/sci/ - Science & Math

[Anonymous No.8673299]

Is it possible for there to be a biological organism that can actively (not passively such as hitchhiking on meteorites) travel through space with its body alone, no tools or vessels?

[Anonymous No.8673304]

there are organisms that can survive in space if thats what you mean

[Anonymous No.8673331]

>>8673304
I know, what I mean though is, is it theoretically possible for an organism to be able to travel through space with its body alone?

Let's give it optimal conditions: It has eaten fully and is well rested, in optimal physical condition. It is then placed in space.

Is it possible for an organism to exist with inherent navigational capabilities (a primitive and instinctual understanding of orbital mechanics) so that it can then exert minor thrust in one direction to orient itself, then exert a larger thrust to go where a planet will eventually end up, and enter a hibernation mode while it floats through space, waking up occasionally to re-orient itself?

Is this theoretically possible to evolve on a planet?

I assume the answer is no but I just thought I'd ask if anyone thought it was theoretically possible

[Anonymous No.8673333]

>>8673331
How would it get out of the planet?

[Anonymous No.8673604]

>>8673331
Assuming this creature evolved to do that, what series of life cycles could possibly have encouraged this type of survival mechanism? It's bloody absurd. Impossible? Eh. Can not completely dismiss, but the odds are so vanishingly small as to be absurd.

[Anonymous No.8673801]

>>8673604
let's imagine we had to bioengineer it, not that it had to evolve

[Anonymous No.8673843]

Short answer: No.

Assuming the creature is already in space, and somehow managed to get into orbit (a task that is virtually impossible without tools), it would still not be able to move around. You see, in space you cant move like in an atmosphere, the only way to gain speed is by pushing mass away from yourself at high speeds. So unless you are proposing an organism that is essentially a fart cannon, good luck.

[Anonymous No.8673855]

What if it was like super super fast at flying, and the conditions on the planet were such that strong updrafts were common, and the gravity was really low?

What if it could use its wings/webbing like a solar sail once in orbit?

[Anonymous No.8673864]

>>8673801
>Let us imagine we engineer something to do something.
>Will it do it?
Fucking hell, Anon.

[Anonymous No.8673879]

>>8673855
No U retard, it doesnt work like that. You dont get into orbit by going straight up. Get off this board

[Anonymous No.8673905]

>>8673299
1. It wouldn't arise naturally, only by design.
2. It's propulsion would be worse than shit.
3. It would need to be given fuel by artificial means.
4. Whatever sort of fuel and power it uses, it won't be enough to be useful.

Even if it were literally a meat rocket it'd be crap, the materials just can't do the job. Best you can do is an actual spacecraft, that happens to have some biological firmware bits built in. Even then, there no conceivable advantage and it's probably worse.

[Anonymous No.8674007]

>>8673801
We could just say that a rocket with a probe on it is an organism then.

[Anonymous No.8674023]

OP you might be interested to read this
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murasaki_(novel)
(read synopsis of the last story for relevant spoiler)

[Anonymous No.8674462]

>>8673299
Living light-sail, as in Niven's "star seeds."

Varley came up with some bio-engineered critters called "Snarks" that ate asteroid-mining tailings and used the mass to change orbits. I think his were ore or less mechanical, but the concept would work for biological organisms.

[Anonymous No.8674463]

>>8673333
>Assumes life can only start on a planet.
>Also, lives on a planet where gene engineering is a thing and one species has already proven able to leave the planet.