"I think Hydrogen is a rare element" and other science facts.

[Cordwainer Fish]

The Bussard Ramjet was the go-to of science fiction for quite a while - scoop hydrogen right out of "empty" space!

Yep. One of the exams in one of my astronomy classes had "why won't they work?" as a question. Professor was expecting one answer, I gave him two and a half.

 

[Nikosandros]

An acquaintance was playing in a supposedly semi-realistic SF campaign, where they landed on the Sun. Until he had a quiet word with the GM.

It is actually quite safe, provided you land during the night.

 

[Micah Sweet]

How about a planet with a core of liquid water?

If you're talking about the Voyager episode, that wasn't a planet. It was a mass of water held together by sci-fi tech. They were very clear about it.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Or humans devolving into giant salamanders after going above a certain faster-than-light speed.

There's no excuse for Threshhold. Even the writers admit that.

 

[James Gasik]

If you're talking about the Voyager episode, that wasn't a planet. It was a mass of water held together by sci-fi tech. They were very clear about it.

Oh no, I'm talking about the planet Naboo in Star Wars.

 

[Faolyn]

There's no excuse for Threshhold. Even the writers admit that.

I'm still convinced it was supposed to be a comedy episode that went horribly wrong.

Oh no, I'm talking about the planet Naboo in Star Wars.

They probably came up with an explanation in the Darths & Droids webcomic, since one of the characters is supposed to be geophysicist. It's also why they decided that Naboo had a giant moon all of a sudden.

 

[Nikosandros]

They probably came up with an explanation in the Darths & Droids webcomic, since one of the characters is supposed to be geophysicist. It's also why they decided that Naboo had a giant moon all of a sudden.

Do we really need a "scientific" explanation though?After all, it is the same universe where spaceships make whooshing sounds, fight like WW2 fighters and fall "down" along a mysterious "vertical" axis when shot...

 

[aco175]

Or humans devolving into giant salamanders after going above a certain faster-than-light speed.

 

[Laurefindel]

View attachment 401491

Yet, going plaid make still makes more sense than going salamander

 

[Faolyn]

Do we really need a "scientific" explanation though?

Depends on what flavor of nerd you are!

I tend to stick with what my college Star Wars GM said when I asked what sort of fuel the ships used: they're powered by giant hamster wheels.