h a l f b a k e r yExpensive, difficult, slightly dangerous, not particularly effective... I'm on a roll.
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Take two identical twins at an early age. Seal them in
two environments with closed water and oxygen cycles,
shielded from ionising radiation. Feed them diets in
which all the elements have identical molarity, but with a
crucial difference: with the exception of hydrogen,
which is protium
in both cases, one diet consists entirely
of the lowest stable isotopes of all the elements in it
(which is practically a normal diet) and the other entirely
of the highest. Similarly, the oxygen and nitrogen in the
atmosphere and water are heavier and lighter for the
appropriate twins. After a few years, release the twins.
One will be roughly a tenth denser than the other.
I have no idea why this would be a good idea. Even so,
they will have interesting properties. It will be
somewhat harder for them to play on a see-saw. If one
of them is marginally underweight or overweight, the
other isn't, though they will be of identical chemical
composition. There might also be differences in boxing
weights, eligibility to become a jockey or astronaut. It
could make a really big difference to their careers.
You can probably see that this idea has a big bit missing
in that it appears to be pointless, but it's still
interesting.
[link]
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Isn't this almost *exactly* what that film with Danny DeVito
& Arnold Schwarzenegger was about? |
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Don't know, [Jinbish], i haven't seen it. |
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There could be a butterfly effect, socially at least. |
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Don't worry, [19thly], Taxinator didn't include anything like
heavier isotopes - and isn't any good anyway.
This idea
is both far more original and far more interesting. |
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Future archaeologists will puzzle over the apparent
radioisotopic age difference of the supposed twins. |
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//I have no idea why this would be a good idea. Even so,
they will have interesting properties.// Not necessarily; the
heavier twin might simply die. |
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Unbowling, for one thing. |
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It is an interesting thought experiment. |
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The outcome I suspect would be much like the difference between my brother and myself.
The more dense twin would become dominant by the age of five, subjugate the other at least until adolescence through brute force and then peak early, while the less dense twin would be forced to learn speed, leverage and wits to survive, suffer socially and peak late ... if ever. |
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Twins are not photocopies. It is easily apparent to their friends
which is which. For parents, you could tell in the dark by voice
alone. |
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The CCCP thought twins had magical abilities, if what i've read is
right. |
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They just may. It's hard to be objective. I know I've seen a
couple things that were odd in my mind, but no need to sell
them for medical experiments. |
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Yes, [Zimmy], this is a flaw in the idea, along with all the ethical stuff and the fact that it's pointless. Some identical twins seem not to be and some fraternal twins are mistaken for identical ones. One twin can hog the placenta and be born bigger. |
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