts, as I'm talking about vertebrates here. For an invertibrate, such an ability would definitely be useful, though.

Hair wrote:Something like a blowfish wouldn't count, would it?

I don't think so, as it's not really shapeshifting in the sense we're talking about. Really though, I think this is going to be the only real form of shapeshifting we're ever going to see.

How about a snake-like creature disguising itself as a tree limb?

Good point. However, it would be far easier for the snake to be permanently camoflagued, in a similar way to the stick insect. Such a method is better for defence, as you don't need to know you're enemy is there to be hidden, and it doesn't take up any energy at all.

Post by **Teaos** » Mon May 05, 2008 1:12 am

The Founders could be possible since we dont know enough about their genetics. The only real stretch for them is the fact they can change size so much.

Sionnach Glic · Post by **Sionnach Glic** » Mon May 05, 2008 12:11 pm

I'm not sure they'd even be possible. Granted, we know nothing about them, but the idea of them being liquid one minute and solid the next is one hell of a stretch.

stitch626 · Post by **stitch626** » Tue May 06, 2008 2:52 am

There are some funny alloys that change there state under UV light (ie, constant temp and pressure, yet add uv and goes from solid to liquid. Can't remember the name; I'm not a fan of chemist's fetish with naming things nastily), maybe the Founders have some unknown property that allows them to change somewhat at will.

Duskofdead · Post by **Duskofdead** » Tue May 06, 2008 3:04 am

stitch626 wrote:There are some funny alloys that change there state under UV light (ie, constant temp and pressure, yet add uv and goes from solid to liquid. Can't remember the name; I'm not a fan of chemist's fetish with naming things nastily), maybe the Founders have some unknown property that allows them to change somewhat at will.

I saw that on one of those Discovery Channel or Learning Channel shows about how they find new materials to use in bulletproof vests. I can't remember the name of the alloy either but yeah they showed it in basically a mush form (soft and flexible) normally, but when exposed to metal it instantly hardens. They were considering it for a possible vest since it would be totally flexible and just when a bullet shot into it would it get hard and protective.

Post by **Teaos** » Tue May 06, 2008 3:08 am

Sounds really cool.