7.1
What We Know
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However, there are two distinct problems have been brought up with regards to this theory. The first suggested problem is that Silicon is known to have a strong affinity for oxygen. As a result the expulsion of oxygen introduces the risk of creating silicates within the Alien's body over time, which would pose a major life-supporting complication. The second suggested problem is that Hydrofluoric acid reacts aggressively to silicon, which would mean that the Xenomorph's anatomy would not withstand the corrosive nature of its own circulatory fluids. It's possible that any silicates that are produced as a result of expelling oxygen may be incorporated into the Xenomorph's biology so that they either pass through its system as waist, or are expelled on a regular bases via regurgitation as a means of constructing a hive. This rebuttal offers an interesting insight into hive construction, should this theory be proven correct: in such a scenario I. raptus wouldn't have to scavenge for material to construct a nest, but rather rely simply on the process of ingestion and its body's own natural processes.
Investigation into the implementation of Hydrofluoric acid has gained further attention after examining the events on LV-426, Fiorina 161, and the USM Auriga. In all three instances we have recorded evidence of the Alien's fluids coming into contact with human tissue. Hydrofluoric acid has the unique ability among acids to penetrate tissue. The reason for this is the high electronegativity of the fluoride anion, which tightly holds onto the hydrogen cation. The result is a weak acid that exists predominantly in the undissociated state compared to other acids (1000 times less dissociated when compared to hydrochloric acid, for example). In the undissociated state the Hydrofluoric molecule is able to penetrate skin and soft tissue by non-ionic diffusion. Once in the tissue the Fluorine anion is able to dissociate and cause liquefactive necrosis of soft tissue, bony erosion, as well as extensive electrolyte abnormalities by binding the cations Ca2+ and Mg2+. This is unusual among acids, which typically cause damage via the free Hydrogen cations resulting in coagulative necrosis and poor tissue penetration. The ability to penetrate tissue is why Hydrofluoric acid can cause severe systemic toxicity from even relatively small dermal exposures. The amount of toxicity depends, like every other toxin, on four factors: 1.) the concentration of the agent, 2.) the route of exposure, 3.) the length of time in exposure and, 4.) the amount of surface area affected. Because of Hydrofluoric acid's ability to penetrate tissue the fluoride anion can cause profound, and potentially lethal, metabolic complications. Any individual with dermal exposure, inhalation, ingestion, or ocular injury, should be considered as having the potential for systemic consequences from their exposure. >> End of entry ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Nitric Acid
The latter two aspects of the substance are what bring this theory into question. The Marines that encountered I. raptus in on LV-426 first engaged them using flamethrowers, and M-56 Smart Guns. The spray of bodily fluids caused by the Smart Guns would have created an extremely volatile environment for the incorporation of flamethrowers. This is perhaps most evident during the events that surround PFC Drake's death: an attacking Xenomorph was shot, PFC Drake was sprayed with bodily fluids, and his flame unit was discharged during the trauma of death - but there was no resulting ignition of the Alien fluids. There was also no resulting ignition or explosion of fluids - or fluid vapor - following the destruction of a chestburster via flamethrower. The high level of humidity within the hive structure also would have played a potentially hazardous role: had nitric acid been exposed to the surrounding atmosphere and oxidized, the mixture of water vapor and acid vapor could have created an explosively volatile environment. However, being that neither of these happened is indication that either Nitric Acid is not present in the Alien's biology, or there is Nitric Acid, but it is combined with a second or third component therefore minimizing its volatile nature. If I. raptus utilizes Nitric Acid as a circulatory fluid this would mean that it neither requires, nor expels, Oxygen. The introduction of Oxygen into such a system would cause oxidation - which would initiate heat production, and from the events on LV-426 we know that the Alien does not have a thermal signature. >> End of entry ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Enzymatic Initially termed to as a "Universal Enzyme" - in the view that the Alien's fluids react to nearly every substrate they comes into contact with - this title was eventually changed to "Mass-Effective Enzymatic Pathway" in light of its reactive rate, reactive structure, and the fact that it obviously does not react with the creature's own physiology - thereby not making it universal. As such there would appear to be various forms of substrate that are immune to the fluid's properties. An enzyme is a protein, or protein complex, that catalyzes a specific chemical reaction with the intention of creating a chemical by-product or function. The purpose for enzymes is to speed up the reactive chemical process that occurs naturally within cells. The presence of an enzyme increases this reaction by more than a 1000 times. Enzymes are usually specific to the reactions they catalyze and the substrates that are involved in generating these reactions. This specificity is a result of complementary structural properties between the enzyme and substrate. However, this is not always the case - there are those enzymes which exist that react to an array of substrates. This type of enzyme is relatively rare, and is usually found working in conjunction with a metabolic pathway to some degree. This is a result of a lessened reactive rate brought on by a lack of specificity. In most organisms that require multiple or extended reactions to various substrates, or require specific reactive outcomes based on varying substrates a metabolic pathway is utilized. A metabolic pathway is group of enzymes that work together in a specific order to create a desired reactive outcome. Though they are generally not arranged in such a manner metabolic pathways are a chain of events: as an enzyme reacts to a substrate the product of that catalytic reaction is used as substrate for another enzyme in the pathway. This chain of events continues through each enzyme in the group. Such groups can contain anywhere from two to several dozen enzymes - depending on the desired end product of the pathway. This end product usually acts as an inhibitor to one of the first enzymes in the pathway - thereby limiting the reactive nature of the enzyme, and controlling the end product so that the pathway consistently produces the desired chemical outcome. It is from this viewpoint that the Exobiology Guild based their study. The internal fluids of I. raptus could potentially contain large-sequence metabolic pathways – or multiple large-sequence metabolic pathways - which lack inhibitor catalyzation. Such a grouping would enable the pathway to react in an extended manner to a substrate as the various end products of the pathway are re-cycled through the process and picked-up by various enzymes in the chain. This raises the question, however, as to how the Alien's physiology would be able to withstand such internal fluids. The creature's blood is known to react with every material it has come into contact with thus far - with the above-noted exception of it's own physiology. Under this theory it is believed that the metabolic pathways do not produce end products that act as inhibitors, but the Alien's physiological design may. Inhibitors are usually a single protein added to the end product molecule. This protein then creates a physical abnormality in the molecule that none of the enzymes in a metabolic pathway are designed to accept. However, given the unique biology of I. raptus it's believed that this inhibiting agent may not be in the form of a protein, but rather an element. The use of an element as an inhibiting agent is based on the highly reactive nature of the Alien's fluids to organic, inorganic, and synthetic materials. As such there would appear to be few - if any - proteins that do not succumb to this reaction. Given this knowledge an examination was made into what else could inhibit a reaction between an enzyme and a given substrate. The incorporation of even a single atom of a specific element would alter a molecule and conceivably create a physical abnormality that a given enzyme would not accept. In the case of I. raptus it is believed that this element is Fluorine. Since the late 20th century it has been common scientific knowledge that Fluorine has one of the lowest astronomical rates of occurrence in the universe. It is also currently one of the elements used with the least frequency when creating synthetic materials. We know that the Alien's circulatory fluids react to every known common material (both naturally occurring and synthetic), we know that the Alien's physiology incorporates the element of Fluorine, and we know that these fluids do not react with the Alien's own physical structure. As a result it is believed that Fluorine would act as an inhibiting agent to the blood stream's metabolic pathways - thereby making the Alien immune to it's own fluids. If I. raptus employs enzymatic internal fluids it is likely that they would be related to the creature's feeding habits. Not only would the fluids aid in digestion once food is ingested, but it could be used as a regurgitant to break down, or begin breaking down, food prior to ingestion - much in the way Earth-born flies feed. This would aid in the consumption of material that is structural too dense to consume as a solid, and to speed up the digestive process so that nutritional elements can be absorbed more readily into the Alien's system. The possible creation of free electrons during this breakdown of material could aid in the generation- or amplification - of bioelectric current. This would enable the Alien to acquire a relatively large amount of energy from even a small amount of ingested material. This may also work closely with the possible use of a conductive Fluorine/hydrocarbon polymer within its exoskeletal structure which is capable of streaming electron release when exposed to radiating. (this is examined in further detail in the Exoskeleton essay). >> End of entry ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Neutralizing the Blood
If the Alien does employ an enzymatic circulatory system then neutralization is an easy process to understand: once the creature dies enzyme production would cease, and the existing enzymes would degenerate as the body necrotizes. However, if these fluids are truly low in pH, and not utilizing enzymes, then the process is slightly more puzzling. This process of neutralization could indicate that the low pH levels are being maintained through a specific organ, or group of organs. In such a theory these organs could maintain a specific pH level through the controlled release of alkaline components into the blood stream - then once the organ ceased to function the pH levels may be able rise as this control is lost and the body floods with the neutralizing base. A Second notion is that levels of sodium within the Alien's biology are kept in check while alive, but after death, and the cessation of circulatory flow, the levels of sodium begin to rise - ultimately neutralizing the fluid. A third theory is that I. raptus may undergo a form of calcification once the life force has been terminated. This introduction of calcium into the system would effectively neutralize the acidic properties of both of the above-mentioned acids. Hydrofluoric acid naturally breaks down and strips calcium, but in large enough quantities calcium effectively neutralizes the effects of the acid. Calcium also reacts with Nitric Acid to form the inorganic substance Calcium Nitrate. The means by which such large amounts of calcium would be introduced into the Alien's system is still not clear, and subject to further speculation. >> End of entry ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Home
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