Speculative biology is a sub-field of science that is the study of the evolution of animals and land-dwelling organisms. The field combines aspects of both science and literature. It involves the creation of speculative scientific theories that are based on an understanding of basic concepts of biology, but in a more fictional setting. Some of the most interesting speculative biology studies have dealt with the origin and evolution of plants and animals.
Science fiction
Speculative biology is a branch of science that deals with the development of live organisms. It is often focused on animals and plants. This genre is also related to the study of alien life.
In general, speculative biological projects focus on a group of live creatures or a whole planet. Often, the authors try to dress the ideas in a story format. Some of them are based on a specific scientific hypothesis, while others are purely fictional.
“Life in the Universe” (“Liv I Universet”) was published in Russia in 2013. The book tells about the evolutionary process of the life on Earth. One of the main themes is the bifurcation of the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. Another example is the speculative dinosaur project.
The earliest speculative biology projects were devoted to mammals. There are fungi and plants, but they are rarely mentioned in speculative biological projects.
Many of the works of speculative biology are in the Russian language. They include articles published in purely scientific magazines and serious educational journals. However, there are many projects that have been written in other languages as well. Among the most famous are “The Snouters: Form and Life of Rhinogradentia” by Gerolf Steiner.
Speculative biological projects have become popular among sci-fi writers. They are also read by a few people outside the genre community. However, not all of the ideas are agreed upon by everyone. Nevertheless, they are interesting to many fans of speculative biology.
Stephen Baxter’s novel “Evolution” is a work of speculative biology. The story takes place 500 million years into the future and discusses the evolution of primates and human descendants. In addition, there are chapters about cryptopaleontology and intelligent dinosaurs.
Literary genre
The literary genre of speculative biology emerged in the early part of the twentieth century. It took some time for the genre to become fully established. In the first years of its existence, the genre was based on hypothesizing and artworks.
While most works of the genre are a fusion of biology and fiction, there is a definite boundary between the two. Many speculative biology projects focus on animals and vertebrates.
There are some exceptions. One example is the speculative dinosaur project. This story involves a fictional re-creation of the life and times of a modern-day dinosaur.
Another example is a web-based fictitious zoological project. The work is called “The Snouters: Form and Life of Rhinogradentia” and describes a group of fictitious, live creatures.
Another subgenre is alternative evolution. Here, the authors look at how creatures and people might evolve in the future. Some of the topics covered include intelligent dinosauroids, flightless pterosaurs, and human descendants on Earth.
Several books have been published on the subject. These include “The Snouters” by Gerolf Steiner, “Alltomorrows” by Stanislav Drobyshevsky, and “Greenworld” by Dougal Dixon.
Speculative biology has been used in science fiction literature, where graphic techniques and realism are often invoked. However, a basic audience does not have much experience with the subject. They will appreciate stories with characters and adventures.
Despite the realism of the work, speculative biology does not always address the evolution process. A more significant use of the genre is in the educational sphere. For example, students of biology can learn about the principles of evolution by participating in speculative biology projects.
Other examples of the speculative biology genre include a book by Harry Lionel Shapiro entitled “Man – 500 000 Years From Now,” which looks at the possible shape of the descendants of modern humans.
Evolution of land-dwelling organisms
A few years ago, the field of speculative biology made its first move. This branch of biology is a scientific and artistic endeavor that attempts to provide scientific forecasts about future events. Speculative biology aims to reveal the mechanism of evolution and predict the development of living organisms.
The most prominent speculative biological projects involve animals. They are often focused on mammals and birds. Other topics include alien life and terraformers. But what exactly is speculative biology? It is a new genre of literature that has the potential to popularize ideas about evolution.
There are several books and articles pertaining to speculative biology. Some are about a hypothetical race of terraformers. Others are about the future of our species. And still others are about the future of the planet Earth.
While the majority of speculative biological projects focus on mammals, some authors are taking a more general approach. Stephen Baxter’s novel “The Future is Wild” discusses the development of primates and their descendants. He also includes elements of cryptopaleontology.
“The Martian” is a fascinating example of the speculative biology genre. The author presents a fictional world in which the omission of fossils allows creatures to live on tropical forests. The premise is that these creatures could evolve in a way similar to modern humans. Although not all of the ideas mentioned in the book are agreeable, the book gathered a substantial amount of admirers.
Another example of speculative biology is the work of Russian anthropologist Stanislav Drobyshevsky. Drobyshevsky frequently discusses the reception of speculative biology. In particular, he discusses the origin of the human species and its possible evolution.
Although the speculative biology genre has its limitations, it is definitely worth a look. Whether you’re a student or an adult, you can learn about the principles of evolution, the effects of environmental changes, and the role of environment in animal shape.
Speculative chemistry
Speculative biology and chemistry is a theoretical discipline that focuses on the evolution of life on a planet artificially terraformed by humans. It also involves the possibility of alien life. The genre is a pedagogic tool that teaches students how to interpret and apply their knowledge of biology in new situations.
There are several types of speculative biology. Some of the most popular projects are based on animals. Others focus on the evolution of humans on an artificially terraformed planet.
Unlike science fiction, speculative biology does not adhere to the a priori assumptions of the natural sciences. Moreover, its predictive power is hardly greater than the concurrence. But its groundwork seems to be relevant.
Among the most interesting projects are those that feature intelligent creatures. Intelligent species are the most obvious examples of out-of-evolutionary influence. In some cases, these creatures act as terraformers. Other species may be non-sapient, and have the ability to cross space. Moreover, they could serve as a deus ex machina.
Another subgenre is xenobiology, which is centered on the traits inherent in life. For example, biopolymers of other chemical elements can form life under extreme conditions. And in some speculative biology projects, the authors attempt to recreate an alternative Earth.
Speculative biology and chemistry projects are often a dime a dozen. But some of them are quite original. Usually, they are aimed at educating different levels of learners. They can be either didactic or entertaining. One of the most notable speculative biology projects is a web series called “Snaiad,” which was created by M. Kosemen.
Speculative biology and chemsuesophy can be a fun and enlightening way to learn about biology and the human body. Aside from describing how life evolved, it also explains the role of the environment in animal shape.
Animals of the future
Speculative biology is the study of evolution in a hypothetical scenario. Usually, this is done with an eye towards how the planet may look in the future. It is also considered a branch of science fiction. The term is used in relation to a variety of fictional creatures, from insects to polar bears.
Several speculative evolution projects have been developed. These include the Neocene project, Serina: A Natural History of the World of Birds, and the Speculative Dinosaurid Project. Some of these projects maintain the present Earth biosphere, while others attempt to recreate an alternate Earth.
Dougal Dixon’s book “After Man: A Zoology of the Future” is an example of speculative evolution. This project involves the future evolution of humans and other species.
One of the books focusing on the future of animals is The Future Is Wild. In this book, the author focuses on three different eras. This speculative science fiction series is about life on Earth during the Ice Age, the end of the Ice Age, and the resulting wetter, warmer era in 100 million years’ time.
Other speculative evolution projects include Life on Snaiad, Project Nereus, and the Encyclopedia Galactica. These works explore life on several fictional planets. They also discuss technology and other aspects of a world with no humans.
Some of these fictional creatures are found in real animals. For example, a rainbow squid camouflages itself so it can avoid scuba divers. Another is the silver spider, which has a caste system like ants. Others include the Babookari, a species of frugivorous New World monkeys.
Regardless of the future of these animals, the author says it’s important to consider the environment. Climate change is already shaping shifting animals.