/r/AskScienceFiction

Photograph via snooOG

It's like Ask Science, but all questions and answers are written with answers gleaned from the universe itself. Use in-universe knowledge, rules, and common sense to answer the questions. Or as fanlore.org calls it Watsonian, not a Doylist point of view

It's like Ask Science, but all questions and answers are written with answers gleaned from the universe itself. Use in-universe knowledge, rules, and common sense to answer the questions. Or as fanlore.org calls it Watsonian, not a Doylist point of view (Further reading on Watsonian vs. Doylist perspective can be found here, here, and in the dictionary definitions of the two terms.)

Take the fictional rules of the universe to their logical conclusion, ad absurdum.

We also now have an offical sub-reddit Discord server: Check it out!


Rules

  • Official rules post
  • FAQ
  • New FAQ
  • Submit a FAQ entry
  • [Tag] your posts with the setting you wish to discuss.
  • Answer the questions from a Watsonian perspective only-- no Doylist answers.
  • We discourage but do not forbid roleplaying. However, if you choose to roleplay, please remember that you must answer as if you had all the information available to a member of the audience. You already know Bruce Wayne is Batman, you already know Darth Vader is Anakin Skywalker, you already know Sauron is evil.
  • Any fiction is allowed not just science fiction. Avoid questions about real-world pseudoscience (i.e. chemtrails, homeopathy, etc.), however.
  • General questions are discouraged; without a firm set of in-universe rules, most of them boil down to "whatever the writer chooses" in terms of answers. r/whatiffiction, a sister subreddit, has rules more accommodating to these sort of questions.
  • No real life questions. AskScience and AskHistorians exist for that.
  • Any sort of competition questions belong in whowouldwin.
  • Sources are welcomed and encouraged.
  • Search for your question, it may have been asked and answered before. (This doesn't, of course, mean there isn't room for further discussion.)
  • Wheaton's Law (Don't be a jerk).
  • Upvote good content; downvote incorrect information. Report anything that discusses metadata or involves personal attacks.
  • Elaborate upon your answers. Low-effort posts (e.g. "Speed Force" with no further explanation when asked a question about the Flash) do not constitute satisfactory answers.

Spoiler Policies

  • The title of your post should not contain spoilers for six months from the date of release. If only the body of your post contains spoilers, you may instead make the title "[Canon] Spoilers: Canon" and not use the link flair. Replace "Canon" with the work or body of fiction in question.
  • Comment spoilers should be formatted on a separate line as >![Thing to be spoiled.]
  • Our Spoiler policy must be observed for six months following the date of release.
  • Spoilers from works older than six months may optionally be concealed using our flair system, however this is CSS-based and will work only in browsers.

This subreddit is for discussion of fiction using information about the universe and not meta information about the work.

For non-serious answers for real world science problems try:

And just for fun, don't forget to check out our friends at

/r/AskScienceFiction

855,616 Subscribers

1

[Blue eye samurai] how did the Ito Shogunate came to be in this universe?

An Interesting detail that I didn't noticed before until my rewatch of the series (fantastic series I highly recommend on Netflix.) The Shogun and his family that ruled Japan during the events of the show are from the Ito Clan which is interesting because in real life The Ito Clan while they themselves were real were never the shoguns of Japan. The shogunate was controlled by the Tokugawa Clan, and the Ito were only a moderately powerful clan thanks to their support of Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the Sengoku period. Their status as not only powerful daimyo, but directly controlling what can be called the Itō Shogunate indicates that the series is not just historical fiction but alternate history.

It does make me considering the Sengoku Period ended 57 years before the series begin how did the Ito Shogunate came to be, why in this timeline Tokugawa Ieyasu (The Third Great Unifier.) didn't become Shogun, Why did The Ito Clan move to Edo despite the capital belong to Ieyasu, Do we know of a member of the Ito Clan that live during this time period in real life that was around during when Ieyasu unify Japan and why did they become the First Ito Shogun, Did Ieyasu failed or Hell were the Ito clan allies or enemies against Ieyasu?

Assuming if the Sengoku Period ended a bit later like say a decade or two does that mean the Shogun during the events of the show was either the son or grandson of the First Ito Shogun of the Ito Shogunate? We know in real life that Japan become Isolated from the outside around from 1633 to 1639. so assuming that that the current shogun by the start of the show was already reigning by this time like I said he could be the son or grandson of the First Ito Shogun who in this universe is The Third Great Unifier of Japan?

1 Comment
2024/04/19
19:20 UTC

20

[Marvel Comics, Marvel Cinematic Universe] Why does the worthiness enchantment on Mjolnir affect who can lift and hold it?

Seriously. The enchantment's classic wording is "Whosoever holds this hammer, if they be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor." So why did Odin seem to make the key point about who could lift and use the hammer at all, which clearly has made things more complicated, as opposed to just making it so that anyone can lift and use the hammer, leaving the 'granting the power of Thor' bit the only part that's up to worthiness? For instance, why couldn't a carpenter eating lunch next to Thor who realized he'd forgotten his hammer pick up and use Mjolnir to pound in some nails and put it back?

13 Comments
2024/04/19
18:48 UTC

1

[DBZ] MWI cosmology vs Multiverse differences

Quantum Physics says that there are an infinite amount of parallel worlds and each one contains one “you”. This is the many world interpretation.

In fictional stories such as Marvel or R&M, their respective multiverse contains infinite possibilities ( with Rick and Morty having a few constants. I am unsure about Marvel ).

The main difference between these two multiverse models is that: the MWI has an infinite amount of universes but each one is identical, correct? Meaning, there has to be a copy of you+everything, throughout the infinite universes.

Marvel or R&M’s multiverse isn’t confined by this limitation.

Is my understanding correct?

I’m having trouble understanding because in DBZ, Future Trunks traveled to the past but it was a parallel world. But, that doesn’t make sense because the past he went to wasn’t a parallel world at all, it was an exact copy of his own past.

8 Comments
2024/04/19
17:28 UTC

2

[Marvel Earth-6160] Do the public know who rules them?

I don’t mean if they know all the world’s leaders are actually all allies sitting under the Maker’s Council, because that’s hammered in early in the comics.

I mean if the people of the Upper and Lowers Kingdoms know they are led by Ra and Khonshu, or if Europe knows they are ruled by Captain Britain, etc.

1 Comment
2024/04/19
17:19 UTC

38

[X-Men] What constitutes a Mutant disability?

So the X-Men are understood to be an an evolutionary offshoot of human beings. They (typically but not always) manifest abilities around what would constitute early teen-years or puberty. However due to traumatic circumstances or bodily injury for any number of reasons the X-Men often have limitations either forced or imposed upon them, often by virtue of the nature of their own powers in some capacity. Would this constitute disability within Mutants?

The best example is probably Cyclops, Scott in his youth incurred a head trauma that appears to have left him completely unable to shut off his abilities. It is perhaps reasonable to assume that under other circumstances he would have had full control over this ability but is unable to do so. His abilities to shoot concussive blasts and even see normally are dramatically impaired and his abilities are a natural function of his physical body. In this sense is Cyclops disabled?

Rogue also immediately comes to mind. Her abilities leave her unable to physically touch other people under 99% of circumstances. While she can function normally and the Xavier school even has (one must assume) special accommodations for her to maneuver around the mansion without accidently touching other people... her natural bodily function is on some level debilitating. Is this disability?

Lastly we could talk about when mutants who otherwise have abilities that would give them no undue harm are removed. Like Storm or Magneto who have on occasion had their abilities either completely suppressed or forcibly removed with no clear way to return them. For Ororo and Magneto their abilities are a natural part of their body functions, they were born with them. So would removing a mutants powers in a sense be disabling them? Akin to someone losing utility of an arm or a leg?

Any other examples come to mind? Thoughts?

7 Comments
2024/04/19
16:38 UTC

9

[Marvel/Nightmare on Elm Street] If Freddy Krueger or any other type of dream spirit invaded the dreams of a symbiote host, would the symbiote be unaware or would it show up in the dream realm?

3 Comments
2024/04/19
16:29 UTC

68

[Fallout] Why don't people from the US immigrate to South America for a better living situation after the bombs dropped?

28 Comments
2024/04/19
16:13 UTC

16

[DC comics] Does the Joker love Harley?

I figured he doesn't, but then I thought "he's the joker". If he did love her, despite his insanity, that would be kind of funny.

16 Comments
2024/04/19
13:32 UTC

11

[DC] Since Superman doesn't need to breath, drink, or eat under a yellow sun. If he got his his chopped off by a magical chainsaw, would his severed head be able to survive on its own?

Weird question but it's been bugging me for days.

12 Comments
2024/04/19
13:27 UTC

52

[DC] Lieutenant Gordon here, got some poor kid who's parents just got clipped outside Monarch Theater sitting in my squad car until his *butler* shows up.. How do I even begin to talk to this kid or should I just hand him a cup of coffee with a shot or two in it and tell him it'll be alright?

I don't wanna screw him up any more than he already is, kid is way too young to lose everything like this and an 8 figure bank account won't solve his problems. I got problems of my own too, especially in this corrupt cesspit of the GCPD, but this kid needs help.

17 Comments
2024/04/19
11:13 UTC

2

[Berserk] Can Apostles age/die from old age?

Just the title, really. I know Zodd has at least been alive for a few hundred years. But is it normal, or common, for Apostles to live for centuries? What's their lifespan (if they are not terminated by Guts)? Do they stop aging altogether and never die to old age?

1 Comment
2024/04/19
08:03 UTC

0

[Jump In] why did Izzy suddenly claim he didnt like Boxing at all?

I get that he got into double dutch and jis dad was pressuring him with boxing, but him all of the sudden claiming to dislike boxing now felt out of character

1 Comment
2024/04/19
06:37 UTC

123

[DC] If Luthor hates Superman so much and considers his own human ingenuity much more superior, then how would he respond to the question of "...and what did YOU do for the planet?" I mean seriously, what DID he do that can back up his claims that he can lead humanity into a better future?

Luthor just seems like an all-talk-no-show billionaire. For as much as he has a hate for a being like Superman, what did Lex ever do that benefit Metropolis and earth in general? Why doesn't he actually do something that makes Superman go "damn Lex, even I couldn't do this, you know what, you're right, you ARE superior".

Like if you could have a board with two columns A) Superman and B) Lex and you list all the things they did which helped people, would Luthor even stand a chance?

64 Comments
2024/04/19
05:51 UTC

4

[Marvel] Does Thanos have a series of planets that he has conquered and rules over?

4 Comments
2024/04/19
05:27 UTC

12

[fallout] why are coyotes the only unmutated wild animals?

There’s a lot of animals that are way less prone to mutate/change (like lizards and most bugs) but we see the mutated versions of them. Why is the coyote the only normal wild animal?

7 Comments
2024/04/19
05:24 UTC

19

[The Matrix] In the first Matrix movie, what was the purpose of the bomb in the elevator?

I understand Neo and Trinity we're trying to get to the roof for the helicopter in order to get to the floor Morpheus was on and extract him. Tank tells them it's a military controlled building and they can read on-screen in the real world the firepower they're up against so this makes sense.

Why do they stop on the 41st floor and set off a bomb on the lower levels? They don't want to collapse the building Morpheus is in, and they already disabled the elevator to the roof by shooting out the cables. What was the reason for the bomb? How does that help them?

7 Comments
2024/04/19
05:02 UTC

1

[One Piece] is Luffy still Luffy when he is in Gear 5?

Or if he being possessed by the spirit of Joy Boy? Or is it still him but he's flooded with feelings of elation?

3 Comments
2024/04/19
03:23 UTC

5

[Mass Effect] How effective is their infantry gun?

In Mass Effect, according to their ingame codex, their personal weapon fire bullet “the size of a grain of sand” at “a friciton of speed of light”

Wouldnt it make them over penetrate anything they hit and dont do much damage to the actual target?

7 Comments
2024/04/19
02:59 UTC

0

[Harry Potter/Black Panther] Would Wakanda comply with the Statute of Magical Secrecy?

Was the International Statute of Secrecy complied with in Wakanda?

I mean, they were already hidden from the world long before the statute, so it could be the only country that has a healthy and constant coexistence between wizards and muggles.

4 Comments
2024/04/19
02:35 UTC

42

[Joker] so he gained 99% of Mr mxyptlk's power and none of the 5th dimension imps try to stop him, even his wife?

11 Comments
2024/04/19
01:46 UTC

228

[Fallout] The bombs dropped in 2077 yet the only music to survive is no later then the 1950’s, why isn’t there more music like our modern songs but in the style of the 1920’s-50’s?

Obviously history diverged from our universe, just their tastes and styles seemed to never move on from the early to mid 1900’s. Yet, if real musicians like The Ink Spots existed in the world of Fallout to release their songs that lasted for centuries, who is to say someone like the Weeknd didn’t release a vintage version of “Blinding Lights” that would fit more in the world of Fallout.

Why isn’t there more variety of music beyond the 1950’s if the bombs didn’t drop until 2077?

Imagine if there were songs similar to PostModern Jukebox on YouTube where they are remade in that vintage style. Would that be immersion ruining!?

111 Comments
2024/04/18
22:54 UTC

36

[General Fantasy] Has there ever been something that portrayed being turned to stone/gold/etc. as conserving mass instead of volume?

27 Comments
2024/04/18
22:50 UTC

31

[Marvel] if gladiators power comes from his confidance, than what are his limits?

If he fought someone, equally as strong as him, for an extended period of Time, would he gradually lose power as he doubts his ability to win?

Could he kill Galactus if he truly believed in himself?

8 Comments
2024/04/18
18:49 UTC

264

[Fallout tv show] how did the companies profit from the end of the world?

They already controlled basically the entire world. Every person on the planet was a customer. Why would they kill 90 percent of their customers? What more was there to gain?

80 Comments
2024/04/18
18:37 UTC

4

[DC] How bad does a threat have to be for Batman to accept the Joker's help?

10 Comments
2024/04/18
17:53 UTC

20

[star trek tng] does data neet haircuts? Can he have a mullet?

Does data need hair cuts? Can he get a different haircut? Or is he stuck with the hair cut he was created with and it can only be cut shorter? What is android hair like? If he gets all his hair cut off does he have to wear a wig for the rest of his existence?

18 Comments
2024/04/18
17:13 UTC

42

[Dragon Ball]Could Goku logically not survive nuclear radiation given his insane feats?Why could a nuke kill Goku?

Goku can literally not only blow up planets, but even use ki to heal himself and others, and achieve supernatural attributes such as telekinesis and telepathy, along with so much more. Also, with the addition of god ki, Goku even has better healing and his ki is stronger so why would something like nuclear radiation poison and kill Goku?How is it that Goku has such high attack power but nukes could potentially have the chance to kill him cus of the heat and radiation?

28 Comments
2024/04/18
16:44 UTC

183

[Doom] How would you make the doomslayer useless?

So let's say, hypothetically, you have been named the new lead strategist of hell's armies after the.... abrupt end of the previous one.

Your goal? Easy, destroy humanity to feed on their souls. The grand problem? The slayer. The man too angry to die, killing all the demons. You know your armies likely cannot kill him. You sure as hell can't, you're barely stronger than an imp.

How would you use your assets to make sure he does as little damage as possible to your plans?

94 Comments
2024/04/18
16:05 UTC

15

[Firestarter, 1984 film] Why does The Shop try to hunt Andy and Charlie with minimal equipment?

With the father and daughters' powers and their capabilities, there's no need to question why a governmental organization would want to control such power.

However, whenever they try to hunt them down, it's always a couple of guys in suits with pistols. The first time, I can understand, because they thought it would just be like normal civilians, but with all the years of running, and demonstration of power, they still keep sending in guys in suits thst just have pistols and little-to-no protection.

Even in the final act, when Charlie goes full-on berserk, we can see that the security is just mostly guards with pistols and no protection like riot gear or soldier armor.

Why does The Shop at some point just keep trying to detain them with little equipment, rather than deploying police in riot gear and assault rifles, or even bringing in the military?

2 Comments
2024/04/18
15:53 UTC

145

[Deadpool Movie] how did wade mutate super regeneration of all things?

so in the movie, i remember they tried multiple methods in order to "force" his body to adapt. but he didn't mutate until he was locked in a vacuum chamber and deprived of oxygen.

but...how did his body adapt to evolve an enhanced healing factor from that? how is regeneration a response to suffocation? logically, shouldnt he have mutated to live without air or something?

45 Comments
2024/04/18
15:39 UTC

Back To Top