For a sci-fi story; technical info request?

[naosu]

So I'm working on a sci-fi story. And... I've been wondering, when you watch a starship related sci-fi series, some of those stories have biological ships. Or hybrid biological ships. Or living ships.

I'm trying to find a rational explanation on how biological ships would work. And how they'd interact with tech, machines, people, etc.

What do you think about this? How would it work? And is it possible at some level (probably hundreds of years from now)?

To develop the story further that I'm working on this idea correlates with possible story scenarios and also with how androids would work.

Thanks.

 

[Tempokai]

If you want to just copy someone, just read a wiki or something about Tyranids in Warhammer 40K. It was explored throughout in that universe, and they're pretty cool.

EDIT: Hell, even Chaos and Dark Eldar have living ships. I just remembered about them. Just read W40K, man.

 

[Deleted member 120990]

I'm reminded of nautaloid ships. Though, realistically a bio ship would need to be able to survive in space. You'd need some type of shield around it that feeds it oxygen or if it breaths in some other elements.

The conditions in space are very harsh. That's why most animals can't live for very long in a vacuum. I don't think it's possible in the future.

As for how it could work in a story, I see tons of ways. There are the nautiloid ships in DnD. You could make a space whale ship that's a genetically modified blue whale, making it bigger, but not only that, they make it a cyborg, so it can survive the harsh conditions. Maybe these whale ships are kept in giant vats of goo until they grow large enough for flight. And for smaller fighter ships, you could have space dolphins.

 

[John_Owl]

I'm reminded of nautaloid ships. Though, realistically a bio ship would need to be able to survive in space. You'd need some type of shield around it that feeds it oxygen or if it breaths in some other elements.

The conditions in space are very harsh. That's why most animals can't live for very long in a vacuum. I don't think it's possible in the future.

As for how it could work in a story, I see tons of ways. There are the nautiloid ships in DnD. You could make a space whale ship that's a genetically modified blue whale, making it bigger, but not only that, they make it a cyborg, so it can survive the harsh conditions. Maybe these whale ships are kept in giant vats of goo until they grow large enough for flight. And for smaller fighter ships, you could have space dolphins.

water bears can survive in the vacuum of space. Also, with living ships, my first thought was the biological ships in No Man's Sky. I believe the lore there is that they're fed o2 by the same system that feeds into the livable area for the player. That, or it was that they are more plantlike in the aspect of breathing co2 and providing o2, so they literally need a pilot to breath. but I'm unsure of this specifically. But a symbiotic relationship could work well.

 

[Piisfun]

Perhaps they get energy via photosynthesis, and need carbon dioxide expelled by the passengers and crew to survive?

 

[Deleted member 120990]

water bears can survive in the vacuum of space. Also, with living ships, my first thought was the biological ships in No Man's Sky. I believe the lore there is that they're fed o2 by the same system that feeds into the livable area for the player. That, or it was that they are more plantlike in the aspect of breathing co2 and providing o2, so they literally need a pilot to breath. but I'm unsure of this specifically. But a symbiotic relationship could work well.

I said most animals. I know about water bears. But anything large I think won't survive.

 

[John_Owl]

I said most animals. I know about water bears. But anything large I think won't survive.

yup. And I'd say Sci-Fi is taking technicalities and running with it into wild possibilities. So if water bears can survive, then it's within the realm of science fiction to say "Under the same principle, these massive beasts can survive too." Doesn't have to make sense, as long as it has a half-reasonable explanation. The audience will likely go "Alright, I guess that works somehow." if it were entirely plausible under IRL laws, it'd already be a reality.

 

[Deleted member 120990]

yup. And I'd say Sci-Fi is taking technicalities and running with it into wild possibilities. So if water bears can survive, then it's within the realm of science fiction to say "Under the same principle, these massive beasts can survive too." Doesn't have to make sense, as long as it has a half-reasonable explanation. The audience will likely go "Alright, I guess that works somehow." if it were entirely plausible under IRL laws, it'd already be a reality.

That's why I differentiated the two in my original post. I pointed out that it's probably not possible in real life, but I also gave ways to use it in science fiction.