The Real Science of StarCraft II

The Real Science of StarCraft II was an online publication in Gamepro. It examined various aspects of the StarCraft universe and scientists in various fields gave feedback on their (im)probability in the real world.

The Overmind
The question is raised as to whether the Overmind's hivemind-esque control of the zerg could really exist. Dr. Gene Robinson points out that similar behaviours are found in bee and ant species on Earth, that while such behaviours are driven by local cues, the end result is the same as a hivemind. The possibility of a bona fide hivemind was therefore considered plausible.

Hybrid Species
The concept of hybrid species is looked into, how terrans, zerg and protoss all have a correspondent hybrid species. Dr. Michael Alfaro claims that hybrid species, even when originating from different points in the Milky Way, could still have their DNA recombined to form hybrids. Transgenics already provides such a means.

Assimilation
The zerg's modus operandi is looked into, how under the Overmind, strong species were assimilated into the zerg gene pool while weaker ones were erradicated. Such assimilation, while never observed on the scale of the Swarm, is an accepted phenomenon in modern biology. Professor Alfaro used plants as an example, a theory that ancient plants cells acquired the ability to use sunlight for energy by accidentally merging with photosynthetic bacteria. Viruses are another example, how they take over the replicative functions of cells to spawn copies of themselves.

Earth
By 2301, Earth's population had reached 23 billion. Dr. Charles A. Hall considers this to be a difficult, if not impossible figure to reach. He points out that peak oil has been reached and that there is only so much land avaliable for agriculture. A shortage of resources, as experienced by Earth in the 22nd century, would theoretically lead to a decline in population rather than continued growth.

Teleportation
The issue of protoss teleportation is addressed. Dr. Joshua Beinfang explains that teleportation has a groundwork of theory behind it, how it is simply moving one particle to another. However, the calculations behind this theory are astronomical and the idea of teleporting a human, made up of quatron-zillion atoms, and re-arranging those atoms perfectly, is beyond the current scope of science. Most experts say that while it's not technically impossible it will almost certainly never be accomplished.

Zerg Space Travel
While it is possible for bacteria to survive in space, at least for a time, Dr. Harold Geller points out that developed organisms such as the zerg, and the behemoths which they assimilated to gain the ability to survive in vacuum, are unlikely to exist. It would be difficult to life to evolve in vaccuum and even if it did, it would be at risk from interstellar radiation.