Giant insects are a staple of games, books and media in general – and indeed, they existed in the distant past. Why then, do they not exist today? Oxygen: The level of oxygen present in the atmosphere of Earth hasn’t always been the same. Back in the Paleozoic era (dinosaurs) there was a lot more oxygen present in the air – probably due to the massive amounts of photosynthesis occurring at the time. Pretty much all complex life-forms require oxygen to respire (or turn sugars into energy to fuel ourselves) and insects are no different. Insect Lungs: Insects posses a … Continue reading Giant Bugs?

Ever wondered if we could bring back the dinosaurs using recovered DNA? Let’s have a look at some of the science involved: DNA: DNA can be found in almost all currently-known lifeforms (certain viruses possess no DNA, using RNA instead) and acts as a sort of cookbook for our bodies, determining things like height, skin and eye colour, bone density and so on. DNA is inherited from your forebears – using the cookbook analogy, imagine that each parent copied half of the recipes from their book into yours. Half-Life: DNA is a complex chain of molecules, and thus will slowly … Continue reading Return from Extinction?

Every fantasy game or story needs an ecosystem – the plants and animals that compose all life in an area. Primary Producers: At the start of every viable ecosystem, you’ll find producers – organisms that take energy from an abiotic (something that’s never been alive) source and convert it into material. The most common example for us would be plants, absorbing sunlight and using photosynthesis to produce sugar – but other examples exist, such as the bacteria living near volcanic vents on the ocean floor that convert the chemicals and heat spewed out. Without these, we wouldn’t have any form … Continue reading Fantasy Ecosystems?