Stitch wrote: You ask how would a plant make sense. I ask how does the Horta make sense? Or all of the other rock creatures?
Simple: a rock-like exoskeleton protecting normal biological inards.
There's a reason it is called science fiction.
Doesn't mean we should throw reality out the window.
Not true. There are at least two species of plants on Earth that are mobile. Given that this new species would be on another planet, there is nothing to suggest it couldn't move.
You're right, there are some plants that can move. To an extent.
We never said that this was going to develope on Earth. There may be hundreds of factor that could cause a plant to be highly intelligent and mobile.
The fact that this isn't happening on Earth is irrelevant. Biological laws exist everywhere, the same as the laws of physics. Evolution isn't going to give a plant a brain, for the exact same reasons plants on Earth don't have brains: they're not needed, and would thus be an unecessary burden. The only way it would work is if they were specificaly engineered by an inteligent creator.
And how do you know this? Have you met any alien plants? If so, can I meet them?
Seriously, alien development can not be compared to terrestrial development.
Yes, they can. Why? Because evolution works on the same basic principles, regardless of where you are in the universe.
Yet there are some plants on Earth that make sounds. And not all communication is done with sound. There's sight, touch, smell, telepathy.
Which, with the possible exception of telepathy, would still make them unable to communicate with the vast majority of races. Exactly how are you going to communicate with a Federation vessel if your only method of communication is based on scent?
And how do you know this? How do you know what the future holds?
Because there is no reason for it to happen. Evolution works by creatures adapting to their environment over long periods of time. Vocal chords would not help plants in any serious way, hence they would not develope them.
Let's do a summary of the image I'm getting of your plant creature:
It is mobile, and presumably fast enough to be able to react to events with the same speed as humans, thus suggesting it has legs or tentacles that allow it to move relatively quickly.
It has sensory organs, presumably including eyes.
It has a brain.
It can identify and respond to events with speed.
It works socialy with other members of its race and eventualy forms communities, and thus eventualy civilisation.
It is able to communicate with other races by sound and has vocal chords. Thus it would have a mouth-analogue, and the ability to inhale and exhale.
That is
not a plant, that's an
animal. By trying to make your plant-man realistic, you are removing all the defining characteristics of a plant.
Tell me, just
what features of a plant do you intend this thing to actualy have?
Tsu wrote:It's simple, Rochey. They genetically engineered themselves. See? Problem solved.
To be perfectly honest, genetic engineering is the only way I can imagine such a creature existing.
Teaos wrote:They can build it under water and raise it up above. Really not hard at all considering most things float in water or are at least boyant.
If it floats, how are they going to construct it underwater? How are they going to collect the material if it floats? What would compel them to even do so?
As for why... you said it yourself, there are certain things that cant happen under water.
And just what are these floating platforms going to do all by themselves? The aquatics can't get up onto it out of the water, so what could they do with them?
Stitch wrote:Or they could develop technology that does work under water. We can only speak from the standpoint of a species that has developed on land and makes tech on land. We have no idea what would and wouldn't be possible for a species that lives in water.
By all means, please explain how a race that can only survive underwater is going to develop steam-powered vehicles, electricity, or the various other things you need to get anywhere beyond the 18th century.
Teaos wrote: Exactly, people say it cant happen or hasnt happened thus it never will. Thats so close minded as to be unbelieveable. Us being hre now was a statisically chance yet here we are.
See above.
I have no idea how it could happpen, doesnt mean it cant.
Nor does it mean it
is possible. Indeed, the fact that we cannot concieve of how such a thing could occur would suggest it
isn't possible. If you want to disagree, then explain how they'd achieve these feats.
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