QuestionSimilar to questions using the science-fiction or science-based tags, questions tagged hard-science expect answers based solely on science as understood by humanity at a specified time (and, if possible, in a specified place) in human history. However, unlike the science-fiction and science-based tags, the hard-science tag expects answers to be rigidly (to the point of inflexibly) based on science.
After posting a question with this tag, you should "flag" your question for moderator attention and point out that it is tagged hard-science. A moderator will then add the hard-science notice to your question to draw respondents' attention to the fact that you are looking for hard science.
Users are reminded that this tag does not reflect the "hard science" book genre as you might find in your local bookstore. That is not the purpose of this tag.
Questions using this tag should ensure they containmust include all the information necessary to solveframe the questionposited problem. If the question doesQuestions that do not possesscontain all the required information, closure is not necessary but comments shoulddetails or data may be included that requestclosed as needing more details. Questions will be reopened once the required informationdata or details are provided.
NOTE: All answers to this question shouldmust to some degree be backed up by equations, empirical evidence, scientific papers, other citations, etc. Speculative or unreferenced answers and answers without sufficient citation to meet the expectation of this tag, as well as those not supported by strong scientific theory, are not welcome. Long, comprehensive answers are desirable, but respondents should remember that length and quality aren't always correlated.
The answers should be based on current, and undisputed science. This means no subjective sciences, though fields like sociology are mostly considered acceptable (See this meta post). Ideally, answers should be backed up by equations, relevant theories, and citations where possible - arXiv can be quite good for citations, though Wikipedia is usually OK too. (See this meta post.)
Answers that do not meet the requirements of this tag but still answered the question should notNOTE: Users may be deleted. A good course of action istempted to leave a comment and downvote if necessary.
Avoid using this tag asuse the onlyhard-science tag on a question. Instead, use it in combination with subjectto receive highly-specific tags.
After posting a question with this tag, you should "flag" your question for moderator attention and point out that it is tagged hard-science. A moderator will then add the hardrealistic answers to highly-science noticefanciful questions or to your questionask questions they don't entirely understand (thereby seeking an education rather than an answer). These, to draw answerers' attention to the fact that youalso, are looking for hard sciencenot the purpose of this tag.
Suggested default comment:
This answer does not satisfy the requirements of the hard-science tag.
This answer does not satisfy the requirements of the [tag:hard-science] tag.
If you merely want plausibility, go for reality-check instead Please avoid using this tag solely to "make my idea as realistic as possible.
" If you want scientifically correctdon't have the educational background to understand the answers butyou receive — or don't need scientific citations, consider usingreceive any answers at all — you probably should have used the science-based insteadtag. Do not use science-based on a question that has hard-science; it is redundant. However, do not remove(Although we admit there have been legitimately asked hard-science from a questionquestions that has both hard-science and science-based. Instead remove science-based, because hard-science holds answers to an even higher standarddate, have never been answered.)
This tag frames the answer, not the question. As such, it cannot be the only tag attached to the question. One or more subject-specific tags mus be included or the question will be closed as needing more details.
If you want a fanciful or imaginative answer based on Real World science (vs. magic or the pure invention of world rules, aka, a "plausible" or suspension-of-disbelief answer), use the science-fiction tag.
If you want scientifically realistic answers (aka, a "reality check") that meet suspension-of-disbelief but aren't necessarily proven (or need to be proven) as fact, use the science-based tag.
If you want to test an idea, assertion, condition, situation, circumstance, or application of rules against the rules of your fictional or imaginary world, use the internal-consistency tag.
