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Non-aquatic eyes?
What types of technology would a sentient species without eyes develop to enable them to explore space?What advantage would a species gain from birthing a child larger than itself?Is it feasible for an organism to feed off cosmic radiation?Spherical symmetry in animals?Plausible biological alternative for normal photosynthesisCould an organism see in infrared light as well as normal light, using its brain to process what it sees into a single image?Is a planet sized cell possible?Is Space Algae Plausible?How do I explain the compound eyes of my creatures?Traversal of creatures in space (hydrogen metabolistic processes)
$begingroup$
I am trying to create an organism that can survive in space for short periods, but I realized that I can't have its eyes be similar to those of most animals and humans because they would boil in space.
Is there some sort of alternative for eyes that do not boil in space?
xenobiology
edited 8 hours ago
L.Dutch♦
98.3k31232475
asked 8 hours ago
EfialtesEfialtes
1,43721023
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I am trying to create an organism that can survive in space for short periods, but I realized that I can't have its eyes be similar to those of most animals and humans because they would boil in space.
Is there some sort of alternative for eyes that do not boil in space?
xenobiology
edited 8 hours ago
L.Dutch♦
98.3k31232475
asked 8 hours ago
EfialtesEfialtes
1,43721023
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
What makes sth boil in space is a combination of high temperature (if exposed to the star's radaition) and low pressure. If membranes are strong enough, everything inside that membrane could be kept presurized liquid.
$endgroup$
– Rafael
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
That is an idea, but would it mess with the optics?
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
8 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
Without an atmosphere to offer counter pressure, the eye would probably become more spherical which would mess with the optics if the eye had a raised cornea like people do. However, if the alien's eyes start off spherical, the distortion should be minimal.
$endgroup$
– Nosajimiki
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
That makes some sense.
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
7 hours ago
5
$begingroup$
@Rafael: Insect eyes do not have liquid surfaces exposed to the exterior, and they don't have large-ish liquid-filled cavities either.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
7 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I am trying to create an organism that can survive in space for short periods, but I realized that I can't have its eyes be similar to those of most animals and humans because they would boil in space.
Is there some sort of alternative for eyes that do not boil in space?
xenobiology
edited 8 hours ago
L.Dutch♦
98.3k31232475
asked 8 hours ago
EfialtesEfialtes
1,43721023
$endgroup$
I am trying to create an organism that can survive in space for short periods, but I realized that I can't have its eyes be similar to those of most animals and humans because they would boil in space.
Is there some sort of alternative for eyes that do not boil in space?
xenobiology
xenobiology
edited 8 hours ago
L.Dutch♦
98.3k31232475
asked 8 hours ago
EfialtesEfialtes
1,43721023
edited 8 hours ago
L.Dutch♦
98.3k31232475
asked 8 hours ago
EfialtesEfialtes
1,43721023
edited 8 hours ago
L.Dutch♦
98.3k31232475
edited 8 hours ago
L.Dutch♦
98.3k31232475
edited 8 hours ago
L.Dutch♦
98.3k31232475
98.3k31232475
asked 8 hours ago
EfialtesEfialtes
1,43721023
asked 8 hours ago
EfialtesEfialtes
1,43721023
asked 8 hours ago
EfialtesEfialtes
1,43721023
1,43721023
$begingroup$
What makes sth boil in space is a combination of high temperature (if exposed to the star's radaition) and low pressure. If membranes are strong enough, everything inside that membrane could be kept presurized liquid.
$endgroup$
– Rafael
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
That is an idea, but would it mess with the optics?
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
8 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
Without an atmosphere to offer counter pressure, the eye would probably become more spherical which would mess with the optics if the eye had a raised cornea like people do. However, if the alien's eyes start off spherical, the distortion should be minimal.
$endgroup$
– Nosajimiki
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
That makes some sense.
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
7 hours ago
5
$begingroup$
@Rafael: Insect eyes do not have liquid surfaces exposed to the exterior, and they don't have large-ish liquid-filled cavities either.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
7 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
What makes sth boil in space is a combination of high temperature (if exposed to the star's radaition) and low pressure. If membranes are strong enough, everything inside that membrane could be kept presurized liquid.
$endgroup$
– Rafael
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
That is an idea, but would it mess with the optics?
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
8 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
Without an atmosphere to offer counter pressure, the eye would probably become more spherical which would mess with the optics if the eye had a raised cornea like people do. However, if the alien's eyes start off spherical, the distortion should be minimal.
$endgroup$
– Nosajimiki
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
That makes some sense.
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
7 hours ago
5
$begingroup$
@Rafael: Insect eyes do not have liquid surfaces exposed to the exterior, and they don't have large-ish liquid-filled cavities either.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
What makes sth boil in space is a combination of high temperature (if exposed to the star's radaition) and low pressure. If membranes are strong enough, everything inside that membrane could be kept presurized liquid.
$endgroup$
– Rafael
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
What makes sth boil in space is a combination of high temperature (if exposed to the star's radaition) and low pressure. If membranes are strong enough, everything inside that membrane could be kept presurized liquid.
$endgroup$
– Rafael
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
That is an idea, but would it mess with the optics?
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
That is an idea, but would it mess with the optics?
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
8 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
Without an atmosphere to offer counter pressure, the eye would probably become more spherical which would mess with the optics if the eye had a raised cornea like people do. However, if the alien's eyes start off spherical, the distortion should be minimal.
$endgroup$
– Nosajimiki
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
Without an atmosphere to offer counter pressure, the eye would probably become more spherical which would mess with the optics if the eye had a raised cornea like people do. However, if the alien's eyes start off spherical, the distortion should be minimal.
$endgroup$
– Nosajimiki
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
That makes some sense.
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
That makes some sense.
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
7 hours ago
5
5
$begingroup$
@Rafael: Insect eyes do not have liquid surfaces exposed to the exterior, and they don't have large-ish liquid-filled cavities either.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Rafael: Insect eyes do not have liquid surfaces exposed to the exterior, and they don't have large-ish liquid-filled cavities either.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
7 hours ago
add a comment |
6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Grow you some extra-tough nictitating membranes... eyelids you can see through! You'll probably have to deploy them with a bit more ceremony than merely a sideways-blink... you might have to secrete some gloop around the edges to form a seal, wipe them dry with your paws to prevent any frost forming and interfering with your vision, that sort of thing, but there's no reason that with enough effort they couldn't be made to work.
The eye won't suffer any serious ill effects if it remains well protected behind a membrane which won't itself boil or freeze-dry. Your vision will be distorted, sure, but it beats the alternative and you'll be able to operate with some minimal level of functionality. Think about how well your eyes work underwater without the aid of goggles or a mask, for example.
answered 8 hours ago
Starfish PrimeStarfish Prime
5,107936
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Barreleyes, a.k.a. spook fish, have their eyes well inside their heads. They can see just fine, because their heads are transparent.
Their eyes are the green structures you can see below:
Such a configuration might be helpful in a hard vacuum.
answered 8 hours ago
RenanRenan
58.7k16132291
$endgroup$
4
$begingroup$
Fits the space theme with the cute astronaut helmet
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
8 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Eyes work in space. If they didn't, astronauts couldn't see. Seems kind of what you're looking for is a strong transparent layers that can insulate the eyes. Which leads me to a question - what's the rest of the alien made out of? I assume this animal has got some sort of non-living organic shell, similar to crustaceans. In which case all this animal needs is the transparent variety.
answered 8 hours ago
HalfthawedHalfthawed
1,266111
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Ever heard of tardigrades (water bear)? They're a microanimal known to survive exposure in space (extreme temperature, pressures, and radiation. I don't know if it can be scaled up, but they have sensory bristles and rhabdomeric pigment-cup eyes.
answered 8 hours ago
JoeJoe
291
New contributor
Joe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Sensory bristles would be useless in a vacuum
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
@XenoDwarf you could still touch stuff. So long as you were in contact with a solid object, either directly or via a tether, you could navigate around it "blind", so you're not entirely helpless. Remember also that the bristles woudl work regardless of ambient light, unlight eyes.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Nautilus is an ocean-based macroorganism (mollusc) which has pinhole eyes. This means they function without any liquid water inside, and can survive some time in space. They're not very good as eyes go, but then again many mammals don't rely on eyes that much.
answered 8 hours ago
alamaralamar
1,748316
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
I feel like this works but a space fairing creature would probably need massive, sensitive eyes.
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@XenoDwarf the only requirement here is to "survive in space for short periods". That doesn't necessarily need vision at all, just the ability to turn around and cycle the airlock you just got flung out of, which could be done with touch alone.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I feel like boiling isn’t the main problem, especially since others here have mentioned physical layers. Keep in mind that this physical barrier would probably require pigment to absorb UV radiation so it doesn’t burn out the retinas/corneas depending on visual spectrum.
answered 7 hours ago
XenoDwarfXenoDwarf
1,6621830
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
In a pinch, you could always go for the "don't stare directly into the naked fusion reactor" approach, and you'll probably get away with a bit of photokeratitis from reflections (which, incidentally, is a sunburnt cornea, not retina, because the front bits of your eye are already quite UV opaque). A personal magnetic field will not save you from UV, and it won't do much good against cosmic radiation either. Probably not worth it.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Fair point @Starfish Prime
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
That said, this being a xenobiology question and all, it probably doesn't do to make assumptions about whether the species in question sees into the UV spectrum. If they did, they would have to worry about burnt retinas and that's potentially a lot more serious than burnt corneas.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
add a comment |
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6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Grow you some extra-tough nictitating membranes... eyelids you can see through! You'll probably have to deploy them with a bit more ceremony than merely a sideways-blink... you might have to secrete some gloop around the edges to form a seal, wipe them dry with your paws to prevent any frost forming and interfering with your vision, that sort of thing, but there's no reason that with enough effort they couldn't be made to work.
The eye won't suffer any serious ill effects if it remains well protected behind a membrane which won't itself boil or freeze-dry. Your vision will be distorted, sure, but it beats the alternative and you'll be able to operate with some minimal level of functionality. Think about how well your eyes work underwater without the aid of goggles or a mask, for example.
answered 8 hours ago
Starfish PrimeStarfish Prime
5,107936
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Grow you some extra-tough nictitating membranes... eyelids you can see through! You'll probably have to deploy them with a bit more ceremony than merely a sideways-blink... you might have to secrete some gloop around the edges to form a seal, wipe them dry with your paws to prevent any frost forming and interfering with your vision, that sort of thing, but there's no reason that with enough effort they couldn't be made to work.
The eye won't suffer any serious ill effects if it remains well protected behind a membrane which won't itself boil or freeze-dry. Your vision will be distorted, sure, but it beats the alternative and you'll be able to operate with some minimal level of functionality. Think about how well your eyes work underwater without the aid of goggles or a mask, for example.
answered 8 hours ago
Starfish PrimeStarfish Prime
5,107936
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Grow you some extra-tough nictitating membranes... eyelids you can see through! You'll probably have to deploy them with a bit more ceremony than merely a sideways-blink... you might have to secrete some gloop around the edges to form a seal, wipe them dry with your paws to prevent any frost forming and interfering with your vision, that sort of thing, but there's no reason that with enough effort they couldn't be made to work.
The eye won't suffer any serious ill effects if it remains well protected behind a membrane which won't itself boil or freeze-dry. Your vision will be distorted, sure, but it beats the alternative and you'll be able to operate with some minimal level of functionality. Think about how well your eyes work underwater without the aid of goggles or a mask, for example.
answered 8 hours ago
Starfish PrimeStarfish Prime
5,107936
$endgroup$
Grow you some extra-tough nictitating membranes... eyelids you can see through! You'll probably have to deploy them with a bit more ceremony than merely a sideways-blink... you might have to secrete some gloop around the edges to form a seal, wipe them dry with your paws to prevent any frost forming and interfering with your vision, that sort of thing, but there's no reason that with enough effort they couldn't be made to work.
The eye won't suffer any serious ill effects if it remains well protected behind a membrane which won't itself boil or freeze-dry. Your vision will be distorted, sure, but it beats the alternative and you'll be able to operate with some minimal level of functionality. Think about how well your eyes work underwater without the aid of goggles or a mask, for example.
answered 8 hours ago
Starfish PrimeStarfish Prime
5,107936
answered 8 hours ago
Starfish PrimeStarfish Prime
5,107936
answered 8 hours ago
Starfish PrimeStarfish Prime
5,107936
answered 8 hours ago
Starfish PrimeStarfish Prime
5,107936
5,107936
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Barreleyes, a.k.a. spook fish, have their eyes well inside their heads. They can see just fine, because their heads are transparent.
Their eyes are the green structures you can see below:
Such a configuration might be helpful in a hard vacuum.
answered 8 hours ago
RenanRenan
58.7k16132291
$endgroup$
4
$begingroup$
Fits the space theme with the cute astronaut helmet
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
8 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Barreleyes, a.k.a. spook fish, have their eyes well inside their heads. They can see just fine, because their heads are transparent.
Their eyes are the green structures you can see below:
Such a configuration might be helpful in a hard vacuum.
answered 8 hours ago
RenanRenan
58.7k16132291
$endgroup$
4
$begingroup$
Fits the space theme with the cute astronaut helmet
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
8 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Barreleyes, a.k.a. spook fish, have their eyes well inside their heads. They can see just fine, because their heads are transparent.
Their eyes are the green structures you can see below:
Such a configuration might be helpful in a hard vacuum.
answered 8 hours ago
RenanRenan
58.7k16132291
$endgroup$
Barreleyes, a.k.a. spook fish, have their eyes well inside their heads. They can see just fine, because their heads are transparent.
Their eyes are the green structures you can see below:
Such a configuration might be helpful in a hard vacuum.
answered 8 hours ago
RenanRenan
58.7k16132291
edited 5 hours ago
answered 8 hours ago
RenanRenan
58.7k16132291
answered 8 hours ago
RenanRenan
58.7k16132291
answered 8 hours ago
RenanRenan
58.7k16132291
58.7k16132291
4
$begingroup$
Fits the space theme with the cute astronaut helmet
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
8 hours ago
add a comment |
4
$begingroup$
Fits the space theme with the cute astronaut helmet
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
8 hours ago
4
4
$begingroup$
Fits the space theme with the cute astronaut helmet
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
Fits the space theme with the cute astronaut helmet
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
8 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Eyes work in space. If they didn't, astronauts couldn't see. Seems kind of what you're looking for is a strong transparent layers that can insulate the eyes. Which leads me to a question - what's the rest of the alien made out of? I assume this animal has got some sort of non-living organic shell, similar to crustaceans. In which case all this animal needs is the transparent variety.
answered 8 hours ago
HalfthawedHalfthawed
1,266111
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Eyes work in space. If they didn't, astronauts couldn't see. Seems kind of what you're looking for is a strong transparent layers that can insulate the eyes. Which leads me to a question - what's the rest of the alien made out of? I assume this animal has got some sort of non-living organic shell, similar to crustaceans. In which case all this animal needs is the transparent variety.
answered 8 hours ago
HalfthawedHalfthawed
1,266111
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Eyes work in space. If they didn't, astronauts couldn't see. Seems kind of what you're looking for is a strong transparent layers that can insulate the eyes. Which leads me to a question - what's the rest of the alien made out of? I assume this animal has got some sort of non-living organic shell, similar to crustaceans. In which case all this animal needs is the transparent variety.
answered 8 hours ago
HalfthawedHalfthawed
1,266111
$endgroup$
Eyes work in space. If they didn't, astronauts couldn't see. Seems kind of what you're looking for is a strong transparent layers that can insulate the eyes. Which leads me to a question - what's the rest of the alien made out of? I assume this animal has got some sort of non-living organic shell, similar to crustaceans. In which case all this animal needs is the transparent variety.
answered 8 hours ago
HalfthawedHalfthawed
1,266111
answered 8 hours ago
HalfthawedHalfthawed
1,266111
answered 8 hours ago
HalfthawedHalfthawed
1,266111
answered 8 hours ago
HalfthawedHalfthawed
1,266111
1,266111
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Ever heard of tardigrades (water bear)? They're a microanimal known to survive exposure in space (extreme temperature, pressures, and radiation. I don't know if it can be scaled up, but they have sensory bristles and rhabdomeric pigment-cup eyes.
answered 8 hours ago
JoeJoe
291
New contributor
Joe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Sensory bristles would be useless in a vacuum
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
@XenoDwarf you could still touch stuff. So long as you were in contact with a solid object, either directly or via a tether, you could navigate around it "blind", so you're not entirely helpless. Remember also that the bristles woudl work regardless of ambient light, unlight eyes.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Ever heard of tardigrades (water bear)? They're a microanimal known to survive exposure in space (extreme temperature, pressures, and radiation. I don't know if it can be scaled up, but they have sensory bristles and rhabdomeric pigment-cup eyes.
answered 8 hours ago
JoeJoe
291
New contributor
Joe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Sensory bristles would be useless in a vacuum
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
@XenoDwarf you could still touch stuff. So long as you were in contact with a solid object, either directly or via a tether, you could navigate around it "blind", so you're not entirely helpless. Remember also that the bristles woudl work regardless of ambient light, unlight eyes.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Ever heard of tardigrades (water bear)? They're a microanimal known to survive exposure in space (extreme temperature, pressures, and radiation. I don't know if it can be scaled up, but they have sensory bristles and rhabdomeric pigment-cup eyes.
answered 8 hours ago
JoeJoe
291
New contributor
Joe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
Ever heard of tardigrades (water bear)? They're a microanimal known to survive exposure in space (extreme temperature, pressures, and radiation. I don't know if it can be scaled up, but they have sensory bristles and rhabdomeric pigment-cup eyes.
answered 8 hours ago
JoeJoe
291
New contributor
Joe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 8 hours ago
JoeJoe
291
New contributor
Joe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 8 hours ago
JoeJoe
291
answered 8 hours ago
JoeJoe
291
291
New contributor
Joe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Joe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$begingroup$
Sensory bristles would be useless in a vacuum
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
@XenoDwarf you could still touch stuff. So long as you were in contact with a solid object, either directly or via a tether, you could navigate around it "blind", so you're not entirely helpless. Remember also that the bristles woudl work regardless of ambient light, unlight eyes.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Sensory bristles would be useless in a vacuum
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
@XenoDwarf you could still touch stuff. So long as you were in contact with a solid object, either directly or via a tether, you could navigate around it "blind", so you're not entirely helpless. Remember also that the bristles woudl work regardless of ambient light, unlight eyes.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Sensory bristles would be useless in a vacuum
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
Sensory bristles would be useless in a vacuum
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
@XenoDwarf you could still touch stuff. So long as you were in contact with a solid object, either directly or via a tether, you could navigate around it "blind", so you're not entirely helpless. Remember also that the bristles woudl work regardless of ambient light, unlight eyes.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@XenoDwarf you could still touch stuff. So long as you were in contact with a solid object, either directly or via a tether, you could navigate around it "blind", so you're not entirely helpless. Remember also that the bristles woudl work regardless of ambient light, unlight eyes.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Nautilus is an ocean-based macroorganism (mollusc) which has pinhole eyes. This means they function without any liquid water inside, and can survive some time in space. They're not very good as eyes go, but then again many mammals don't rely on eyes that much.
answered 8 hours ago
alamaralamar
1,748316
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
I feel like this works but a space fairing creature would probably need massive, sensitive eyes.
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@XenoDwarf the only requirement here is to "survive in space for short periods". That doesn't necessarily need vision at all, just the ability to turn around and cycle the airlock you just got flung out of, which could be done with touch alone.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Nautilus is an ocean-based macroorganism (mollusc) which has pinhole eyes. This means they function without any liquid water inside, and can survive some time in space. They're not very good as eyes go, but then again many mammals don't rely on eyes that much.
answered 8 hours ago
alamaralamar
1,748316
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
I feel like this works but a space fairing creature would probably need massive, sensitive eyes.
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@XenoDwarf the only requirement here is to "survive in space for short periods". That doesn't necessarily need vision at all, just the ability to turn around and cycle the airlock you just got flung out of, which could be done with touch alone.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Nautilus is an ocean-based macroorganism (mollusc) which has pinhole eyes. This means they function without any liquid water inside, and can survive some time in space. They're not very good as eyes go, but then again many mammals don't rely on eyes that much.
answered 8 hours ago
alamaralamar
1,748316
$endgroup$
Nautilus is an ocean-based macroorganism (mollusc) which has pinhole eyes. This means they function without any liquid water inside, and can survive some time in space. They're not very good as eyes go, but then again many mammals don't rely on eyes that much.
answered 8 hours ago
alamaralamar
1,748316
answered 8 hours ago
alamaralamar
1,748316
answered 8 hours ago
alamaralamar
1,748316
answered 8 hours ago
alamaralamar
1,748316
1,748316
1
$begingroup$
I feel like this works but a space fairing creature would probably need massive, sensitive eyes.
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@XenoDwarf the only requirement here is to "survive in space for short periods". That doesn't necessarily need vision at all, just the ability to turn around and cycle the airlock you just got flung out of, which could be done with touch alone.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
I feel like this works but a space fairing creature would probably need massive, sensitive eyes.
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@XenoDwarf the only requirement here is to "survive in space for short periods". That doesn't necessarily need vision at all, just the ability to turn around and cycle the airlock you just got flung out of, which could be done with touch alone.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
I feel like this works but a space fairing creature would probably need massive, sensitive eyes.
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
I feel like this works but a space fairing creature would probably need massive, sensitive eyes.
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@XenoDwarf the only requirement here is to "survive in space for short periods". That doesn't necessarily need vision at all, just the ability to turn around and cycle the airlock you just got flung out of, which could be done with touch alone.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@XenoDwarf the only requirement here is to "survive in space for short periods". That doesn't necessarily need vision at all, just the ability to turn around and cycle the airlock you just got flung out of, which could be done with touch alone.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I feel like boiling isn’t the main problem, especially since others here have mentioned physical layers. Keep in mind that this physical barrier would probably require pigment to absorb UV radiation so it doesn’t burn out the retinas/corneas depending on visual spectrum.
answered 7 hours ago
XenoDwarfXenoDwarf
1,6621830
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
In a pinch, you could always go for the "don't stare directly into the naked fusion reactor" approach, and you'll probably get away with a bit of photokeratitis from reflections (which, incidentally, is a sunburnt cornea, not retina, because the front bits of your eye are already quite UV opaque). A personal magnetic field will not save you from UV, and it won't do much good against cosmic radiation either. Probably not worth it.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Fair point @Starfish Prime
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
That said, this being a xenobiology question and all, it probably doesn't do to make assumptions about whether the species in question sees into the UV spectrum. If they did, they would have to worry about burnt retinas and that's potentially a lot more serious than burnt corneas.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I feel like boiling isn’t the main problem, especially since others here have mentioned physical layers. Keep in mind that this physical barrier would probably require pigment to absorb UV radiation so it doesn’t burn out the retinas/corneas depending on visual spectrum.
answered 7 hours ago
XenoDwarfXenoDwarf
1,6621830
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
In a pinch, you could always go for the "don't stare directly into the naked fusion reactor" approach, and you'll probably get away with a bit of photokeratitis from reflections (which, incidentally, is a sunburnt cornea, not retina, because the front bits of your eye are already quite UV opaque). A personal magnetic field will not save you from UV, and it won't do much good against cosmic radiation either. Probably not worth it.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Fair point @Starfish Prime
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
That said, this being a xenobiology question and all, it probably doesn't do to make assumptions about whether the species in question sees into the UV spectrum. If they did, they would have to worry about burnt retinas and that's potentially a lot more serious than burnt corneas.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I feel like boiling isn’t the main problem, especially since others here have mentioned physical layers. Keep in mind that this physical barrier would probably require pigment to absorb UV radiation so it doesn’t burn out the retinas/corneas depending on visual spectrum.
answered 7 hours ago
XenoDwarfXenoDwarf
1,6621830
$endgroup$
I feel like boiling isn’t the main problem, especially since others here have mentioned physical layers. Keep in mind that this physical barrier would probably require pigment to absorb UV radiation so it doesn’t burn out the retinas/corneas depending on visual spectrum.
answered 7 hours ago
XenoDwarfXenoDwarf
1,6621830
edited 7 hours ago
answered 7 hours ago
XenoDwarfXenoDwarf
1,6621830
answered 7 hours ago
XenoDwarfXenoDwarf
1,6621830
answered 7 hours ago
XenoDwarfXenoDwarf
1,6621830
1,6621830
1
$begingroup$
In a pinch, you could always go for the "don't stare directly into the naked fusion reactor" approach, and you'll probably get away with a bit of photokeratitis from reflections (which, incidentally, is a sunburnt cornea, not retina, because the front bits of your eye are already quite UV opaque). A personal magnetic field will not save you from UV, and it won't do much good against cosmic radiation either. Probably not worth it.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Fair point @Starfish Prime
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
That said, this being a xenobiology question and all, it probably doesn't do to make assumptions about whether the species in question sees into the UV spectrum. If they did, they would have to worry about burnt retinas and that's potentially a lot more serious than burnt corneas.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
In a pinch, you could always go for the "don't stare directly into the naked fusion reactor" approach, and you'll probably get away with a bit of photokeratitis from reflections (which, incidentally, is a sunburnt cornea, not retina, because the front bits of your eye are already quite UV opaque). A personal magnetic field will not save you from UV, and it won't do much good against cosmic radiation either. Probably not worth it.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Fair point @Starfish Prime
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
That said, this being a xenobiology question and all, it probably doesn't do to make assumptions about whether the species in question sees into the UV spectrum. If they did, they would have to worry about burnt retinas and that's potentially a lot more serious than burnt corneas.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
In a pinch, you could always go for the "don't stare directly into the naked fusion reactor" approach, and you'll probably get away with a bit of photokeratitis from reflections (which, incidentally, is a sunburnt cornea, not retina, because the front bits of your eye are already quite UV opaque). A personal magnetic field will not save you from UV, and it won't do much good against cosmic radiation either. Probably not worth it.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
In a pinch, you could always go for the "don't stare directly into the naked fusion reactor" approach, and you'll probably get away with a bit of photokeratitis from reflections (which, incidentally, is a sunburnt cornea, not retina, because the front bits of your eye are already quite UV opaque). A personal magnetic field will not save you from UV, and it won't do much good against cosmic radiation either. Probably not worth it.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Fair point @Starfish Prime
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Fair point @Starfish Prime
$endgroup$
– XenoDwarf
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
That said, this being a xenobiology question and all, it probably doesn't do to make assumptions about whether the species in question sees into the UV spectrum. If they did, they would have to worry about burnt retinas and that's potentially a lot more serious than burnt corneas.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
That said, this being a xenobiology question and all, it probably doesn't do to make assumptions about whether the species in question sees into the UV spectrum. If they did, they would have to worry about burnt retinas and that's potentially a lot more serious than burnt corneas.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
add a comment |
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$begingroup$
What makes sth boil in space is a combination of high temperature (if exposed to the star's radaition) and low pressure. If membranes are strong enough, everything inside that membrane could be kept presurized liquid.
$endgroup$
– Rafael
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
That is an idea, but would it mess with the optics?
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
8 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
Without an atmosphere to offer counter pressure, the eye would probably become more spherical which would mess with the optics if the eye had a raised cornea like people do. However, if the alien's eyes start off spherical, the distortion should be minimal.
$endgroup$
– Nosajimiki
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
That makes some sense.
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
7 hours ago
5
$begingroup$
@Rafael: Insect eyes do not have liquid surfaces exposed to the exterior, and they don't have large-ish liquid-filled cavities either.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
7 hours ago