All Questions
Tagged with intelligence creature-design
17 questions
1
vote
4
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264
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Does human-like invention require language and intelligence?
Humans seem to have a unique ability to invent new ideas and solutions to problems, in a way that no other intelligent creature can. This is clearly not a natural product of our dexterity, ...
- 16.6k
5
votes
1
answer
221
views
Can a planet dream of sheep?
I had a peculiar dream...
There is a terrestrial planet orbiting an unknown multi stars system, that planet in fact is alive as in its a living planet. Just like the Portuguese man of war it is ...
- 48.1k
2
votes
2
answers
571
views
Land-based radially symmetrical intelligent aliens [closed]
Let's set up our planet and aliens:
The planet is reasonably Earth-like; similar size, orbiting similar star at a similar distance, plenty of water and land.
Our aliens are carbon-based, oxygen ...
- 888
4
votes
7
answers
1k
views
Why do orcs have relatively longer period of immaturity?
Description of orcs: Adult healthy male looks like a wild boar walking on two legs towering at 4m tall and weights almost a metric tonne, average lifespan 150-175 years.
Diet: Similar to a pig.
Hobby: ...
- 48.1k
14
votes
9
answers
2k
views
How would my creatures handle groups without a strong concept of numbers?
I'm thinking about a species that is at the intelligence level of proto-humans. They have limited language but can still discuss concrete things with a little bit of abstraction. For instance, their ...
- 3,893
1
vote
1
answer
249
views
Intelligence development: Plausible?
This is another question about my aliens who have both reptilian and mammalian characteristics.
Now, I'm not talking about developing intelligence on evolutionary time scales but rather within ...
- 4,165
3
votes
4
answers
256
views
Megatherium tool making
I have seen many questions and answers throughout this site, and as far I have understood, thumbs are not needed to use tools. Seems like many structures and objects can be used properly with any kind ...
- 41
3
votes
2
answers
338
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What factors would allow the species I designed evolve successfuly?
I am basically asking what factors could allow my gliding species to achieve a civilisation comparable to human civilization. Below are the traits of my alien species.
Cat-like eyes, binocular vision,...
- 2,319
6
votes
4
answers
333
views
What evolutionary pressures would lead to being skilled at counting and basic arithmetic?
Let's say we came across a new species of moderately intelligent birds. Like Alex the parrot, these birds are able to learn a few words and simple concepts. But once we teach these birds the words ...
- 1,628
10
votes
3
answers
317
views
Solving the vulnerabilities of a plant-based life-form's civilization: sunlight, roots, and hibernation
Say you are a plant-based life-form (imagine a walking tree). You have roots and leaves.
You have two main vulnerabilities:
You need sunlight on your leaves for photosynthesis to get energy.
You ...
- 1,896
6
votes
8
answers
906
views
How to evolve purely pacifist intelligence
In a previous question on my purely peaceful, 100% pacifist species, I asked about how to remove all defining characteristics for sexuality yet still retaining sapience. As was pointed out, I had ...
- 56.3k
16
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Plant based lifeforms: brain equivalent?
In lots of science fiction works that visit other planets we are often introduced to intelligent plant based lifeforms, be they humanoid looking or potted plant looking.
I'm curious as to what part ...
- 12.9k
6
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Is it plausible for my creature to have similar IQ as humans?
I've envisioned my specie called the stalker as:
Humanoid about same height, strength & speed as humans
Three pairs of eyes placed horizontally (Near UV, Visible, Near IR)
Lightspeed ...
- 183
4
votes
1
answer
405
views
Could I hope for swarm intelligence to lead to collective consciousness?
I recently decided to revisit an older scenario I came up with, Ant-hill world, but I have been hitting roadblocks, both old and new. One of the bigger roadblocks is the evolution of such an odd ...
- 56.3k
4
votes
2
answers
398
views
How would intelligent life evolve on an Earth-like planet with dangerous high tide?
Inspired by the 2014 film Interstellar directed by Christopher Nolan, the crews landed on a planet with water flooded up to knee level. Suddenly a wall of water like mega tsunami appears from a ...
- 48.1k
6
votes
3
answers
616
views
Consequences of controlling intelligence
Suppose tomorrow, on present-day Earth, a group of scientists published a paper detailing a series of experiments conducted over the last ten years that successfully activated and deactivated the ...
- 25.2k
20
votes
10
answers
2k
views
Creature with a non-centralized brain
I've always found animal intelligence to be fascinating, particularly that of the cephalopods, some of which show some pretty remarkable talents for tool usage, mimicry, and pattern recognition.
...
- 10.6k