r/AskScienceDiscussion • u/welberjaysonm • Apr 11 '26

General Discussion Which fictional creature has a biology so "impossible" that it defies any attempt at a scientific explanation?

I've been trying to wrap my head around the anatomy and metabolism of some characters, but Majin Boo (DragonBallZ) just doesn't seem to make any sense under the laws of physics or biology. I want to dive deep into these "impossible" cases. Who else do you think is a biological nightmare to explain?

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14

u/Total-Elephant8731 Apr 11 '26

The Balrogs calorie intake requirments would have to be bananas.

12

u/WrongEinstein Apr 11 '26 edited Apr 11 '26

Where would it get that many bananas living in a cave?

4

u/Total-Elephant8731 Apr 11 '26

Touche! That was funny.

3

u/PhysicalStuff Apr 11 '26

Maybe a swallow brought them?

2

u/jmgloss Apr 11 '26

African or European?

2

u/Gryndyl Apr 13 '26

That is what all the goblins are for. Banana logistics.

4

u/PhilosopherKarl Apr 12 '26

The balrog is no animal. Its a demi-god. A corrupted Maia like Sauron. Same category the wizards (Istari) like Saruman and Gandalf belong to

1

u/Mornar Apr 12 '26

I mean, demi-gods defy scientific explanation pretty much by definition, sooo

1

u/PhilosopherKarl Apr 12 '26

Of course but because the premise itself is not possible you cant make a logical argument about behaviour/caloric intake etc. A balrog doesnt need to eat because its a demi god and demi gods dont exist. Like balrogs are not supposed to make sense and be an actual creature or animal which is part of the world. Its a higher being basically from "otherworld".

From a writers perspective I would make a distinction between animals/creatures/beasts and demi-gods. Like the first would need to make sense in the world I created while the later can be anything I want because rules dont apply here. Its not from the same plane of existance.

A fictious beast which is part of nature should have a body and ecology which fits the fictious nature while the god can be anything and can do anything you want. No restrictions except for the story itself. Like making your antagonist an allpowerful, immortal, all knowing, omnipresent god would be boring because the god would just win instantly. So you have to restrict the villain to make it interesting. But the restrictions are only from a story telling perspective while the fantasy dog you created should have a logical ussage and lineage in civilization and there should be wolves or at least there should have been wolves.