Predator Study

[Neltharion]

Bushido was never used in the Samurai times, it is a modern creation for marketing purposes.

[CanadianHero67]

Then why is it called Bushido of the Samuri?

[Neltharion]

Because it makes it more marketable.

It is based on the tenants of the Samurai warrior, but they did not practice it.

[CanadianHero67]

I learn something new everyday.

[Thedus]

Bushido was never used in the Samurai times, it is a modern creation for marketing purposes.

Actually, that's not entirely correct.  Bushido existed in the time of the Samurai, but it wasn't called that.  It was simply a code or understood behavior.  It was also unwritten.  The term "Bushido" first surfaced in 1965 when it was coined by Yamaga Soko.   

[BLAIN]

So I am going to post the updated version of this study. Pardon the double and quadruple and so on posting, but there IS a 20,000 character limit, so to post it I have to. Anyway, comments, questions and ways to improve can be left in the comments section.

This is the updated version, Works Cited is being worked on.

[BLAIN]

Lifespan Estimates

Predator age has never been directly addressed, for human encounters with them are usually short and violent. However, subtle clues are left here and there each time they visit earth, and thusly an approximation can be made.
   Such a clue is left in the trophy case of the predator in Predator 2 in the form of a skull (above). One can note the similarities between the two skulls already. The basic shape, the large teeth, and the eye sockets are all very similar to each other. The size is also an area of concern; they both dwarf human skulls by quite a bit, each looking capable of swallowing a human whole.  The largest tyrannosaurus skull on record was five feet long, with teeth growing up to nine inches in length (23 centimetres). The average human skull is approximately 22 centimetres long and 17 centimetres wide, making the dinosaur’s teeth longer than a human skull.

As you can see, the tooth is significantly smaller than the human skull. This could mean one of three things. The first is that this isn’t a tyrannosaurus at all; it is perhaps a creature from another planet. The second is that it is an undeveloped tyrannosaurus/youngling, however why would a predator hunt something like that? Is it not more honourable to hunt something larger/tougher? (more on that in the Psychology section). The third is that it is another dinosaur beside a tyrannosaurus, yet equally large.
   Examining the features of the creature further allows for the elimination of another of the listed possibilities. The “nose” area looks far more porous than a tyrannosaurus’ (small holes around the nose area). It has far less teeth, and they appear to be in more disarray than its counterpart. Finally, the most distinguishable feature is the extended mandible bones.

          This brings up yet another question: are there any dinosaurs that are approximately the same size as a tyrannosaurus (judging by the similar skull sizes) and had such extended mandibles? The answer, unfortunately, is no (there have been no human findings of such a dinosaur. They are mostly crustaceans and insects). The importance of discovering if this skull matches that of any dinosaur on record is because it can put an approximate age to the skull. Predators are honourable, and thus are not likely to display the trophy case of anyone but their own. Therefore, if that was the trophy case of the Predator in Predator 2, we can safely assume that they were alive 60+ million years ago (the last time a carnivorous dinosaur of such size was seen on earth). Another reason this hypothesis is further proven is in the condition of the skull; if it had been from 60 million plus years ago, it would not have looked so new (unless they have intense preservation technology. However, there seemed to be no barrier between Lieutenant Mike Harrigan and the trophy case, leading to the conclusion that there was no technological preservation. The skull looked just as new as the freshly killed King Willie. Thus, the conclusion can safely be drawn that this is the skull of a creature from another world.
          However, all hope is not lost. Another clue is displayed in Predator 2 which puts an approximate date on their age. When Lieutenant Mike Harrigan killed the predator, the rest of the ships’ crew de-cloaks and takes it away. As they are leaving, one of them throws Lt. Harrigan a gun with the inscription “Raphael Adolini 1715”. At that time the date was 1997, 282 years from the date on the guns inscription. Therefore, one can safely conclude that the predators live well over 200 years.
            Another point to back up this hypothesis is in Alien vs. Predator (2004), when the predator ship comes down to retrieve their fallen comrade.

          This is the face and mask of the oldest predator on their ship. He has clearly hunted xenomorphs before (conclusion drawn from the highlighted symbol on his face and mask; the dead predator did the same after he had killed some xenomorphs as well). These occur every 100 years, meaning that this predator is at least over 100 years old (he was definitely not on the hunt portrayed in the film. Thus, it must have been a prior one). However, if we also assume that this one is much older than all the others on the ship, and they have all proven themselves men in the same fashion, then we can conclude that this predator is over 200 years old.
          Given the evidence from the films, what can be concluded is that Predators have a lifespan of well over 100 years, with the date on the gun in Predator 2 leading to the hypothesis that they live well over 250 years.

Psychology

   Predator society clearly revolves around the hunt. Their passage to manhood involves successfully completing one, the most challenging of which was portrayed in Alien vs. Predator, in which three predators hunt xenomorphs for the right to be considered men. However, Aliens are not the only creatures they hunt. They stalk and kill men and animals as well, including those from planets other than earth. The larger and more dangerous the creature, the more honour one brings to your name.
   Trophy cases are common, not only in predator society but in human culture as well. Human hunters occasionally keep the skulls or heads of the animals they have hunted, such as deer, moose or bears. Why do they do this? They are proud of their accomplishments and wish to display them to the rest of the world. Yet predators take it to a whole new level. Their entire culture is based on the hunt. Their trophy cases are like their identities; the larger the trophy case, the more respected and manly you are. And yet, as the age old adage goes, it’s not all about quantity, but quality as well.
   Honour is a trait that almost all predators share. Why do they only kill creatures which are armed and dangerous, when there are many other innocent, easier things to kill? They do this because it is honourable. To kill an unarmed, unsuspecting creature, such as a weak human child or female, is not honourable. It is too easy. They like the challenge, and the more challenges you conquer the more respect you get from your brethren. Why did the creature in Predator not kill Anna? Why did the predator in Predator 2 not kill the pregnant Leona Cantrell? Why did it not kill the child, or the dying Mr. Weyland in Alien vs. Predator? The sole reason is because they were not armed, it was not a challenge, and it would have been a dishonour to slay such innocent, easy creatures. They honour their dead as well, evident in Predator 2 and Alien vs. Predator when a group of elderly predators retrieve the body of their fallen comrade, perhaps for a predator death ritual (such as a funeral procession).
   Yet these actions also bring up another psychological possibility; the predators have superiority complexes. They clearly consider themselves the greatest species in the universe. They think that the only challenge in life is to arm themselves with the least possible equipment and go hunt dangerous creatures. More often than not they succeed, and this only further fuels the complex. If a predator fails, they are considered lesser and weak. They have the technology to easily conquer nearly every creature and planet they encounter, and yet they prefer to give themselves challenges. They even consider themselves ‘above’ the xenomorphs, trapping them and hunting them for sport. And yet, in a way, they are correct; they ARE the greatest species in the universe. They are technologically and physically superior to nearly every creature they hunt. Yet over time they have let this go to their heads, and thus the superiority complex is formed. They like to savour victory, and oftentimes silently mock their victims. Take the final fight in Predator, for example; the hunter could have clearly killed Dutch then and there, but it preferred to savour the moment and taunt him. This resulted in its defeat. In Alien vs. Predator, the predator had the net head alien captured and defeated. A quick, simple stab would have sufficed to kill it once and for all. Yet, again, the predator prefers to taunt the supposedly ‘defeated’ victim. The xenomorph eventually breaks free from the net (due to its molecular acid blood) and kills the predator. Finally, in Predator 2, the predator stands over Mike Harrigan and slowly approaches him, relishing the victory it thinks it achieved. This once again results in its downfall, with Mike regaining his composure and stabbing the hunter in its stomach, a fatal blow. This superiority complex, whilst not unfounded, has contributed to the downfall of a predator in almost every film they appear in.
   The final trait these creatures share is that they are proud, proud of their technological successes, so much so that they are willing to die just to prevent other creatures from retrieving their technology. Look at the hunter in Predator; when it has been defeated, instead of letting its body and technology be retrieved by humans, it commits suicide and takes out everything in a large radius (see Self Destruct/Bomb). In Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, the predator kills a policeman who saw him using their equipment. They are vicious, they are violent, and they are cocky, but predators are also extremely honourable and proud creatures.

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Physical Attributes/Appearance

    What one must remember is that each predator has unique features, evident in the difference between the creatures displayed in Predator and Predator 2. Therefore, these features may change slightly (in colour or magnitude), but they are still present nonetheless.

Head: The predator has an ovular shaped scalp surrounded by two rows of sharp, protruding ridges, which could possibly be bone or cartilage. The top of the head comes down and forms a permanent frown on the creature’s face above the eye sockets, which go deep into the head (more than one inch deep). This is a possible protective measure to ensure the safety of the predator’s eyes. The eyes themselves vary in colour from predator to predator, with the original (Predator) having yellow, cat-like eyes with pitch black irises. The skin on the head varies in tone between each creature, with the original having dark beige skin covered in black spots all over the face. These spots seemed to be most numerous in the middle of the scalp, turning it almost completely black. These can be likened to human freckles, which also occur erratically around the face and, sometimes, the body.
          Below the eyes is the mouth, with no visible nose on the creature. The mouth is surrounded by four extended mandibles, two on the upper jaw and two on the lower. The lower mandibles extend further and are far larger than their upper jaw counterparts. All four are tipped by long, sharp fangs or tusks. The mandibles on the upper jaw and lower jaw are connected by a sheet of beige skin. The mandibles can be brought over the mouth to hide it completely, with predators often doing so while wearing their masks.
          The inside of the mouth looks almost exactly like the interior of the female reproductive organ. The skin around it is pink, very similar to the colour of human gums. The interior of the sheet of skin connecting the mandibles is also the same colour. The mouth opening is small and ovular, with two rows of four teeth above and below it. These teeth are small (less than one inch) and extremely sharp, with a yellow-brown colouring.
          The predator hair is jet black, extending down to rest on the creature’s shoulders (if they were to be let down fully, they would probably extend to halfway between the shoulder and armpit). They are arranged in neat, tube-like styles, much like a human Rastafarian does with his/her hair. They are often decorated with gold coloured ornaments, fitting onto the tubular hair like a ring on a human finger. Oftentimes some of the predator’s hair is too short to be put into such a style, or is neglected, and can be seen protruding from the ridges surrounding the scalp.
         The neck of the predator is usually covered by a layered, decorated piece of varying colours, with jewellery hanging off of it. This could possibly be used for protecting the creature’s extremely thick neck.
          A predator’s head is far larger than that of a human’s, and instead of being straight it angles forward and slightly down.
         It is hypothesized that, as predators’ age, their skin wrinkles and their hair gets greyer, much like that of an aging human. This is evident in the predator elder in Alien vs. Predator. A picture of him is below, the link at the very bottom.
       Also, veterans of many hunts also have inscriptions on their mandible tusks/fangs, probably doing so for the same reason as they mark their masks and foreheads with the blood of the xenomorphs; to symbolize their victory in the hunt.

http://www.stuckinthe80s.com/image.php?productid=16577
Face of Predator in Predator 2 (bottom right)
http://dietrichthrall.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/predator.jpg
Predator 1 Predator (for comparison to above)
http://www.icollector.com/images/1202/14989/14989_0945_1_lg.jpg
Predator head front and side
http://members.iinet.net.au/~jaherne/thehunted/homeworld/elder.jpg
Predator Elder


Arms, Legs, Hands, Feet: A predator is a bipedal creature with the same basic upright stance as a man. They have broad shoulders with long, thick arms (composed entirely of muscle; no jiggling fat has ever been observed) which extend down to the creature’s knees (much like the arms of a human). They have five fingered hands (four fingers and one thumb), ending in sharp, black claws. Their hands are far larger than a human face, given that human hands fit perfectly over their face, and predator hands are undeniably larger. Therefore, the size of the predators’ hands could be measured through the size of the creatures’ face. Like humans, the skin on the underside of their hands is soft, but the colour is a darker shade of beige. The top of their hands is the same colour, except hardened and riddled with their black “freckles”.
               The legs start with huge, muscular thighs, extending to thick, strong calves and ending in large feet. All of this is the same beige colour, with black spots scattered all over. A predator’s foot has five toes, four larger ones in the front and one smaller one closer to the heel pointing inward (like a human big toe, except replaced by the pinky). The toes end in sharp, yellow toenails which can be used to dig into the ground so as to gain better footing. They are dually used for gripping walls when climbing, evidenced in the predators scaling of tall buildings in Predator 2.
                Their arms and legs bend using elbows and knees, just like humans. In Predator, the creature wore sandals. If, hypothetically, the creature had not, presumably the underside of its foot would react similar to how a human’s would; it would harden up to prevent serious damage and to deal with the harsh ground.

http://hippoversuswhale.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/predator_1.jpg
Dutch’s arms
http://thefilmstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/predator.jpg
Predator Screaming
http://www.geoffreygreene.com/ebay/predator/predator_feet.jpg
Predator Feet
http://hippoversuswhale.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/predator012909.jpg
Predator lifts Dutch


Midriff: The predator midriff is of the same basic design as that of a human’s, except larger and more muscular like the creature itself. It has toned and muscular abdominal muscles, clearly evident in the “six-pack” of abs. The creature had very muscular pecks, similar to those of human bodybuilders. However, there are no evident nipples on the creature. When on the hunt, the creature’s midsection is covered with black netting, the exact purpose of which is unknown (see Body Mesh under Technology and Equipment). The midriff is a beige colour with, like the rest of the body, black spots scattered throughout.

http://thefilmstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/predator.jpg
Predator Screaming

Possible Weights: Let us compare the predator to Dutch Schaeffer. The predator clearly dwarfs Dutch in weight, height and strength. An estimation of Dutch’s weight would be most accurate at 200-275 pounds. Therefore, it is safe to assume (given the obvious size differences) that a predator weighs over 300 pounds. The maximum would have to be close to five hundred or six hundred, depending on the height of the creature. As has been shown with facial features, each predator clearly has unique aspects to it. Therefore, it is hypothesized that predator weights range from 300-500 pounds.

Heights: In Predator, Dutch Schaeffer is clearly over six feet tall. In the final battle, the creature lifts him several feet off the ground (1-2.5 feet), and only then is he at eye level with the creature (it is still several inches taller). Therefore, it is safe to presume that predator heights range from 7-8.5 feet tall (the range is given due to the aforementioned variation in predator characteristics).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5c/Robert_Wadlow.jpg
Tallest man (8’11), no predator even close.
http://michaelmay.us/08blog/awesomelist/0618n_predator.jpg
Predator lifting man up
http://hippoversuswhale.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/predator012909.jpg
Predator lifts Dutch

Breathing

   What predators breathe is one of the major questions left unanswered in the films. There are many hypotheses on the topic, all of which are accompanied by at least some validity. Some people argue that, seeing as the predator spear tip in Predator 2 is made of elements not found on the periodic table, they could also breathe a gas which is not found on earth. Others question this theory by asking how predators, in all the movies they appear, are able to somehow survive so long without their masks, which (amongst other things) provide breathing gas. Some people say that predators breathe oxygen and don’t really need their masks to breathe at all. Whilst all of these arguments have some support, they all have major flaws with them.
 Perhaps the best guess, however, is that the predator respiratory system depends on nitrogen. 78% of earth’s atmosphere is made of nitrogen, with the second closest being oxygen (consisting of approximately 21% of the atmosphere). Humans breathe in a wide array of gases (including nitrogen), with oxygen being the only one useful to the body. There are numerous reasons for this hypothesis. The first is that, given the large amount of the gas in earth’s atmosphere, it would explain how the predators are able to survive so long without their masks on their hunting trips. They can easily breathe in the more-than-ample amount that earth has to offer, using it and exhaling the other gases (such as oxygen) that their bodies don’t need.
Another hypothesis is that the predators only breathe pure nitrogen. Why does this make a difference? When inhaled by humans, it acts as an anesthetic to block the suffocating feeling during breath-holding, caused not by lack of oxygen but by a buildup of carbon dioxide. This feeling is what normally tells humans when to exhale and inhale. The inhalation of pure nitrogen poses a severe problem, called nitrogen-asphyxiation. This occurs because the nitrogen blocks the suffocating feeling, and thusly humans aren’t told when to breathe. Then, due to the absence of the sensation, they forget to breathe in and suffocate to death. Predators might be affected by this same feeling, and thusly can hold their breathe for extended periods of time. The fact that they still survive so long without a breathing apparatus, however, indicates that the creatures would have to have far larger lung capacity than humans. This is entirely possible given their tremendous physical advantages by comparison. This could be likened to whales, who surface every twenty minutes to breathe, and are able to forgo exhaling and inhaling for so long due to their massive lung capacity.
   The question that is raised, then, is why the hunter from Predator 2 needed a breathing apparatus. The best hypothesis on the subject, in keeping with the nitrogen-breathing theory, is that the pollution from the city affected the creature. If the predator can breathe the nitrogen from the surrounding air, it can also inhale the greenhouse gases that are guaranteed to be present in the Los Angeles air. In 1997, when the events of Predator 2 occurred, Los Angeles had the second highest air pollution numbers in the United States, with millions of people dying each year due to it (air pollution directly and indirectly kills people). If the predator (for whatever reason) attempts to breathe the surrounding air, but can only breathe pure nitrogen, it would then be in trouble in two ways; one, because of the other gases it inhaled (not pure nitrogen) and two, because of the pollution. Another plausible explanation is that the predator suffered a punctured lung when Mike Harrigan shot it in the slaughterhouse. This is assuming, of course, that the creature has lungs in the same spot as humans do.
   One of the main reasons why almost all creatures on earth use oxygen and exhale everything else is because it is usable in their bodies. The oxygen is inhaled and passed through the lungs into the bloodstream. It keeps the heart pumping and blood flowing. The only multi-celled organism which does not use oxygen (only recently discovered, opening up a wide array of possibilities of life on other planets) is an unnamed type of Loricifera, a less than one millimetre long bottom dweller that lives three thousand metres under the sea in an area without oxygen. However, even these creatures do not use nitrogen like humans use oxygen. Therefore, how is it possible for the predators to do so? There is no ‘alien anatomy mystery’ theory needed to describe this. On earth, there are specific bacteria* which contain nitrogenase enzymes. These convert the nitrogen from earth’s atmosphere into a form which can be used by higher organisms through a process called nitrogen fixation*. Perhaps the predator has some form of anatomical feature which can do precisely what these bacteria do, thus making nitrogen to the predators as oxygen is to humans.   

What the Predator Literature Indicates: In the comic Predator Homeworld, it is implied that the predators breathe 1% more oxygen and 4% more nitrogen than humans, and that they are capable of surviving on earth without a breathing apparatus for up to a week.

* There are several different types of bacteria which perform nitrogen fixation. These include Azotobacter, Beijerinckia, some Klebsiella, some Cyanobacteria, some Clostridium, Desulfovibrio, photosynthetic bacterium (such as green sulphur bacteria) and Rhizobium.

* Nitrogen fixation is the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into compounds, such as ammonia, which can be used by plants and other organisms. On earth, this duty is performed by micro organisms in the soil.

[BLAIN]

Predator Sight, Smell, and Hearing

Sight: When a predator removes its mask, it sees in true thermal imaging. Its helmet somehow overlays its natural thermal image on top of one that resembles what humans see, allowing the predator to more accurately identify its surroundings. Without its mask, what it sees is a confusing mess of heat.
   For example, when the predator is hunting Dutch and his crew the surrounding forest is either black or blue, indicating low temperatures. The humans are the only things with a heat signature. However, this is clearly not indicative of the extremely high temperatures in the jungle. When the predator removes its mask, it sees the surrounding forest as a jumble of red, which is what a true thermal image of the setting would look like. Dutch’s body heat was also visible, clearly cooled down by the water and mud remaining on his body.

http://ioannis.virtualcomposer2000.com/astronomy/figs/predatorvision.jpg
Predator’s vision without mask
http://www.freewebs.com/avp_darkgods/Predator%20-%20Scanning%20in%20Thermal%20Vision%203.jpg
Predator vision with mask

   However, this brings up another question: why did the unmasked visions differ between the predators in Predator and Predator 2? The true predator vision of the first predator is shown above. In Predator 2, the creatures mask is taken off by Lieutenant Mike Harrigan in a slaughterhouse. The surroundings are not red, but blue. However, the blue is smudged and not as defined as when it had its mask on, similar to the confusing red of the first predator. The difference in colour is easily explained by the difference in heat; the jungle is far warmer than a cooled slaughterhouse, which had recently been sprayed by the fire sprinklers, further cooling the location. Mike Harrigan’s body heat is still seen by the creature.
   The next time the predator’s perspective is shown in Predator 2, Agent Keyes is spraying freezing gas at the creature. This is clearly cold, and the predator’s vision confirms that because it appears pitch black, indicating no heat at all. Its perspective is then shown from outside, and that is when the problem occurs; this is supposed to be the warmest year on record for Los Angeles, and yet the predator’s vision shows it as blue. However, one must take the situation into context; the predator is hanging from the side of a building, hands holding desperately onto both a ledge and Mike Harrigan’s bloodied arm, head pressed against a wall. The only possible explanation for the thermal vision change is that the walls which the predator is staring at don’t absorb very much heat, and thusly are colder (and appear so in the predator’s true thermal vision) than the surrounding air.
   The final time in which the predator’s vision is shown is when it is battling with Lt. Harrigan on its ship. The surrounding area once again appears blue, indicating a cool environment. One of the most plausible reasons for this is that the ship is being cooled to counter the intense heat outside, magnified because it is underground (meaning that heat is trapped, and therefore the surroundings are much warmer).
   Another unexplained phenomenon concerning the predator vision is in Alien vs. Predator, where the last surviving hunter is attacked by the queen. It does not have its mask on, and should therefore be seeing in the true thermal vision. Due to the intensely cold surrounding area, his sight should be riddled with either black or blue, the only heating coming from the burning whaling building and Alexa Woods. The xenomorphs have no body heat, and thus appear pitch black in thermal vision. How, then, was the last remaining predator able to see the queen? The only possible explanation for this is that the surroundings appeared blue and the alien appeared black, and the predator was able to vaguely make out the queens moving shape.
   However, another hypothesis on the matter is that there is genetic variation between predators, making some more suited for different earthly environments, such as a jungle, a city, or Antarctica.

Smell: The main question is whether or not predators smell. They have no visible or discernable noses anywhere on their head, leading to the possibility that they have no sense of smell. However, many animals on earth appear to have no noses and yet have amazing senses of smell.
   One such animal is the snake. Each time they stick out their tongues, they smell the surrounding air. However, predators have never displayed any tongue on their hunts, and therefore that hypothesis is highly unlikely.
   Sea birds, whilst at first glance not appearing to have noses, are equipped with two slits on the ends of their long beaks, which are nostrils. This opens up the possibility that perhaps the predators have smaller slits on their mandibles for just that purpose. However, if that is the case why would they carve symbols all over the elder predator’s mandible fangs in Alien vs. Predator? Would this not affect his sense of smell? This renders the hypothesis highly unlikely.
   Next, insects such as moths, butterflies, honeybees and ants have no nose, but an amazing sense of smell. This is because they have feelers/sensory organs at the ends of their antennae, which are used to smell. This is displayed when moths or butterflies are attracted by the scent of a female emerging from her cocoon. The predator has small hair at the top of its head, sticking out just where their braids join the skull. Perhaps these aren’t unused hairs at all, but are sensory organs which act much like those on the ends of ants’ antennas.

http://downwiththeinternet.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/thepredator.jpg
Look at the outer rim of the scalp: small “hair”…antennas?

   Another animal which has an amazing way of smelling is fish. They clearly cannot breathe in air and detect odours through a nose. They therefore have developed the ability to taste smells. This is a highly plausible method for the predators to smell as well.
   Finally, there is the theory that predators have no sense of smell whatsoever. They could be like vultures: people believe that they can smell dead carcasses miles away, but in reality they have amazing telescopic vision. The predator’s thermal vision makes them highly suited to hunting live prey, and thusly this is also a viable option.

Hearing: Clearly the predators hear; in Predator, it hears Billy’s laugh, Dutch’s breathing, Dutch’s question (“what the hell are you?”) and much more. However, there seems to be no ears on the predators head.
http://www.icollector.com/images/1202/14989/14989_0945_1_lg.jpg
Predator head

   Therefore, how can they hear? One hypothesis states that the predator’s mask is somehow connected to its brain, and literally hears for it. This could be possible given their far superior technology. However, this does not explain how the creature could hear Dutch’s panting while it was beating him with its mask off.
   When the predator fights Dutch, it can hear him panting and speaking, albeit in a much higher pitch than humans hear. It does not have its mask on, and thusly there must be some sort of anatomical hearing part on its body. Perhaps it has ears similar to humans, but tucked away behind its dreadlocks. This theory, whilst not improvable, is highly unlikely.
   The most likely hypothesis on the matter is that predators hear like snakes do; through vibrations in the earth and the surrounding air. They sense these vibrations and analyze them, resulting in the same sensation as when humans hear. This could be a possible explanation for how the predator was able to hear Agent Keyes’ team so easily in the slaughterhouse in Predator 2 (through both their movement and the noise they made), the subtle vibrations of the xenomorph crawling behind it in Alien vs. Predator, and the vibrations in the air caused by Dutch’s vine swinging in Predator.

Mandibles and Teeth

   The exact use of the mandibles is never directly explored. However, there are several viable theories on the topic, all of which have their strengths and weaknesses. The exact use could be one or a mixture of some of the following, or something totally different altogether.
   
1)   The predators could use their mandibles as a form of communication. There are only two possible ways this could work. Either they click the fangs together and communicate in a manner similar to Morse code, or they move them in designated patterns to communicate like sign language. The first one is far more likely than the second, for why would they use the mandibles for sign language if they have hands that work perfectly fine?

2)   They are a form of intimidation. When a predator screams, its mandibles open wide as if to amplify the sound and scare their prey. This can be likened to the actions of cobras, which flare their headrests to warn and scare away attackers.

3)   Like the crustaceans on earth that also have mandibles, the predators could use them to shovel food quickly into their mouths and to catch any dripping bits and juices from their meal.

4)   The mandibles could be used as a weapon. If a predator is in an intense fight without its mask, it could very well sink its mandible jaws into flesh and then begin to bite at its opponent with its inner jaw. This is an extremely valuable tool to have in a fight without equipment, as the mandibles act to hurt the victim (stab fangs into flesh), act as an anchor for the head and the mandible flesh protects the predators’ inner jaw.

5)   The mandibles could be used to stop asphyxiation (see Breathing).

Another unexplored topic is what the predator’s teeth are made of. Due to their alien nature, it is always a possibility that they are composed of elements and materials not found on earth (evident in the spear tip in Predator 2. See Substances Not Found On the Periodic Table). However, finding something similar on earth is always a good place to start.

http://www.collectoybles.com.au/catalog/images/sideshow_predator_head.jpg
Predator head and teeth

In the image above, one can clearly see that on the upper jaw the creature has two fangs separated by a few inches of pinkish gums. The bottom jaw has four smaller teeth, placed so that, if the jaws closed, they would fit into the gap between the fangs on the upper jaw. Most animals on earth have full sets of teeth on the upper and lower jaws. However, the large, protruding fangs on the upper jaws can be likened to those found on a snake, used for skin penetration and venom injection (except far thicker and larger). Several examples of the closest matching fangs and jaws of earth’s carnivores are shown below. However, none of them have upper jaws devoid of teeth other than fangs.
With a few modifications, the jaws of the saber tooth tiger could be an exact match. They had massive fangs on the top jaw with smaller, pointed teeth between them and on the lower jaw. The lower jaw had no such fangs. If every tooth in the top receded several inches (and, in the case of the massive fangs, many inches), there would be only fangs on the top with no smaller teeth between them.

http://www.stevespanglerphotography.com/images/Wild%20Animal%20Park%20-%20Male%20Lion%20Teeth%20-%208x12.jpg
Lion Teeth

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/antenna/snakefangs/images/Snake_skeleton.jpg
Snake teeth

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Wolf teeth

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Saber tooth tiger teeth

What all these sets of teeth share are a common makeup, each with four parts to it. The outer layer is enamel, the hardest substance in the body (of earthly creatures). Underneath the enamel is dentin, a far softer material than enamel which decays quickly. After this is Cementum, a bony substance that covers the root of a tooth. Finally there is the pulp, the center of a tooth which contains nerve tissue. It has blood vessels and nerves that enter from the root of the tooth.
   It is safe to say that if the predator’s teeth are made of substances found on earth, it would most likely comprise of those four parts, given that nearly every creature on earth with teeth shares this common composition. The mandible fangs, upon examination, seem to be made of the same stuff (based upon shape and colouration).

[BLAIN]

Diet and Digestion

   On earth, the presence of sharp fangs indicates a carnivorous nature. This is proven by the fact that the predator in Predator 2 makes frequent trips to a slaughterhouse to feed on cow carcasses. Its top fangs and sharp teeth on the lower jaw are perfect for holding and ripping through flesh, perhaps with the aid of the fangs on the end of the mandibles.
   The question that one must ask, however, is whether or not the creature is omnivorous. In the jungles in Predator, there was ample vegetation which the predator could have eaten. The answer, whilst never directly addressed in the films, can be discerned simply by looking at the teeth of the creature. The sharp teeth just are not meant for eating vegetation, designed more for ripping and cutting than for grinding. Take human teeth, for example; there are 28 teeth (excluding wisdom teeth), approximately two of which are sharp (on average), with the rest flat for grinding vegetation and such.
   What, then, did the predator eat whilst hunting Dutch Schaeffer’s team? The best theory is that it ate the local wildlife, such as pigs (they clearly inhabit that area; Mac kills one). Another says that maybe it eats the bodies of those that it hunts. However, this theory is highly suspect, given how the creature nonchalantly tosses Billy’s body off the tree after it has ripped his spine out. A final, rather morbid hypothesis arises from the question of what the predator does with the skin of its skinned victims. The answer may be that the creature consumes it.
   Further examination of the predator shows no teeth behind the visible ones. This indicates that predators eat their food in large chunks, given their lack of chewing teeth. This also indicates that their digestive tracts (or saliva, or both) are far more effective at breaking down large chunks of food than humans, who have digestive problems when they do not chew.

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Predator teeth (note the lack of chewing teeth behind the sharp ones)

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Human teeth (note the teeth extending back; front ones used for grabbing, back ones used for chewing)

Social Structure/Hierarchy and Role of Females/Sexuality/Development

   Predators clearly consider their elders (and subsequently those who are more successful on the hunt) as leaders, given that they are the commanders of their respective ships in Alien vs. Predator and Predator 2. This indicates that a predator’s hunting abilities and success on said hunts seem to have a direct correlation to social rank, further emphasizing the creatures’ love of the hunt.
   On the topic of reproduction, it is safe to assume that they reproduce. If they did not (considering that they do not live forever), then there would be no population. However, the method in which they do so is still questioned by many.
   There are two types of reproduction: Asexual and Sexual. Asexual reproduction is the method where cells split into two in order to increase their numbers. This is accompanied by no variation, with both cells (original and offspring) being the exact same. Predator and Predator 2 have indicated that no two predators are alike, which is proof of genetic variation. This is only present in species which reproduce sexually (genetics from both father and mother make child different from them, like mixing blue and yellow paint makes green). Therefore, the conclusion may safely be drawn that predators do not split themselves in two to reproduce. Thus, they must procreate sexually opening up two new options; do they live in an all male society, or do they have females with which the males breed? If they reproduced male to male, then they would have to be able to both give and receive a seed. This, whilst technically not improvable, is highly unlikely.
   That, then, opens up the possibility of a predator female society. There is no mention of females in the films, and thusly one can assume that they do not hunt often, if at all. One can then safely conclude that they are either considered above the petty hunting ways of the men, or are considered weaker and unable to succeed in hunts.  The second one is more likely, given the aforementioned correlation between social rank and success in the hunt. One does not see female predators going to the pyramid in Antarctica to hunt xenomorphs to become women.
   Therefore, predators must be born. Assuming similar birthing methods to creatures on earth (with pregnancy times probably longer than humans given larger size), they emerge from the womb as small infants. That, then, begs the question how long does it take for predators to grow to their full size? A possible answer to that question lies in Alien vs. Predator. Every 100 years, young predators go to Antarctica, Earth to hunt the deadliest prey (xenomorphs) and become men. This indicates that, at the time, they are close to 100 years old (give or take a few years). They have clearly grown to full size, given that the predator elder that comes to collect the dead youngling is approximately the same height and width as him. However, predators clearly need to be taught in the ways of their society, how to hunt, their ethics and code of honour, and how to use their extensive array of technology. One can safely assume that this takes many years to do. It can then be hypothesized that predators take much longer than humans to grow to full size (given their massive height, weight and muscle structure), with a good guess being 40-70 years, with around 15+ being taken up by training for their manhood rituals. However, given their reverence of hunting, in those 40-70 years of development they may go on easier hunts, gradually getting harder and harder so that they build both muscle and a hunting mind. The younger they start, the better they will be.

What the Predator Literature Indicates: Predator: Forever Midnight says that predators are capable of changing sexes, and that females give birth to large amounts of children. Predator: Flesh and Blood states that whilst female predators do not typically engage in hunts, they are allowed to and sometimes do.

Skin Density, Muscle Structure, Bones, Nerves and Pain Reception

   A predator is dually capable of coping with far more pain and surviving fatal wounds than any man. This could be due to several reasons: perhaps their skin is denser, perhaps their muscle structure is far firmer (thus protecting it), they have tougher bones, they have extremely active adrenaline (or another chemical with similar pain numbing abilities), or their nerves are far less sensitive than a man’s. At any rate, nearly every wound that the predators suffer would have either killed or rendered a man unconscious. This section will look at those wounds, and compare the predator’s reaction to that of a man in the same situation.
   In Predator, the creature is first wounded by Mac after it killed Blain with its plasma caster. He sees the predator’s faint outline and glowing yellow eyes, causing him to fire copious amounts of bullets at the creature, one of which hits it in the left thigh. The predator’s blood is splashed on a leaf, but other than that there is very minimal bleeding. The gun Mac fired at it with was an M60E3 with a short barrel, a weapon which fires 7.62 mm rounds (see picture below). In a man, this would have penetrated deep into the thigh and caused far more bleeding than what was displayed by the predator. A human would not have been able to walk, let alone run as the predator did, without limping or collapsing. The bullet did not penetrate very deep into the predator’s flesh, and it was still able to use the leg for retreating at a sprinter’s pace. Perhaps adrenaline was flowing through its body caused by the fight or flight response (in this case, flight), subsequently numbing the pain. When it is treating itself, we see that the creature clearly can feel pain, evident in its clutching of the leg and loud roar. This is a perfect example of the creature’s high pain tolerance.

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7.62 mm round

   Next, when the predator is exploring the fire that Dutch created, a grenade explodes less than a meter away from it. If this happened to a man, he would have been thrown violently backwards and had numerous, bloody injuries to the front of his body. However, the predator managed to not only survive, but come away from the incident with minimal injuries. The second time this happens, Dutch throws the grenade-tipped spear at the predator, and it explodes right beside its head whilst it was hiding in a tree. Again, this would have been fatal to a man, but the predator manages to come away from the incident with minor injuries, dripping far less blood than a man would have. Finally, the predator survives having a several hundred pound log dropped on it from a few meters above its head. This would have crushed a man and broken nearly every bone in his body, but the predator manages to live long enough to speak with Dutch and laugh hysterically, indicating that either its lungs were undamaged (meaning extremely tough bones/ribcage) or it dealt with the extreme pain associated with ribcage bones puncturing the lung (numbed nerves/high pain tolerance), before starting self-destruct. Even if a human had survived the grenades, he or she would have been in such immense pain that they would have been hindered in any other physical activities. The predator, on the other hand, took the injuries in stride and was still able to perform at a near perfect level.

   In Predator 2, the hunter survives nine shots from a Remington 1100 12-gauge (fired by Mike Harrigan, see photo below of shell) at point blank range. One hit its helmet and did no damage, one hit its leg, and the other seven hit the stomach-chest area. This same gun had killed drug dealers protected by body armour with one shot at the same range. Eight shots did not manage to kill the predator, and the shell which hit the leg did not stop the creature from running. The shots to the chest indicate that the creature has dense skin, an extremely tough muscle structure, and bones capable of stopping bullets. The fact that the creature was able to run even with the shot in its leg indicates a high pain tolerance. What this shows is that the predator’s skin/muscle/bone structure is tougher than the body armour worn by the drug dealers.

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12-gauge shotgun shell

   Next, the predator has its hand cut off by Mike Harrigan and falls at least a hundred feet, before crashing through a brick wall. It proceeds to compose itself, arrange a medical table and perform medical procedures. If a man had his/her hand cut off and fell at least a hundred feet through a brick wall, they would (at the very least) be unable to get up. The pain from both instances would have been so intense that their brains would have rendered them unconscious to avoid the sensations. And yet the predator is able to get up, heal itself, and run away. It is then able to attack Mike Harrigan and almost kill him. This is well beyond the capabilities of a man in the same situation.
   
   In Alien vs. Predator, the last surviving predator is stabbed through the right arm by an alien as he and Alexa are preparing to escape from the pyramid chamber under the ice. When the xenomorph queen attacks, he is hit in the chest by her tail with enough force to send him flying at least fifteen feet away, to crash violently into some wood. And yet, even after all that he is able to use his right arm to generate enough force to stab the alien queen through the head with his combi stick. He is then stabbed through the chest by the queen’s tail, surviving for several seconds before being thrown away and dying. However, the sheer fact that he was able to use his right arm after being stabbed in the shoulder is an extraordinary feat, one which would have been even more difficult (perhaps even impossible) for a human. The force of the queen’s blow would have caused a human’s rib cage to cave in (and penetrate their lungs, a fatal wound) and sent them flying much further, seriously wounding or killing them instantly.

   Finally, in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, the predator is able to survive being thrown through the concrete wall of a sewer by the predalien, survive falling several meters and impaling himself on a short metal pole through the stomach-chest area (which he seemed to shrug off with no more than a quiet, momentary roar), and get tossed around like a rag doll by the predalien before getting stabbed by the creature. The only thing that seemed to kill it was a missile. However, each of these events would have caused wounds with a much higher degree of severity in humans, each and every one of them capable of stopping further physical activity. Yet the predator was able to get up, take minimal time to recuperate, and get back into the action as if nothing happened.

The question, then, is what makes the predators’ bones, skin and muscles so tough. In humans, bones gain their strength through mineral salts, specifically calcium phosphate, and their flexibility through a protein called collagen*. These are the ingredients which make up the bone matrix. This matrix is split into two parts: compact bone and cancellous bone. The former is extremely dense and is made up of osteons*, which give compact bone the strength to resist being bent or twisted (compact bone is the second hardest material in the human body, after tooth enamel). Cancellous bone, on the other hand, is composed of trabeculae*, which have lots of spaces between them. These trabeculae are narrow and provide extremely high pressure and stress resistance, and yet are extremely light.
   Predator bones, however, are clearly far stronger than those of humans. This would indicate higher concentrations of calcium phosphate (and other mineral salts which give bones their strength), thus allowing for higher bones strength. However, this would also account for lower levels of collagen, thus decreasing flexibility and the ability to resist stretching. If one increased the amount of the mineral salts and collagen (but maintaining equal concentrations), the end result would be larger human bones. The predator bones are clearly larger, given their size by comparison to humans (specifically Dutch Schaeffer, at the pinnacle of human fitness). However, seeing as trabeculae provide resistance to pressure and stress, if one were to decrease the spaces between them, one would hypothetically achiever far denser and stronger, yet still lightweight bones.

   For predator muscles to be stronger than humans’ (tougher, denser, more resistant), they would need to undergo similar exertions as bodybuilders, tearing and repairing their muscles through torturous muscle activity until they were huge, dense and strong. Human muscles occur in layers and account for over forty percent of their mass. Perhaps a predators’ body has both the huge, dense and strong muscles, as well as over 40% (perhaps 60%-80%) muscle mass. This would mean that their muscular system is far denser/tougher and larger/heavier than humans’, thus providing more strength and protection than human muscles would.

Predator skin, described in detail in Physical Appearance/Attributes, could also be a factor in the predators’ ability to withstand and cope with far more attacks than humans. Human skin is at most two millimeters thick, and is comprised of two layers. The upper layer is the epidermis. This, in turn, is made up of two layers; the pink upper part (made of dead skin cells which resist water and act as a tough barrier from the outside world) and the red lower part (which replaces the dead cells in the upper layer). Below the epidermis is the yellow, thicker dermis, which has nerves, blood vessels, hair roots and sweat glands inside it. Predator skin could have the same composition, but with a far thicker epidermis (at around 2-3cm). This would help protect the nerves below it, thus accounting for the predators’ high pain tolerance: any attack would have to penetrate deeper into predator skin to be felt. This, coupled with the predators’ thicker bones and muscles, would make a formidable protection of the internal organs, thus making them extremely difficult to kill.

   In conclusion, what can be safely assumed is that predators have either skin, muscles or bones (or all three) that are far stronger than those of humans. Because of these, they are able to survive and continue fighting after events which would have left humans dead or unable to do any strenuous physical activity. Their skin/bone/muscle structure is so tough that it protects the predator’s important internal organs from attack better than that of human body armour.

What the Predator Literature Indicates: In Predator: South China Sea, it is stated that the predator’s armour injects pain killers into injured areas. In Alien vs. Predator: Prey, the predators are shown to have technology capable of regenerating amputated body parts. However, they do not often use this equipment, for wounds sustained in the hunt are honourable proof of ones hunting success. In Predator: Cold War, a threesome of predators leans against a boiler which was supplying heat to an entire Russian station. This would have caused second degree burns in a man, and yet the predators were able to get away unscathed after extended periods of exposure. This indicates extremely resilient skin.

*Collagen: Encarta World English Dictionary: a fibrous protein found in skin, bone, cartilage, tendon, and other connective tissue. There are more than 25 types in the body.

*Osteons: http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/osteon: the basic central structural unit of compact bone, consisting of the haversian canal and its concentric rings of 4 to 20 lamellae. Most of the units run with the long axis of the bone. Also called haversian system.

*Trabeculae: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Trabeculae: Any of the fine spicules forming a network in cancellous bone.

[BLAIN]

Technology and Equipment

Mask: A predator’s mask has many important duties to perform whilst on a hunt. Like no two predators are alike, the same can be said about their masks, each with a unique identifying element. These masks fit perfectly around the creature’s face, with the predator having to fold its extended mandibles close to its mouth in order to put it on. They cover the predator’s face and scalp, leaving the Rastafarian-like hair, neck and back of the head exposed.
   A predator’s mask has many functions: translation, zoom, different vision modes, sound amplifier, bio-readouts, a recorder (with playback function), aim (three dots in a triangular formation come from an indentation in the left side of the predator’s mask), and respiration.
   The translation, zoom, sound amplifier, and recorder functions (along with the different vision modes: see further down) are used on every predator hunting trip. Whilst hunting humans, the creature can be many meters away and still capture data on what its prey is saying. The most prominent example is when it is stalking Dutch Schaeffer’s crew from a tree in the outlying forest during the aftermath of the raid on the rebel camp. Anna smacks Dillon and the faint sound is heard, whilst Mac’s “over here” is also audible. The creature proceeds to zoom in on him whilst he’s talking. The zoom function is most prominently displayed, however, in Predator 2, when Mike Harrigan is being escorted to see King Willy. The predator zooms in on the speeding car (which is at least half a kilometer away) and on Jerry Lambert (several hundred meters away) so that it looks as if the creature is right beside him. The recording function is used most prominently in Predator, when the creature play’s back Mac’s phrases “over here” and “anytime” to distract and manipulate its prey.
   The respiration (for more information on what predators breathe, see Breathing) and aim function are also used on every hunt. Whether or not the creature has a portable supply of its breathing gas, or if it just filters something from earth’s atmosphere is still up for debate, with the latter the more likely of the two (due to the lack of visual evidence in favour of a portable gas canister). The aim function works in two ways: on the outside of the mask, three red dots in a triangular formation point towards where the predator intends to fire. On the inside of the mask, the predator sees a solid, red triangle appear around the target, indicating a “lock-on”.
   The vision modes are one of the most debated topics concerning predator technology. Clearly they have a variant of infrared vision, which is their default visual setting. However, in Predator 2 the creature cycles through several different visions, one of which can be confirmed as ultraviolet (UV) light detection (given that the creature clearly sees the UV lights of agent Keyes and his team, and everything else is nearly completely indistinguishable). Besides that, what exactly the other vision modes are is a mystery.
   However, one of the most logical hypotheses on the matter is that the predator has visions which can detect objects in every spectrum of light (i.e the electromagnetic spectrum). This includes gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet light, visible light (to humans), infrared and microwaves. Gamma rays are caused by the interaction of subatomic particles. These rays are extremely harmful to human health, with skin exposure leading to severe radiation burns. The x-ray portion of the spectrum is, as the name suggests, what medical professionals use to see the interior of the human body. In Predator 2 and Alien vs. Predator, the creatures use an infrared-x-ray vision cross to see inside the bodies of Leona Cantrell and Charles Bishop Weyland respectively. This leads to the identification of Leona’s pregnancy and Mr. Weyland’s heart condition, the reasons why the predators spare them (in Mr. Weyland’s case, only momentarily). The ultraviolet light is easily proven through how the predator in Predator 2 detected agent Keyes’ UV lights, as previously mentioned. The infrared setting is the creature’s default vision mode, modified by a visible light overlaying image (see Predator Sight, Smell, and Hearing). Finally, microwave radiation is used in communication (satellite communications, radio broadcasting, and other long range transmissions), radar, navigation signals, and power (microwave heating is often used in an industrial setting, like the slaughterhouse in Predator 2, to dry and cure products), amongst other things.
   However, there is one remaining question that must be answered: how does the predator detect xenomorphs? When the predator switches vision modes to, shall we say, Alien Vision (AV), the creature is portrayed as a glowing green object, whilst the surroundings are nearly pure black. The creature has no body heat, and thus does not appear on the predator’s infrared vision mode. How, then, does it see the creature?
   There are several theories on the matter. The first is that perhaps the vision is a slight variation on human night vision. The second is that it is a combination of x-ray and xenomorph acid detection. It could also be an alien slime detector, high output bioelectricity viewer or a reverse infrared vision (which only shows things with zero body heat). All of these have support and contradictions from the films.
   When the first predator is killed in Alien vs. Predator, its hunting partner turns on AV. The surroundings are completely black and all that is portrayed is the creature itself, glowing green. This alone supports all four theories. However, when one takes into account how the dead predator which had just been stabbed by the xenomorph appears in this vision, two of the theories are discredited. The predator appears as light green, almost the exact same colour as the alien. This goes against the theory of reverse infrared (because the predator would still have all of its body heat, and thusly should appear black like the walls, which appeared heated in the infrared vision) and the theory of x-ray and xenomorph blood detection (because the xenomorph did not bleed on the predator when it killed him). This leaves three options: a slight variation on human night vision, xenomorph slime detection (because the xenomorph, upon touching him, would have had to have transferred at least trace amounts of slime), or the high output bioelectricity viewer (humans appear black, predator appears light green and aliens bright green, meaning that the aliens have a higher bioelectrical output than predators, who in turn have a higher output than humans).
   Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem provides some extra evidence in support of the two remaining theories. When the predator fights the blossoming xenomorph infestation in the sewer system, his AV shows all the walls as light green, with the aliens still bright green. The walls of the sewer clearly have at least trace amounts of the slime (given that the aliens have been crawling on them and inhabiting the system for at least several hours), with the majority concentrated on the xenomorphs themselves. This would account for the variation in colouring between the walls (mild equals minimal slime) and the alien itself (bright equals substantial slime). The high output bioelectricity viewer is also backed up by this (perhaps the slime itself, which is on the walls, gives off its own faint electrical output). However, none of these can be proven for sure, given that there is no concrete evidence denying or 100% confirming one or the other.
   Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem also reveals another feature of the predators’ mask. Earlier in the film, the predator was able to take a sample of preservation fluid from the facehugger canisters, insert a sample into his wrist computer, and detect that substance. This indicates that the masks are highly adaptable/programmable, indicating that they can easily be used to detect the presence of any substance, as long as a sample is given.
   Another problem arises when one asks how the predators control their masks. Predator 2 shows that the vision functions are controlled through the wrist computer. However, the aim and firing abilities most certainly are not. The two most prominent (and viable) theories on the matter are that the mask is connected to the creatures’ brain, and it controls it through thought (mask reads certain brain waves/signals associated with different commands), or that the mandibles push buttons on the inside of the mask. The second one is most likely, with the brain control theory lacking any visual “connection” from the mask to the brain.

What the Predator Literature Indicates: In Predator: Concrete Jungle, the hunter’s thermal vision highlights xenomorphs as green with a blue background. This is, however, in gross contradiction of what is portrayed in the films. In the Predator 2 novel, the creature controls his mask telepathically. With it, he can focus on certain events and filter out unwanted noise.


Cloaking: A predator cloaks first by pressing three buttons on his wrist computer. Then, starting from the top of the head, his body becomes nearly invisible, the only indications of the creature’s presence being a distortion of the area behind it and a faint outline around it. Looking through a predator when it is cloaked can be likened to looking through someone else’s glasses, whose prescription does not match your own.
   The question arises as to how the predator is able to cloak so efficiently. The answer, surprisingly, is not far-fetched. Humans have been able to create devices which render objects invisible to one of the rays in the electromagnetic spectrum. There are three methods which have been used to achieve this, each of which still has technological barriers to overcome before perfection can be achieved.
   The first method is to use holographic technology, a feat which the predators have already succeeded in (see Holographic Technology, below). How, though, does one go about using this technology to render something or someone invisible? You could “photograph the scenery behind a person and project that background image directly onto a person’s clothes…” (Kaku 31) The technological hurdle that man has faced in doing so is that they have not been able to create a holographic camera which can operate at 30 or more frames per second. However, given the predator’s clearly superior technology and proven success in the field of holographic imagery, this method of cloaking is perhaps the most likely of the three.
   The second method is through the use of metamaterials, objects which are manufactured with optical properties not found in nature (on earth). These are created by embedding tiny implants within a substance that forces electromagnetic waves to bend in unorthodox ways. These metamaterials manipulate the index of refraction* so that light passes around an object (like water flows around a boulder/obstacle), rendering it invisible. Man has succeeded in rendering objects invisible in the microwave radiation spectrum, and are currently (as of 2010) working on ways to do the same for the visible light spectrum. In the case of the predators, it is not unlikely that they may, in fact, use metamaterials for their cloaking, with the tiny implants inserted into their flesh and all over their bodies.
   The third and final method of rendering something invisible is through the use of plasmonics. In his book “Physics of the Impossible”, Michio Kaku states:

“The goal of plasmonics is to “squeeze” light so that one can manipulate objects at the nanoscale, especially on the surface of metals. The reason metals conduct electricity is that electrons are loosely bound to metal atoms, so they can freely mover along the surface of the metal lattice…But under certain conditions, when a light beam collides with the metal surface, the electrons can vibrate in unison with the original light beam, creating wavelike motions of the electrons on the metal surface (called plasmons), and these wavelike motions beat in unison with the original light beam. Most important, one can “squeeze” these plasmons so that they have the same frequency as the original beam (and hence, carry the same information) but have a much smaller wavelength.” (Kaku 26-27)
   That, then, would result in invisibility. Any of these could be used by the predators as a method for invisibility. It is also a possibility that they could have created a new, more efficient and effective way of cloaking. However, these three techniques are what human scientists of the twenty-first century are expanding upon, trying to render something completely invisible in the visible light spectrum.

*Index of Refraction: Encarta World English Dictionary: the ratio of the speed of refracted light in a vacuum or reference medium to its speed in the medium under examination.

Medical Kit: In Predator, the creature pushes a button and a portable medical kit slides out. This kit contains a liquid used to clean the bullet wound the predator sustained from Mac’s gun (possibly alcohol), a clamp to grab the bullet lodged inside the creature’s leg (or perhaps the clamp the wound closed), a scalpel, and an injector needle (amongst several other, unidentifiable objects).
   The predator in Predator 2, however, came far more medically equipped. His medical kit was approximately the size of a briefcase, which had a fold up top. It contained a mini-saw (perhaps used for breaking bones), several clamps, a large harpoon-like needle (injects fluid into predator after wounds had been cauterized, possibly anesthetic, adrenaline or another substance with similar effects), a fold-out Bunsen burner, a vial of blue liquid (see Blue Chemical under Weapons), and a scoop. The Bunsen burner starts out folded up as a circular middle with an upward curving extension. Then, at a push of a button, the extension folds out into a bowl. The middle of the bowl is a protruding circle with three small bronze tubes extending from it. Pushing on the middle causes a fire to spew from the bronze tubes (these tubes possibly spew methane, which is extremely flammable with oxygen). The colour of the flame is white, indicating a temperature of 1300 to 1600 degrees Celsius (typical of human Bunsen burners). The predator puts drywall and tile into the bowl, which is melted by the extremely warm flame. It then pours the blue liquid onto the now-melted drywall/tile, which causes a massive flame to appear (same effect as gasoline on an open fire). The resulting substance is viscous and blue, which is gathered in small quantities by the scooper and placed over the predator’s wounds. This has a cauterizing effect, sealing the large wound the creature sustained after having its hand cut off.

Body Mesh: A predator’s body mesh is a black material which covers nearly ever inch of the creature’s body (save for the hands, feet and head), in a pattern similar to that found in chain link fences. The exact use of this mesh is unknown, with many hypotheses put forth on the subject. However, there are three which shine through as the most viable options. These include the theories that the mesh is used as a heating device, as a conduit for their cloaking, or merely as hunting attire (or a combination of all three).
   The hypothesis that the mesh is used for heating purposes is definitely plausible. If the predators ran an electric current through the mesh, that would generate a large amount of heat, varying with the size of the current. The major question, however, is why the creature would need heating in such hot locations, such as Los Angeles and the forests of Guatemala. Anna in Predator said “only in the hottest years this happens.” Why, then, would the creatures come in the hottest years and still need to be kept warm? It is a question that directly ties into the debate of whether the creatures are warm or cold blooded (see Blood).
   The mesh could definitely be used as a conduit for the cloaking device, aiding in rendering the creature’s entire body invisible (with the helmet serving the same function for the head, presumably). The only problem with this theory, however, is that there is no mesh on the predator’s hands and feet (and head, but presumably the helmet would share the same function). Therefore, how does the creature make these parts invisible? It is also shown in Predators that the cloaking device can be used without the mesh, evident in the mesh-less super black predator and Noland, who cloaked only with the wrist computer and helmet.
   The final theory that the mesh is standard hunting attire has no evidence to disprove it. However, why the creatures would use the mesh in the first place if this was the sole function is still a mystery.

What the Predator Literature Indicates: The Alien vs. Predator novel says that the mesh is used for heat generation. In Predator: Concrete Jungle, some Los Angeles gangsters were able to steal the predator’s cloaking technology. They were able to use it without the mesh, a clear argument against the cloaking use theory.


Holographic Technology: In Alien vs. Predator, the first use of holographic technology is on the predator’s ship, when a 3D image of the pyramid housing the alien queen is shown. Then, a holographic projection of the drill site with Mr. Weyland’s crew is displayed in real time. Finally, one of the predators uses their wrist computer to display a 3D image of the entire pyramid, with the humans shown as small blue figures, their exact locations and movements mapped and shown in real time. In Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, the lone predator in the film sees a 3D hologram (on their home planet) of his brethren’s ship, the drop ship, and earth, all the while mapping the vessel’s trajectory.
   This technology is explained in the book “Physics of the Impossible” by Michio Kaku. On page 32, he describes how humans have been able to develop holographic technology.

“Holograms are produced by making a coherent laser beam split in two pieces. Half of the beam shines on a photographic film. The other half illuminates an object, bounces off, and then shines on the same photographic film. When these two beams interfere on the film, an interference pattern is created that encodes all the information of the original 3D wave. The film, when developed, doesn’t look like much, just an intricate spider web pattern of whirls and lines. But when a laser beam is allowed to shine on this film, an exact 3D replica of the original object suddenly appears as if by magic.” (Kaku 32)

   It would not be far fetched to imagine that the predators, as technologically superior to mankind as they are, have perfected this technology. How, though, are they able to track the human’s movement throughout the pyramid? The only theory on this matter is that the predators have sensors placed throughout the pyramids, which can then be fed back to their ship or, in the case of those on the hunt, the hunter’s wrist computers. They would need to have these placed throughout the pyramid so as to map the venue in the first place, the data from which would be used to create a holographic image. It makes perfect sense that these same sensors would also be able to pick up and feed back the movements and location of the humans in the pyramid.

[BLAIN]

Plate Armor:

http://thisdistractedglobe.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/predator-1987-kevin-peter-hall-pic-5.jpg
Predator plate armour

http://mm.soldat.pl/wp-content/avp-99.jpg
Alien vs. Predator plate armour

   The armour that the predators wear is plated, with overlapping layers creating a ridged pattern. In Predator, the hunter had such plate armour only on its shoulders (see first link), extending down to the elbow where it abruptly ends. In Alien vs. Predator, the hunters had more extensive armour, with their shoulders, arms, and chest covered. This variation in amount of armour could be due to the different prey; the first predator was hunting only humans, whilst the creatures in Alien vs. Predator were hunting xenomorphs along with humans. This is clearly a deadlier hunt, and therefore more armour is needed for better protection. The armour is presumably lightweight, for a heavy armour would impede the ability of the predators on the hunt.
   The question is what is this armour made of? In Predator 2, the armour was shown to be capable of stopping bullets, including a 12 gauge shotgun at point blank range. Therefore, the material must be extremely tough. One might make the conclusion that the armour is made of diamonds, one of the toughest substances on earth. However, when hit by a bullet, diamonds would shatter. Therefore, the plate armour is most definitely not made of diamonds.
   Another theory is that it is made of some other earthly metal. However, the bulletproof capabilities of earthly metals depend on thickness. Clearly the armour of a tank could stop a 12-gauge shotgun shell, but it is far thicker than the predator armour (which is at most two inches thick).  Therefore, it is extremely improbable that the predators use an earthly metal as their armour, for at the thickness of their armour bullets would easily penetrate (especially a 12-gauge at point blank).
   However, it is possible that they use a metal found on earth with carbon nanotubes woven in. These tubes are “tiny tubes made of individual carbon atoms that are one atom thick and that are many times stronger than steel. Although the current world record for carbon nanotubes is 15 millimetres long, one can envision a day when we might be able to create carbon nanotubes of arbitrary length. Assuming that carbon nanotubes can be woven into a lattice, they could create a screen of enormous strength, capable of repelling most objects…but the carbon nanotube lattice would be stronger than any ordinary material.” (Kaku 10). It has been measured that these nanotube lattices are more than fifty times stronger than steel (with current technology, probably improved upon by predators). Therefore, this is an extremely viable possibility, for these nanotubes would be extremely lightweight and small, explaining the thinness of the predators armour.
   There is always the possibility, however, that the armour is made of a material from the predator homeworld, possibly the same one as the spear tip from Predator 2 (see Substances Not Found on The Periodic Table)

Power Source on Hunt:
 http://chocolatebydeath.com/blog/wp-content/gallery/cmpredator_jfj_portfolio/backpack-1.jpg

   This backpack that the predators wear is perhaps the best guess as to their power source on the hunt, like a portable battery pack. It obviously has tremendous power/ is an extremely long lasting battery, for in a single hunt it must power the plasma caster, cloaking device, wrist computer, helmet and (in the case of Alien vs. Predator) holographs. The power is most likely created using a scaled-down version of how the predators fuel their ships (see Ships). You can see the three protruding knobs near the shoulder, presumably where the plasma caster is attached. It has been shown (Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem) that a predator can attach two plasma casters simultaneously to this power source, one near either shoulder.

Ships:
http://www.evolutionarygrafix.com/files/images/predator-ship.jpg
Alien vs. Predator ship
http://www.spatcave.com/folley/PredatorShip3.jpg
Predator ship

There are several different versions of the ships that predators use to transport hunters from their home world to earth. These are shown above. The first ship, used to transport the lone creature to earth in Predator, was white in colour, had an oval shaped deck with two propulsion systems on either side, and had a ridged/ moderately smooth appearance. In Predator 2, the ship was brown coloured with at least three propulsion systems, the largest of which was adjacent to the entrance. The interior had a mist covered ground, the walls covered with inscriptions (presumably of past battles) and a trophy case, with pillars in random locations. It had numerous bright lights on the back, and was extremely large (approximately the same size as a moderate human commercial aircraft). It had spiked ridges running along the middle-front area, with numerous, protruding tubes evident along the entire frame. Both the ships from Predator and Predator 2 were extremely loud.
The main vessels in Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem were far more curvaceous and insect like, the front looking like a deadly Coccinellidae (ladybug). They were extremely quiet (in contrast to their predecessors), evident in the feat of passing undetected over the Antarctic drill site. They were capable of firing intense beams (perhaps larger, more powerful version of those used in Laser Mine/Claymore (see under Weapons). Could be any of the laser options given, save for “tube and plasma” concept) at any given location. The interior of these ships are dark, with metallic floors and tight corridors. They contain several science labs and a large trophy case, leading to the conclusion that each ship contains the trophies of all the hunters aboard. The frontal room has a glass wall and two platforms, the purpose of which is unknown. These ships can be cloaked, evident in the sudden appearance of the ship in front of Alexa (Alien vs. Predator), and the predators’ cloaking of his ship in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. This ability was not demonstrated by the first two vessels.
   However, what every predator ship shares is extensive maneuverability (far better than human spacecraft), the ability to avoid detection (either through cloaking or some form of radar jamming), and far higher speeds than human shuttles. The speed of predator ships can be estimated, given the events of Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. When the predators are leaving earth, the predalien bursts from the dead hunters’ chest. This quickly matures into its full grown state, standing taller than a predator (for predator height, see Physical Attributes/Appearance). This would take a maximum of twenty-four hours to be completed, probably less given the quicker maturation rates displayed in Alien vs. Predator than in prior xenomorph encounters. In that time, the predator ship has made its way to a large planet in the Milky Way with rings surrounding it. This fits the description of either Jupiter or Saturn (Jupiter’s rings are far fainter/ smaller by comparison to Saturn). The best choice is Saturn, however, given that the ring patterns of it and the planet in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem are nearly exactly the same. See link below.
Given their distances from earth, and approximate times of arrival, one can estimate the speed that predator ships travel at using the simple physics equation Velocity= Distance/Time. Note the table below.

http://askmagazine.nasa.gov/images/issue_32/32sf_half_century_of_nasa_photos10.jpg
Saturns’ Rings


Statistic                                                         Jupiter                                 Saturn
Distance From Earth                                     629 million KM               1283.9 million KM
Time from earth estimate 1                          24 hours                                  24 hours
Speed 1                                                2.62083 x 10^7 km/h         5.34958 x 10^7 km/h
Time from earth estimate 2                            18 hours                                18 hours
Speed 2                                               3.49444 x 10^7 km/h              7.13278 x 10^7 km/h
Time from earth estimate 3                            12 hours                                 12 hours
Speed 3                                               5.24167 x 10^7 km/h               1.06992 x 10^8 km/h
Time from earth estimate 4                              6 hours                                   6 hours
Speed 4                                               1.04833 x 10^8 km/h                    2.13983 x 10^8 km/h
Time from earth estimate 5                                2 hours                                 2 hours
Speed 5                                                   3.145 x 10^8 km/h              6.4195 x 10^8 km/h

   Given this, the maximum speed that the predator vessel could achieve would be 6.4195 x 10^8 km/h, with the slowest being 2.62083 x 10^7 km/h. These far exceed human capabilities, with faster speeds possible given the quickness with which the predator was able to arrive at earth from its home planet in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. There are two remaining questions after this, however. The first is how they are able to attain such speeds; the second is how the predators are able to attain artificial gravity on their ships. The answers are easily explained using humanly possible technologies.
   It has already been demonstrated, through the use of plasma casters and the plasma weapon present on the predator ship in Alien vs. Predator, that predators have prowess in harnessing plasma energy and using it for their own needs. Thus, it is safe to assume that they also use it for powering their ships.
   When a gas is heated to millions of degrees Celsius, the atoms of said gas lose their electrons. What is left is an array of negatively charged electrons, and positively charged ions, dubbed plasma. 99% of the universe visible from earth is made of plasma, including stars, nebulas, lightning and flames. The interior of stars is extremely hot and dense, with hydrogen nuclei in the plasma fuelling the process of stellar fusion inside the star. This provides the stars’ energy. It is possible to recreate this process, a feat made all the easier through the abundance of hydrogen (two isotopes of hydrogen required) in earths’ atmosphere. The only problem for humans is obtaining and maintaining the extremely high temperatures present inside a star. However, man is extremely close to achieving this, and it is safe to assume that predators, what with their massive technological “lead” by comparison to humans, have been able to duplicate such temperatures.
   The next problem lies in how to contain such hot plasma. The answer is in magnetic fields. This occurs naturally in the solar system when plasma in space is manipulated by the gravitational pull of nearby planets. However, man has been able to create artificial magnetic fields. A human prototype of a spacecraft fuelled by plasma (entitled “Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket, or VASMR), uses three linked magnetic cells. One is injected with a propellant gas (possibly hydrogen or helium), which is in turn ionized*. The second heats the plasma to the required temperatures through the use of radio waves. Finally, the third (a magnetic nozzle) converts the energy into a directed flow, which is expelled from the rocket, in turn creating movement. What comes out is a million degrees, and moving with speeds over 70,000 m/s. This is entirely plausible for the predators, given the huge rush of flame from the vessel in Predator 2 as Lieutenant Harrigan runs away.  The predators clearly move at faster speeds, indicating that much technological advancement have been made over the “bare-bones” plasma technology currently capable for humans.
   What the “plasma powered ships” theory also answers is the problem of artificial gravity. The plasma propulsion system outlined above creates a low artificial gravity. However, the acceleration of the propulsion varies with the strength of the artificial gravity (i.e. higher acceleration means more gravity). However, this artificial gravity would be very unruly, due to the need to constantly be accelerating (unless, of course, the predators accelerate half the way, flip the ship upside down and decelerate, which would achieve constant artificial gravity, assuming the rate of deceleration was the same as acceleration). There are several other viable methods that man has thought of to create artificial gravity, besides the acceleration proposition previously explained. All, or almost all of these are just outside of mans’ technological and/or energy capabilities. However, as has been copiously repeated, the predators are far more technologically advanced, and therefore (for them) these are definite possibilities.
1)   Through Mass. This is actual, natural gravity, which is (by definition) the attraction/pull that one object has on another (for example, earth naturally has a pull on the moon, but the moon rotates around the earth because the earth weighs more, and thus the earths’ gravitational pull is stronger on the moon than the moons’ is on the earth). However, for predators to create at least the same gravity as earth (known as 1 g), they would need a massive object in their spaceship, one as large as earth. They clearly do not. However, seeing as the equation for the force of gravity is the square of the distance between the centres of two masses, one could theoretically utilise an object which weighs less, but is extremely dense. For example, if the predators had an extremely small black hole in the centre of their ship (controlled by electromagnetic forces), the fact that black holes have infinite density (http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_12/black_holes.html) would mean that, if positioned and sized just right, they could create artificial gravity.
2)   Rotation. A rotating ship would produce artificial gravity on the inside of its hull, with the rotation force (or centrifugal force) causing objects inside the vessel to be pulled toward the hull. However, sightings of the predator ships show no such rotating devices.
3)   Magnetism. If the predator sandals were made of a metallic substance, then a magnetic field/pull emanating from the bottom of the ship would create artificial gravity. However, this would be extremely unruly, and the predator would not be able to do the concise incisions made into the alien skull in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem aboard his ship. Also, this would not explain how the predalien (from the same film) had gravity as well.
4)   Predator Created Artificial Gravity Machine. It can be hypothesized that the predators created their own unique artificial gravity machine. However, this is beyond current human knowledge, for we do not know what gravity is, just its nature/behaviour. However, the leading scientific theory is that gravity is actually particles (called gravitons) constantly being pulled towards the centre of objects. Whilst this is speculation of the utmost degree, if the predators introduced said gravitons and could draw them (manipulate them) towards a “core”, they could (hypothetically) create artificial gravity.

Given the clearly faster speeds that the predators achieve, these are entirely plausible explanations for their ship’s propulsion, power and artificial gravity.

* Ionization: a process in which an atom or molecule loses or gains electrons, acquiring an electric charge or changing an existing charge. (Encarta World English Dictionary)

What the Predator Literature Indicates: In Predator: Forever Midnight, the predators use a platform to travel great distances. In the majority of the predator comics, the ship shown in Predator 2 is the primary vessel used for transportation.

[BLAIN]

Blood

   The composition of human blood is divided into two different areas: plasma and solid cells. Plasma is a straw coloured compound made up of 90% water, with nutritive (glucose, amino acids and fats), blood proteins (fibrinogen), wastes (carbon dioxide, urea), and inorganic salts (Sodium Chloride, Sodium Bicarbonate, Phosphates, Potassium and Calcium compounds). The solid cells make up 40-50% of human blood. These include red blood cells (transport oxygen), white blood cells (larger and fewer than red. Split into two categories: Leucocytes, which defend against bacteria and help remove dead tissue, and Lymphocytes, which turn into scar tissue), and platelets, which aid in blood clotting.
   There are many uses for blood, including:
1)   Carry oxygen from lungs to cells, and carbon dioxide from cells to lungs.
2)   Carry food from digestive organs to tissue cells
3)   Carry hormones from endocrine glands to organs which they control
4)   Carry urea from liver to kidney for excretion
5)   Fight disease by antibodies and white blood cells
6)   Regulate body temperature by carrying heat to skin for radiation and providing water for perspiration (mammals)
7)   Carry necessary water for tissue cells

Predators, however, have very different blood from humans. Whereas human blood is purple (turns red when exposed to air due to hemoglobin), predator blood is fluorescent green and slightly more viscous. There are two questions which arise from this, assuming that their blood performs many of the same functions as human blood (save for transfer of oxygen; instead, transfer of nitrogen) and that they have a closed circulatory system* (given the fact that their bleeding rates and patterns are similar to humans, even slightly slower, whilst open circulatory systems would be far faster). These are: 1) is the predator warm or cold blooded? And 2) what makes their blood green and viscous?
Before these questions can be answered, there must be a firm understanding of the characteristics and habits of warm and cold blooded creatures.

Cold Blooded:
-   Take on the temperature of their surroundings
-   Much more active in warm environments than in cold ones (lethargic in the cold, can hardly move)
-   Do not sweat
-   Often bask in sun to increase heat and speed up metabolism
-   Need to be warm to be active and reproduce
-   Require less food/energy to survive (vs. warm blooded)
-   Survive longer periods without food (vs. warm blooded)

Warm Blooded
-   Generate their own heat while in cold environments, cool down when in warm environments (heat generated by energy from food)
-   Try to maintain constant body temperature
-   Have to eat a lot of food (far more than cold blooded)
-   Remain active in cold environments
-   Can live almost anywhere on earth
-   The larger the warm blooded animal, the easier it is to stay warm

Taking the characteristics of these two blood types into consideration, one can make an accurate hypothesis on which of the two the predator is. What one must remember is that the body temperature of a creature is relative to the temperature of its blood. Therefore, the thermal image of a predator vs. that of a man is a good place to start.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7HTO3jP-_lk/SrRIdAAa7rI/AAAAAAAAE9E/P2sIX3-0tr0/s400/mainpredatorra8.jpg
Predator hand under infrared

http://www.freewebs.com/avp_darkgods/Predator%20-%20Scanning%20in%20Thermal%20Vision%203.jpg
Human under infrared

As you can see, the predator’s hand is far warmer than the surrounding area, just like that of Billy (image 2). A better example would be when the hunter is reaching towards Dutch’s neck; his hand is the same temperature as Dutch. Dutch is, obviously a human. Humans are warm blooded, and therefore one would assume that predators are also warm blooded.
However, one piece of evidence is not enough. In the first link above, one can also see the body temperature of a scorpion (cold-blooded), which is the same temperature as the surrounding area. This is because cold-blooded creatures take on the temperature of the surrounding environment, whereas warm-blooded creatures maintain a constant body heat (through sweating and such). Note the image in the link below; the hand of the human is at a temperature above their surroundings (maintain body heat) whereas the caterpillar is the same as the surrounding area (varies).

http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/image_galleries/ir_zoo/lessons/images/caterpillar.jpg
Caterpillar

   Another clue pointing towards the predators being warm blooded is how they act in extremely cold environments. In Alien vs. Predator, three hunters embark on a mission in the remotest region on earth (Bouvetøya), which has an average temperature of -3 degrees celsius. As has been stated above, cold blooded animals need to stay warm in order to function. Therefore, if a cold blooded creature were to go to Bouvetøya, it would be extremely lethargic. Not only were the predators not lethargic, but they were able to kill at least 9 humans above ground, and 3 more below it. Warm blooded creatures attempt to maintain constant body temperatures and can survive in all sorts of  differing climates.
   The eating habits of the predators are also indicative of their blood type. In Predator 2, the predator goes to the slaughterhouse to eat every two days. If it was cold blooded, it would be able to survive much longer without food due to the fact that it is not capable of changing its body temperature by itself (varies with temperature of surroundings). If predators were warm blooded, they would have to eat on a regular basis, a category which “every two days” fits into. Therefore, given all the evidence, it can be safely assumed that predators are warm blooded.
   Now the most intriguing question of predator biology: what makes predator blood glow green? From this another questions arises: is the blood green only when exposed to air, like human blood, or is it green all the time? There are numerous solutions to this question,most of which have flaws (some more severe than others). All of these may be wrong, and there may be some substance contained in the blood (making it glow green) which is not on the periodic table. However, earthly possibilities must be explored. What must be remembered is that they breathe nitrogen (see Breathing). Therefore, the blood must transmit this nitrogen, and consequently each of the following hypothesis will work arm in arm with the nitrogen-fixing bacteria that could be in the predator’s blood.
   The jellyfish “Aequorea victoria” contains a type of protein, entitled “Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)”, inside their photoorgans. The name of these proteins is an exact description of their appearance; they are a fluorescent green colour, just like the predator’s blood. The peak emission (luminosity) of GFP is at 509 nanometers, putting it inside the lower green area of the visible light spectrum. This is a perfectly viable hypothesis concerning how the predator’s blood is glowing green. The link below shows regular mice compared to those infused with GFP; the colour matches that of the predator blood exactly. Human blood contains many amino acids and proteins, and therefore the presence of GFP in predator blood could be entirely possible biologically. However, what this does not explain is how the predator’s blood is so viscous.

http://www.nichd.nih.gov/news/releases/images/green_brown_mice_1.jpg
Mice with GFP

   A genus of skinks, named “Prasinohaema”, has bright green blood, muscles, bones and mucosal linings caused by an excess of the bile pigment biliverdin. They are the only vertebrates on earth which can survive this, with a concentration so high that the blood and surrounding tissue is turned green (like inside of predator’s arm when it gets cut off by Mike Harrigan; all green.). Biliverdin is “a green bile pigment formed by catabolism of hemoglobin and converted to bilirubin in the liver; it may also arise from oxidation of bilirubin.” (http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/biliverdin). In many medical studies, humans with higher levels of biliverdin were found to be less likely to contract cancer or cardiovascular disease (this could be a contributing factor to why predators live so long: fewer diseases because of biliverdin). However, whilst this does account for the greenish hue of the predator’s blood, it does not explain why their blood is so viscous.
   Another possibility is that predator blood contains white phosphorous. When in contact with oxygen, this substance gives off a faint green glow. However, this is extremely unlikely for 2 reasons: 1) the reaction is very slow, and predator blood glows upon interaction with air (or inside the body). However, this could be sped up if a chemical, acting as a catalyst for the oxygen and phosphorous reaction, was present in the predators’ blood. This would have to be an extremely effective catalyst, however, speeding up the reaction substantially (from more than a day to milliseconds). 2) this theory does not explain the viscosity.
   There is a human condition called hypercoagulability which results in thickened blood. The following is an explanation of what this condition is, from http://www.jigsawhealth.com/resources/thick-blood:

Thick blood (also known as hypercoagulability, Antiphospholipids, and Hughes Syndrome) is a condition where the blood is more viscous (thicker and stickier) than normal. The unusual increase in the thickness of blood is due to an abnormality in the clotting process. The thickened blood hinders the circulation of oxygen, nutrients, and hormones and prevents them from being transferred successfully to tissues and cells throughout the body. This may result in widespread nutritional and hormonal deficiencies as well as Hypoxia, a condition in which cells have a low level of oxygen.

When the circulatory system is functioning normally, the clotting process begins only when a cut occurs in a blood vessel. Thrombin, a blood enzyme, is released into the bloodstream. It promotes a biochemical reaction which results in the formation of clotting agents. The sole purpose of clotting agents is to create a single clot. When the job is done, the clotting process should come to a halt. But for those with chronic conditions, these clotting agents do not turn off, but rather begin to coat the capillaries with a fibrin layer. This causes the blood to become thick and provides an ideal environment in which pathogens can “hide” and thrive.

   However, many people live with this for their entire lives and do not notice anything out of the ordinary. This is a possible explanation for the unusually thick blood of the predators. Mixed with one of the above possible explanations for the luminosity, this would create nearly an exact replica of the predator blood. However, without a chemical analysis of the substance it is impossible to say for sure what the chemical composition of their blood is.

*Closed Circulatory System: Blood in a closed circulatory system is enclosed within blood vessels of varying size and wall thickness, depending on the location in the body. Open circulatory systems, on the other hand, have blood that is pumped by the heart into the body cavities, where the blood surrounds the tissues like a human in a pool.

What the Predator Literature Indicates: In Predator: Xenogenesis, it is stated that consuming a predator’s heart and/or blood extends one’s life by up to 1000 years.

[BLAIN]

Weapons

Ceremonial Dagger:

 http://www.jokerdesigns.com/thehunted/weapons/dagger.jpg
Predator Dagger (Alien vs. Predator)
http://www.plasmainfusion.com/400019_press01-001.jpg
Predator Dagger 2 (Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem)

         The predator ceremonial dagger is occasionally used on the hunt for ceremonious tasks such as removing the head of a xenomorph or performing a killing blow (Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem). It is a long, steel-coloured blade with numerous ridges, extending outward in two long, sharp points. The blades come in numerous different colours and different ornamentations, cementing the fact that, like humans, no two predators are alike. However, a common feature (besides the basic knife shape) that these ceremonial daggers share is the curved, tooth-like ornament at the bottom of the handle, possibly used as a secondary weapon.

            Due to the predators ability to cut through the alien head (and having the dagger exposed to their acid) without it melting, that this weapon is made of a material resistant to the acid. This is one possibility, the other being that the predators coat their knives with a substance which is acid resistant/acid neutralizing. However, seeing as the predators in Alien vs. Predator did not coat any of their other weapons with such a material (take the melting wrist blades, for example), the theory of it being composed of an acid-neutralizing substance from the predator homeworld (and therefore, not on the periodic table) is the most viable.

Combi Stick:

http://aap.blackaris2001.org/MasterReplicas/PredatorSpearS.jpg
Combi stick retracted
http://www.predatorstuff.com/gallery/images/hot_toys/14__predator_2/ht_p2_07.jpg
Combi Stick extended (taller than predator)

The predator combi stick (or predator staff) is an extendable weapon, its most compact form less than three feet long. It is stored on the predators’ belt, and can extend to over seven feet tall (taller than the predator), with three ever decreasing layers extending from each end. A decrease in size is marked by pointed blades, finally ending in a sharp point capable of stabbing all the way through a human (evident in the killing of the Jamaican drug dealers in Predator 2). The smaller sizes make it easier to compact, with each layer fitting into the larger previous one. When it fully extends, the layers lock firmly into place, and vice-versa for the compacting process. It is also capable of being cloaked (and may, in fact, have its own cloaking device), evident in Alien vs. Predator when a version of the combi stick is thrown and impales a crewmember against the wall. It has its own computer interface, evident in the first picture. The staff appears to be made of the same material found in the spear tip in Predator 2, indicating that it is composed of materials not found on the periodic table.

Laser Mine/Claymore:

http://www.yourprops.com/norm-482e8538a7f2f-Aliens+vs.+Predator++Requiem+(2007).jpeg
Laser Mine/Claymore

   The predator laser mine is a curved, triangular shaped device used by the hunter in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. The predator uses several of them to block off nearly every passageway in one specific sewer system in Colorado. They adhere to the closest surface, presumably through the use of spikes/hooks on each corner of the device (the spikes/hooks would drill through the surface (in this case, the walls of the sewer), thus securing the mine in place). After the device is securely against the wall, three pathways of light emanate, leading from each of the three corners to the center (see image above). This is, presumably, an indication that the mine is prepped and ready to be activated. Activation occurs through signals sent from the predators’ wrist computer. Once the device has been activated, a crisscrossing pattern of lasers shoot outs of it, encompassing the entire height and width of the sewer system. These lasers are powerful enough to withstand both a shot from the predators’ plasma caster and tear apart a xenomorph body.
   The question that arises, then, is how these lasers work. There are several things which must be taken into consideration. The first is that the lasers stop at or just before the walls of the sewer system, meaning that it somehow detects the distance from itself to the surrounding walls and creates appropriately measured lasers. In human scientific circles, there are five main types of lasers. These include (from Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku):
1)   Chemical lasers: these types of lasers are energized by a chemical reaction, an example of which is a burning jet of ethylene reaction with nitrogen trifluoride. This type of laser is used by the United States military to shoot down short range missiles.
2)   Solid-state lasers: these use a chromium sapphire ruby crystal (or a massive variety of other applicable crystals), in conjunction with yttrium, holmium, thulium and some other chemicals, producing high energy pulses of laser light.
3)   Gas lasers: These types of lasers are energized by radio waves or electricity. Carbon dioxide lasers can cut, weld, and blast heavy industrious materials, and yet are invisible. However, the lasers from the laser mine in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem were red. Thus, the carbon dioxide lasers could be used in conjunction with helium-neon lasers to produce similar effects and the reddish glow.
4)   Excimer lasers: these are powered by chemical reactions (using inert gases such as argon or xenon, in conjunction with fluorine and chlorine (which are not inert gases)). However, these are used for delicate procedures such as eye surgery and etching tiny transistors onto computer chips. They produce ultraviolet light.
5)   Semiconductor lasers: these use diodes to create intense laser beams for heavy cutting and blasting.

Out of those five, the most likely ones to be used in the predator laser mine are the gas lasers and/or the semiconductor lasers, for they are extremely powerful. However, if the claymores did use a gas laser, the exact gases used would be very difficult to guess, for there is an extremely high probability that they are elements not found on the periodic table. However, the most likely gas from earth that would produce an effect even remotely close to the one shown in the sewers of Colorado would be carbon dioxide. The problem that humans have encountered with these lasers is that they have not found a way to create portable power supplies. However, given that the predators are able to power a plasma-based weapon, it is not implausible that they have created power sources small enough to fit inside the tiny package that is the laser mine.
Another question that arises is how the lasers did not cut clean through the concrete wall of the sewers when it cut through the flesh of the xenomorphs. It is impossible to control how far lasers go without placing a dampening target for the laser to hit and stop at (which the predator clearly did not). There are two theories on how the predators achieved this. The first is that the lasers are only powerful enough to cut through flesh, and are not strong enough to penetrate the hard concrete that is the sewer walls. The second is that they are not lasers at all, but hot plasma running through thin rods. How this would work is that the mine sends out many thin rods, made of an extremely durable substance capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures. These rods would have small holes placed throughout. Hot plasma is then pumped through the rods; escaping through the holes and making it glow (like a lightsaber from Star Wars). The plasma would be at the same temperature as the inside of a star (several hundred thousand to millions of degrees Celsius). This would all occur extremely quickly, yet it would also explain everything about this weapon. The claymore would send these extremely thin rods out, and once they met resistance they would stop (thus explaining how the lasers were contained inside the sewers). The plasma would then be pumped through them, creating the glowing effect. When an alien hits these, the extreme temperatures would easily slice through the body. Seeing as the rods are resistant to the high temperatures of the plasma, this theory would also explain how the plasma caster shot that hit them had no effect. The only problem that arises from this is how such a small mine (image above) is able to fit so many rods. The answer lies in the fact that these rods are extremely thin, and they fold so that, when fully compressed, they only take up a space of several millimetres.

Netgun:

   The predator netgun, first seen in Predator 2, is a weapon which fires four needle-like clamps with a net strung between them. It is stored in a special holder near the predators’ shoe. This net is folded inside the gun, and expands upon being fired. The projectile is fired with such force that if someone is in the way, they are carried backwards with the net. The clamps dig into the nearest surface and begin to draw the net in, which in turn begins to cut into the victims’ flesh (see Jamaicans from Predator 2 and Maxwell Stafford from Alien vs. Predator). In Predator 2, the clamps appear to be made from the same material as the spear tip, judging by texture and colouration. This would imply that it was made from a material not found on the periodic table. However, in Alien vs. Predator, these clamps appear to be made of a more earthly metallic material, the colouration and texture of which would denote something along the lines of steel.
   The net itself is extremely durable, able to withstand knives (in Alien vs. Predator, the net broke the knife that was used to try and escape from it) and intense thriving. It is pulled with such force that it digs into human and xenomorph skulls alike, including an automatic weapon. It has only been shown as vulnerable through the use of either the predator smart disc or xenomorph blood. One hypothesis as to the makeup of this netting is that it is regular rope laced with carbon nanotubes (see Plate Armour). This would allow for the same flexibility as regular rope, and yet it would be thousands of times stronger. However, as with all predator technology there is always the possibility of it being made using elements not found on the periodic table.

Plasma Caster:

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Alien vs. Predator plasma caster
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Predator plasma caster
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Predator 2 plasma caster

   The predator plasma caster is a shoulder mounted weapon which fires large blue balls of plasma. The effects of these projectiles are lethal, capable of cleanly burning their way through human and xenomorph bodies, as well as wood and steel. In Predator, a single shot from this weapon burns its way through Blain’s chest, with no powder burns or shrapnel. The end result is wounds that look fused or cauterized. In Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, it is shown (in the power plant) that a single shot from the plasma caster can burn through many steel beams, even several hundred meters away (closer to 1 kilometre away). Every hunter that has come to earth has brought with them a different design of plasma caster (as is shown in the pictures above), yet each wields the same devastating power.
   How the predator plasma caster works is, as so much of the predator technology is, up for debate. However, the most valid theory is as follows. The plasma caster (the actual weapon itself is what partakes in the procedure, as is shown in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem when the plasma caster is used as a pistol) draws hydrogen gas in from the surrounding atmosphere. It then ionizes said gas (for an explanation of what ionization is, see Ships), and heats it to temperatures comparable to those found inside stars (the sun has an internal temperature of 15 million degrees Celsius). Magnetic fields are used to keep the plasma together (in a general ball shape), and said ball (using a magnetic propulsion system) is propelled at extremely high velocities out of the end of the plasma caster. These velocities would need to be so high that the ball of plasma would reach its destination still in one piece, which it evidently does in all the films.
   The makeup of the plasma caster device itself is most likely a substance not found on earth, and therefore not found on the periodic table. However, if one were to try and find a suitable earthly counterpart, see Plate Armour under Technology. How the plasma caster is controlled is through the mask interface, explained in the Mask section, which is also under Technology.

Self-Destruct/Bomb:

The predator self-destruct mechanism is used only in Predator, Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, stored inside the predators’ wrist computer (proven in the fact that the creature in Alien vs. Predator removed it and threw it away, before it explodes). It is activated through exposing the inner terminal of the wrist computer, sliding a finger across a slot, pushing two rectangular buttons, and then pushing a button on either end of the slot. A countdown begins on the wrist computer display in the predator language, lasting approximately 42 seconds before the final explosion. In that time, several smaller explosions occur, leading up to the final, large explosion. There is also an implosion setting, shown in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem when the lone hunter activates the bomb, and only the ship explodes (no surrounding damage that would have been noted in the normal explosion mode).
   In Predator 2, Agent Keyes states that an explosion from the predator self-destruct mechanism is powerful enough to wipe out 300 city blocks. The exact amount of area encompassed by the bomb varies depending on the reference city, due to the fact that each United States City has a different road measurement. Also, North-South blocks are generally smaller than East-West blocks, thus adding to the variation in measurements. However, the average city block size in the United States is 264 feet (North-South) or 1056 feet (East-West). Therefore, the 300 city blocks destroyed by the predator bomb would indicate damage of 79,200 feet (24.14 km) for North-South only, or 316,800 feet (96.5 km) for East-West. However, this may include any combination of East-West and North-South blocks, meaning that the exact damage is nearly impossible to pinpoint to an exact value. However, the range of the blast can be estimated to between 24-97 kilometres. The value, given the extent of the damage from the detonation in the Guatemalan jungle from Predator, is definitely closer to 24 km. The most powerful nuclear weapon that humans have ever tested was the Tsar Bomba (Russian Nuclear Warhead), with a power of 50 megatons. It caused total vaporization of everything within a 2.3 kilometre radius, total destruction within a 35 kilometre radius, and third degree burns within just over a hundred kilometres. The predator bomb is nowhere near this powerful (judging by the fact that Dutch Schaeffer was able to survive the blast less than a kilometer away), meaning that Agent Keyes’ estimation was exaggerated. The exact value may be total destruction within a few hundred meters, with extensive heat damage a kilometer or two beyond that.
   The question that arises, then, is how the predator bomb actually works.  The best guess is that it is a miniature version of the hydrogen bomb (or perhaps a fusion bomb) that humans developed on earth (the Tsar Bomba mentioned above is one such bomb). These bombs work through the process of “fusion”, where two hydrogen atoms fuse together, creating massive amounts of energy and helium. This can only be done with the aid of extremely high temperatures, like those found inside the sun (humans use fission* reactions to achieve these temperatures). However, given that the predators are clearly able to achieve and control said temperatures (see Ships and Plasma Caster) this is not out of the question. The countdown could be the time it takes for the bomb to achieve the required temperature and for the hydrogen atoms to undergo the fusion reaction.
   However, it is always a possibility that inside the predators’ wrist computer are several highly reactive chemicals, which mix after the countdown has ended and produce a violent reaction (resulting in a large explosion). This same technique is used in human grenades, and several different types of missiles. There may be many different combinations of chemicals which would produce such a violent reaction found on earth, yet when observing the colouration and behavior of the explosion, the best guess would be that these are two or more chemicals found on the predator home world, and thusly not on the periodic table.

*Fission (not to be confused with the fission of Asexual Reproduction):  Nuclear fission is the process of smashing the nucleus of an atom into smaller parts, producing large amounts of energy.
   

[BLAIN]

Smart Disc:
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Smart Disc
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Smart Disc Extended

   The smart disc is a discus like weapon used by the predator in Los Angeles in Predator 2. It is bronze in colour, approximately the size of a small pizza (10 inches). It has five large holes, into which the predator places his fingers. The palm of his hand fits over a computer interface, activated when the predator opens his hand. The outer rim of the smart disc is extremely sharp, capable of easily slicing through several thick cow carcasses and a human body on the power of a single throw. When the predator extends his hands, the smart disc computer interface lights up, and the discus itself slightly expands to a larger size. To throw it, the predator uses the same motion as a human would to throw a Frisbee. Whether or not this weapon has a targeting and/or homing device is unclear, yet the presence of the computer makes it more likely. The colour of the material which the smart disc is made of is very similar to that found in the spear head, denoting a composition of non-earthly materials (i.e materials not found on the periodic table). It is stored on the predators’ belt in its most compact form. It is extremely thin, only a few millimetres thick.

Blue Chemical: This piece of equipment is used by the predator in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem and Predator 2, for two totally different purposes. In Predator 2, a similarly coloured substance is used to melt wall tiles into a hot mixture to be used for cauterizing wounds. However, these are most certainly not the same substances, given the different behaviour of each (one melts rapidly, another acts extremely slowly and is far more viscous). In Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, it is used to dissolve bodies. It is kept in a small canister and is fluorescent blue in colour. When poured onto a body, this substance corrodes the carcass at an extremely high rate, leaving no evidence that the body was there in the first place. This corrosive speed either matches or exceeds that evident in the xenomorph acidic blood. That would lead to the hypothesis that this chemical is, therefore, composed of xenomorph blood. However, when poured onto an Aliens’ body, this blue chemical dissolves it extremely quickly. It has previously been shown in Alien vs. Predator that xenomorph skin is resistant to their acid blood. Therefore, this substance is not comprised solely of xenomorph acid blood.
   However, there is the distinct possibility that it contains Alien blood, with a few alterations so as to make it corrode their skin. What exactly these modifications are would depend on what the xenomorph skin is composed of, which is currently unknown at this time. The fastest corroding acid on earth is hydrofluoric acid, with corrosion times nowhere near that of this blue substance. However, the reaction of this chemical in water provides a clue as to what is contained inside. When a small amount is poured into a swimming pool, it violently reacts with the water until there is nothing left. On earth, the first column in the periodic table (Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Rubidium, Cesium and Francium) reacts extremely violently with water, Francium being the most violent. However, there is also the possibility that the substance contains nanotechnology, programmed to lock onto and eliminate certain aspects of the xenomorph and human biology which are the same. This aspect could, in theory, be water (if the xenomorphs used water somehow), thus explaining the pool reaction.
   Another possibility is that this substance corrodes not because of a chemical reaction or acidic corrosion, but because of heat. Predators have shown that they are extremely adept at handling and manipulating plasma at temperatures close to those found in stars. Any plasma at that heat would melt human and xenomorph bodies extremely quickly. The heat would also boil and evaporate water within a matter of seconds, evident in the pool reaction. Therefore, the blue substance may, in fact, be extremely hot liquid plasma. The problem with this is containment: how can the predators contain such high temperatures without a magnetic field (see Ships)? Another theory along the same vein is that the chemical is a highly efficient form of energy storage, one which boils whatever water it touches. This would include vascular systems (of the bodies it is poured on) and the swimming pool. The required temperature would need to be at least five thousand degrees Celsius.
   The final possibility, which is an option for nearly every piece of predator equipment, is that this substance is made from a material not found on earth, a substance as or more corrosive than xenomorph blood. As it would not be on the periodic table, the exact makeup of this substance would be unknown (see Substances Not Found on the Periodic Table).

Whip:
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Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem whip screenshot

   The predator whip is a weapon solely used by the hunter in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. It is ridged and sharp, acting exactly as a human whip does, with a brown, ornamented grip. It is stored in a folded up circle on the predators’ back, unfolding easily when removed from its holder. With a flick of the creatures’ wrist, the whip flies towards its target and wraps around it. A violent tug causes the sharp ridges to rip through the flesh of whatever it was wrapped around, capable of severing limbs and bodies in half. This is portrayed in the rooftop fight at the hospital in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, when the whip is wrapped around an alien and a quick pull rips it in two. What this also shows is that the whip is immune to xenomorph blood.
   There are several theories on how this is possible. The first two are obvious: that the whip is either coated with a substance that resists the xenomorph blood, or that the weapon itself is constructed of a material with the same properties. What this material exactly is depends solely on the type of acid (or other corrosive substance) that the xenomorphs use for blood. For example, the metal Hasteloy B* is extremely resistant to corrosion from Hydrofluoric Acid, yet corrodes with ease when exposed to Nitric Acid.
   The third hypothesis is that the whip is made of the same materials as xenomorph skin. This has been shown to be acid resistant (both in the fact that their blood is an extremely corrosive acid, and that the predator in Alien vs. Predator dripped acid onto a xenomorph head, with no corrosion). The predators’ have already shown that they can use xenomorph parts as tools (tail as spear tip and head as shield in Alien vs. Predator), and that they have done scientific analysis of the aliens (Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem). It has also been shown that the xenomorph tail is extremely flexible and maneuverable, as well as edged and sharp (just like the predator whip). Therefore, it is extremely plausible that the predator whip is made of an alien tail (or some part of their skin).

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Predator Whip
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Alien Tail

* A high performance alloy containing mainly nickel, with varying percentiles of molybdenum, chromium, cobalt, iron, copper, manganese, titanium, zirconium, aluminum, carbon, and tungsten.

Wrist Gun: 

Embedded inside the predators’ wrist computer device, this gun folds out and fires a projectile weapon. Whether this is a miniature rocket or smaller plasma charge is still up for debate, with the latter being the more likely due to the similarities between the projectile from this weapon and from the plasma caster. This is supported by the overheating of Mike Harrigans’ makeshift metal shield when it gets hit by the shot. It is hypothesized that the wrist gun is only capable of firing one shot, given the fact that the predator never fires it again. It is possible that some plasma was siphoned off from the main source (which is used by the plasma caster), and that the weapon was made for the purpose of being a last resort if the plasma caster were to fail (as it did in the slaughterhouse in Predator 2).

Shuriken:
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Shuriken

The predator shuriken is a thrown weapon, much like a lethal boomerang. It has a circular grip from which six long, sharp, pointed blades emerge, each in a crescent shape. On each blade is a hinge, used for folding the blades in and out of the grip. Predators achieve this through one or two flicks of their wrists. Presumably the blades fold down and fit over one another. When thrown, these weapons spin like discuses, the blades capable of easily slicing through flesh (human and xenomorph alike). Like a boomerang, the shuriken will return to its owner if allowed to fly unhindered.
In Alien vs. Predator, it is shown that the shuriken is capable of slicing cleanly through a xenomorph skull with little to no effort on the predators’ part (a testament to the sharpness of the blades). No corrosion was noted, and it can therefore be assumed that, like so many other predator weapons and equipment, the shuriken is either made of or coated with a substance which is resistant to acid. However, as has been stated before, the makeup of this substance depends greatly on what the xenomorph blood is made of. As with all predator equipment, it is also safe to theorize that the shuriken could be made from materials not found on the periodic table. However, it could be made of stainless steel, just as human filet knives are (which are equally sharp), and coated with an acid-resistor (or basic solution which is just as basic (and dangerous) as the xenomorph blood is acidic) to oxidize the aliens’ acid blood on contact.
   The predators are capable of throwing these weapons at extremely high velocities. This is most evident in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem when a predator throws its shuriken and, after flying for several seconds, it is still capable of lifting Jesse (the teenage girl) several feet off the ground and impaling her on the wall.

Wrist Blades:
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Alien vs. Predator wrist blades
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Wrist blades

   The predator wrist blades are sharp, edged weapons which extend from a compartment in the predators’ wrist gauntlets.  The blades have many sharp edges along its entire length (which varies from just over seven inches to close to two and a half feet long (Predator & Predator 2, and Alien vs. Predator, respectively)), ending in an extremely sharp point. The edges cause massive internal damage when stabbed into a victim, and the point is sharp enough (coupled with the predators’ immense thrusting force) that these blades can easily penetrate human bones (example being the rib cages that they break through in Predator (Dillon) and Predator 2 (Danny)). They are extremely durable, capable of maintaining their shape and sharpness after being scraped repeatedly against wood or stone. However, they are not able to withstand xenomorph acid, demonstrated in Alien vs. Predator when the hunter sliced the end of a xenomorph tail off and the wrist blades dulled and melted. In Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, the predator was able to stab the predalien hybrid with his wrist blades, with no evident damage to them. This would indicate either 1) the blades are coated with an acid proof substance, or 2) the blades are made from a different material than those used by previous hunters, one which is resistant to acid. Either of these is likely, for the predator in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem was on earth specifically for infestation control.
   How exactly the wrist blades extend is still up for debate, yet there are several valid theories on the matter. How the extension is activated is also debatable, with the two best theories being that the activation for the wrist blades to extend is certain arm and/or hand movements, such as clenching a fist or twitching an arm (meaning that there would have to be certain sensors which would pick up such specific movements, or a button), or that the extension is controlled through the mask. The second one is perhaps the most valid, considering that, with the first option, there could be many involuntary extensions (which were never seen on the hunt). Another solution could be a mix of the two; the mask turns off a “safety”, and the appropriate arm and hand movements cause the blades to extend.
   How the predators extend their wrist blades is a more difficult question to answer. It is easy enough to extend them alone: the blades would be attached to an elastic-like object, which is secured in place by a hook. When the predator wants to have the blades extend out of the gauntlet, it would simply withdraw the hook and thusly release the “elastic-like” object, and the blades would shoot forward. However, several questions go unanswered through this method. The first involves withdrawal of the wrist blades. The predators use an extremely similar method to withdraw the blades as they do to extend them (see above). If they utilized the “elastic-like object” previously described, they would manually have to draw it back and re-secure it (unless there was a device to do this automatically inside the wrist gauntlet, powered by electricity and activated through the same means as extension). The second question that arises is how the predators from Alien vs. Predator were able to extend the blades to one length, then do the arm/hand movements a second time and extend them to a second length. The only plausible answer to this would be that the “elastic-like object” was released from one hook, thus shooting the wrist blades out to a certain length, only to be caught on a second hook. They could then disable the second hook, and the wrist blades would extend to their full length. The third and final question which arises from this theory is how the blades stay secure (they are stabbed and sliced through very tough materials, and yet they do not move) if the blades work on such a design.
   This third question can be answered through the theory that the wrist blades are attached to a piece of extremely tough, solid material (presumably same substance as armour and helmet are made of). The bottom and top of this material is attached to the surrounding parts of the wrist gauntlet. Either through electrical or pneumatic means (or some other form of pressure), this material (and thus, the wrist blades) can be pushed in and out on command (presumably through the helmet and/or through the hand/arm movements). When a length is arrived upon, the piece of material stops, and supports spring up to lock it into place, thus ensuring that the wrist blades aren’t shoved back inside when they are pushed into a preys’ body. This method would also allow for more length control. Or, the predators could have set lengths which the material automatically extends the blades to when activated.

What the Predator Literature Indicates: The Alien vs. Predator novelization says that the predator has a trio of blades extending from its arms. This includes two wrist blades and a third arm blade. The Predator 2 novelization states that all commands are made through the helmet telepathically. Predator: Forever Midnight states that the predator cloaking device dually acts as a shield, protecting the predator from a set amount of attacks. It also mentions “autonomous cerebral implanters (allows predators to read the mind of a subject, and to brainwash a subject into thinking they were something else), “mobile implanters” (disk-like mobile probes which attach themselves to a target and allow predators to control said target), “long range plasma projector” (fires eight shots which explode on impact), “small sterilizer” (plasma weapon mounted on a ship which acts like a turret),  and the “large sterilizer” (larger than the small sterilizer, plasma based weapon designed to take out an entire planet). Predator: South China Sea contains a predator with five blades attached its hand, one attached to each finger. Some Alien vs. Predator comics mention that the predators use a rocket launcher-like weapon, which fires a massive plasma bolt capable of destroying human military drop ships. Other Predator Comics depict predators using lasso-like weapons which wrap around targets and send a current of electricity through them, a harpoon (used for underwater hunting, with the butt end firing a sharp, pointed projectile) and a spear gun sidearm, which is similar in design to a human pistol, yet is used for underwater hunting.