Radiation ideas for a half-human race

I think the concept is fictional enough that you could pretty much say anything you wanted here, as long as you made it sound convincing. They could be a different color. Glow in the dark. Absorb sunlight completely so they looked like deep shadows.

I was a bit confused, though - you say they mingled with humans, but no one can get into their lands, and they can't leave it for long.

Are you doing a science fic version of fairyland or something like that?

Bree -

As I understand, prolonged exposure to radiation causes more or less random mutations, so you can go just about wherever you want with this--especially in a fantasy/medieval context. Just remember that any unusual characteristics would have to help them live in their environment; maybe darker skin on their lower bodies to help them absorb the radiation that keeps them alive, or skin flaps around areas with high blood flow (neck, head, armpits, etc) to perform the same function. A swimming or diving adaptation would probably be beneficial, as well.

Also, it sounds like some humans can survive the radiation, and/or some of the alien descendants can survive outside their lake. Otherwise, how could they have interbred? I think this characteristic would become more pronounced as time goes by, allowing each generation to travel farther and longer from the lake (or survive longer within it) than the one before.

I like this concept. Good luck with this!

HN

How about a mineral in the water? They need the mineral to survive. It was brought with them on the spaceship and exists in the lake water. You could make it radioactive if you want to add that complication, but it would act like a vitamin. If these people don't get it, they will sicken and die.

A merging civilization would have no idea what the cause was. Possibly, they may not even tie in the idea that they have to drink the water to get the mineral that keeps them alive.

If outsiders get too much of it, they OD and get sick maybe?

It is very simple. The remains of their spacecraft is emanating neutrons which have combined with the hydrogen in the lake water to form deuterium. Because of this the water in the lake has a high concentration of 'heavy water'. Heavy water has a very slightly altered chemistry from normal water because the hydrogen bonds form at a slightly different angle.

It isn't enough to notice in most situations, but just as a normal human will die if the concentration of heavy water in their tissues gets above a certain level, this race will die if it falls beneath a certain level. And because your body is constantly exchanging the water in your tissues for new water, getting away from the lake will result in a drop in heavy water concentration over a period of time.

Naturally their forebearers knew this because their planet had a naturally high concentration of heavy water so they took the machinery to form heavy water with them. But without it they are screwed. It's sad really because they are a curious, inquisitive race and being confined to this blasted lake has stressed their culture to the breaking point. And everytime strangers come in and stay, they begin to sicken and eventually die.

The interesting thing about heavy water (water with deuterium instead of hydrogen) is that it can be made through radioactive processes but isn't itself radioactive. Of course water with trituim would be an entirely different story...

As far as your race having 'powers' there is of course no radiation or chemical or procedure that could do that (except of course for midi-chlorians ) so you would be better off not saying how the heavy water allows them to do these things, only that it does.

That what you were looking for?

-MM

Radiation damages DNA. This can lead to mutations (possibly beneficial), or cancer, or even cell death.

Possibly, they use a more robust molecule than DNA to store their genes. Perhaps they need a certain amount of radiation to get their whatever it is molecule to function. DNA only works if it periodically becomes 'unzipped' from itself to allow RNA to form on it. Perhaps their molecule needs a certain level of radiation to make that happen.

That is fascinating Sarpedon. I wonder what the probability of spontaneous life forming on that planet might have been.

Now the only problem is how would Byline integrate this (or any of our suggestions) into a Fantasy-Medieval story.

Of course, if they use a molecule other than DNA to hold their genes, it puts the idea of being 'Half human' right out the window.

What about the aliens retrieving bits of the radiating emitting ship and wearing the bits in jewelry/ clothing/ weapons that would enable them to travel? They can pour water over the bit and drink it to reenergize in a differnet manner. Alternately, they could have small radioactive metal beads embedded in their skin much like the Goths and Punk crowds. That would also allow them to leave home base.

There are some fungi that use melanin to convert gamma radiation into energy, whereas gamma rays are harmful to most organisms. So if your guys were really, really dark-skinned, that could be another possibility.