Xenomorphs vs. The Thing

[Ptrvc]

If Xenos are silicone based why to the nest inside carbon based lifeforms

[Cthulhu_of_R'lyeh]

If Xenos are silicone based why to the nest inside carbon based lifeforms

Hard to grow a parasite in a rock.

[Totoro Man]

based on the original film... I assumed that the Xenomorph did, in fact, devour some of it's victims. unless we're supposed to believe that they simply magically ignore the laws of physics and transform from the size of a jumbo shrimp to a seven-foot tall humanoid figure in the space of a day or so without eating anything.

some people consider the 'producer' cut of Alien to be cannon-- but I got the impression that Ridley Scott said that the theatrical version was the film he wanted to make. and it's heavily implied that the alien was eating people, and hence it's rapid and enormous growth.

if you consider the fact that Xenomorphs do need to eat to grow and that molting is how they produce all of that nesting material... it makes far more sense than... the deranged fanboy logic that says that they don't need to eat, or breathe... or have any basic needs like just about every other predatory life form.

I mean, even the Thing has problems with extreme cold and extreme heat... and it still feeds off of people in it's own way.

the acid blood could realistically 10-count the Thing in a normal human body. but what's more likely is that if the Xenomorph were gestating inside of a human infested with the Thing there would be no struggle since the Thing would lay low and not attack a being it can't hurt... or, if it can infect it, it would have already infected the Xeno prior to it bursting out of the human's chest.

eh, this was obviously inspire by how fun the scene would be to watch on the silver screen... but it sorta doesn't make much sense when you think about the world-building rules of both films.

I know people will disagree with me.... but conventional wisdom, based on the original theatrical release of "Alien" suggests that Xenomorphs do eat things. it would be easy to infer that if they never found Dallas' body that he was eaten.

[The Arbiter]

I'm cool with them eating stuff. In one of the (possibly non canon) comics, it shows that the chestbusters tend to hang around whatever they've burst from and feed on it for 24 hours or so, unless frightened away by something.

[The Dog]

The Dog(or bovine, depending on which version of the movie)Xenomorph from the third movie was explicitly seen eating the prisoners.

I've never eaten anyone, prisoner or otherwise. And I'm not a xenomorph!

[Goldenbane]

based on the original film... I assumed that the Xenomorph did, in fact, devour some of it's victims. unless we're supposed to believe that they simply magically ignore the laws of physics and transform from the size of a jumbo shrimp to a seven-foot tall humanoid figure in the space of a day or so without eating anything.

some people consider the 'producer' cut of Alien to be cannon-- but I got the impression that Ridley Scott said that the theatrical version was the film he wanted to make. and it's heavily implied that the alien was eating people, and hence it's rapid and enormous growth.

if you consider the fact that Xenomorphs do need to eat to grow and that molting is how they produce all of that nesting material... it makes far more sense than... the deranged fanboy logic that says that they don't need to eat, or breathe... or have any basic needs like just about every other predatory life form.

I mean, even the Thing has problems with extreme cold and extreme heat... and it still feeds off of people in it's own way.

the acid blood could realistically 10-count the Thing in a normal human body. but what's more likely is that if the Xenomorph were gestating inside of a human infested with the Thing there would be no struggle since the Thing would lay low and not attack a being it can't hurt... or, if it can infect it, it would have already infected the Xeno prior to it bursting out of the human's chest.

eh, this was obviously inspire by how fun the scene would be to watch on the silver screen... but it sorta doesn't make much sense when you think about the world-building rules of both films.

I know people will disagree with me.... but conventional wisdom, based on the original theatrical release of "Alien" suggests that Xenomorphs do eat things. it would be easy to infer that if they never found Dallas' body that he was eaten.

Maybe I'm assuming too much, but if they didn't need to eat (or do many other biological functions really) I find it hard to believe that they would be so aggressive. Why attack and kill other beings that don't even know you're there? Just hide and wait to move where you want.

[Tendrin]

One of the few ways to kill a Thing would be molecular acid. If we're talking Carpenter thing, it's a plastic cell colony of varying degrees of intelligence.

That said, if you believe even a small particle of a Thing is enough to infect someone, it would surely be able to assimilate several xenomorphs and before long would have assimilated the entire colony. Plus, killing the Thing requires the colony to weaken itself, and as we saw from fire, even a splash of acid won't be enough to stop the Thing. Thing wins and now gets immune to acid tissue in its Rolodex of creature features.

[Sharpandpointies]

'Molecular' acid?

Is that what it's called?

Ugh.

[Tendrin]

'Molecular' acid?

Is that what it's called?

Ugh.

No, it's just a way of saying acid molecules, though I don't think it's a scientifically accurate one so I shouldn't have used it.

[Sharpandpointies]

So acid, then. ^_^

Was just wondering if that's how the movies and/or supplemental media refers to the acid within the xenomorphs. Thank you for the clarification.

[Tendrin]

So acid, then. ^_^

Was just wondering if that's how the movies and/or supplemental media refers to the acid within the xenomorphs. Thank you for the clarification.

I wouldn't be surprised to see it used there.

[The Arbiter]

One of the few ways to kill a Thing would be molecular acid. If we're talking Carpenter thing, it's a plastic cell colony of varying degrees of intelligence.

That said, if you believe even a small particle of a Thing is enough to infect someone, it would surely be able to assimilate several xenomorphs and before long would have assimilated the entire colony. Plus, killing the Thing requires the colony to weaken itself, and as we saw from fire, even a splash of acid won't be enough to stop the Thing. Thing wins and now gets immune to acid tissue in its Rolodex of creature features.

Again, are Xenomorphs silicone based life forms or not?

If we've only seen it infect carbon based life as we know it that doesn't also happen to have acid blood and its own mutagenic properties, I feel it's a bit of a stretch to handwave it being capable of such.

[Cthulhu_of_R'lyeh]

Again, are Xenomorphs silicone based life forms or not?

If we've only seen it infect carbon based life as we know it that doesn't also happen to have acid blood and its own mutagenic properties, I feel it's a bit of a stretch to handwave it being capable of such.

Silicon.

Just cuz I made the same mistake earlier, and hey turns out there's a difference >_>

[Tendrin]

Silicon.

Just cuz I made the same mistake earlier, and hey turns out there's a difference >_>

Carbon or silicon, I'd say Carpenter'a thing is more than capable of mimicking it. It's basically it's whole thing. I mean, if it can make a flower from an alien planet out of dog tongues and teeth, I'm not thinking silicon is gonna slow it down. It needn't make any biological sense as we understand it.

[The Arbiter]

Carbon or silicon, I'd say Carpenter'a thing is more than capable of mimicking it. It's basically it's whole thing. I mean, if it can make a flower from an alien planet out of dog tongues and teeth, I'm not thinking silicon is gonna slow it down. It needn't make any biological sense as we understand it.

A flower from a tongue is still carbon based to carbon based.

In the 2011 prequel, the Thing is shown to spit out metal fillings and any other inorganic material iirc. Been a while since I've seen that film.

Besides, it's not just it being silicon (hah!) that will be challenging. The acid blood and mutagenic nature of Xenomorphs suggest a hostile environment for any foreign invaders.