Hello

[Abyzou]

Hi, I found this project on TVTropes and have been following it for several years now, and I figured it's about time I joined the forums. I just have two very minor questions that have been bugging me:

1. Regarding the recently updated article on "hyperfog", it says that some kinds of hyperfog replicate using atmospheric resources like carbon dioxide (and powered by sunlight). Which I take to mean that it breaks down the CO2 and uses the carbon to make diamondoid which forms the foglets? Here's the thing; wouldn't hyperfog made of diamondoid constitute a fuel air explosive? Doesn't sound like a very stable thing for a transap to make its hyperfog out of. Wouldn't a better choice be corundum (aluminium oxide)? Which unfortunately isn't quite as common as carbon.

2. How exactly do you pronounce "Archailect"? I don't think I've seen any hints or guides on how it's pronounced. My first guess is "ark-ay-eye-lect", but I hope it's not that... because that doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

[Rynn]

Hi, I found this project on TVTropes and have been following it for several years now, and I figured it's about time I joined the forums. I just have two very minor questions that have been bugging me:

Welcome to the forums

1. Regarding the recently updated article on "hyperfog", it says that some kinds of hyperfog replicate using atmospheric resources like carbon dioxide (and powered by sunlight). Which I take to mean that it breaks down the CO2 and uses the carbon to make diamondoid which forms the foglets? Here's the thing; wouldn't hyperfog made of diamondoid constitute a fuel air explosive? Doesn't sound like a very stable thing for a transap to make its hyperfog out of. Wouldn't a better choice be corundum (aluminium oxide)? Which unfortunately isn't quite as common as carbon.

There isn't just one design of foglet (or any smart matter for that matter), there are likely thousands to millions of different "breeds" optimised for different roles in different environments. In answer to this specific question there are other resources in a terrestrial atmosphere that could be used to make carbon based materials without that risk, such as using the moisture in the air to make polymeric coatings to protect any carbon-based diamondoid structures from the atmosphere.

2. How exactly do you pronounce "Archailect"? I don't think I've seen any hints or guides on how it's pronounced. My first guess is "ark-ay-eye-lect", but I hope it's not that... because that doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

I pronounce it "ark-ah-lect". The "ai" syllable could be said as either "eye" or "ay" and I tend to mush them together a bit.

[stevebowers]

I tend to say Ark-eye-lect, and Archai (the shortened version) I pronounce as Ark-eye which sounds a bit like a 1960's comic book character.

Another possible pronunciation is Arch-ay-lect, but I'm not too keen on that one as it doesn't flow easily.

[Drashner1]

Hi, I found this project on TVTropes and have been following it for several years now, and I figured it's about time I joined the forums. I just have two very minor questions that have been bugging me:

Hi There! Welcome to the forums!

1. Regarding the recently updated article on "hyperfog", it says that some kinds of hyperfog replicate using atmospheric resources like carbon dioxide (and powered by sunlight). Which I take to mean that it breaks down the CO2 and uses the carbon to make diamondoid which forms the foglets? Here's the thing; wouldn't hyperfog made of diamondoid constitute a fuel air explosive? Doesn't sound like a very stable thing for a transap to make its hyperfog out of. Wouldn't a better choice be corundum (aluminium oxide)? Which unfortunately isn't quite as common as carbon.

You're correct that 'original recipe' utility fog, such as might have been created earlier in the timeline or even used in the 'Current Era' by modos (or even by transapients in some cases, I suppose) would have this issue and would be built from aluminium oxide. That said, as Rynn says, hyperfoglets (or even the regular kind) can come in many different forms and models. These could be made from diamondoid but coated in compounds also created from local materials. The fog might also use carbon/carbon compounds for different components (or parts of components) within itself where they would not be exposed to air. Some components could also be larger than the 'standard' ufog size usually discussed and so be big enough to avoid fuel air explosive issues.

2. How exactly do you pronounce "Archailect"? I don't think I've seen any hints or guides on how it's pronounced. My first guess is "ark-ay-eye-lect", but I hope it's not that... because that doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

I pronounce it 'Ark-eye-lect' or 'Ark-ah-lect' and Archai as 'Ark-eye'.

Hope this helps and once again - Welcome to OA!

Todd

[Abyzou]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I assumed for the first question the answer would just be a handwavey "because Transapientech", so I'm glad there are more logical explanations. I don't have much knowledge of chemistry so my understanding of how materials behave on a microscopic scale is limited, but having them coated in protective materials makes sense.