Sphere's surface grows as radius squared, but volume grows as radius cubed. Hence a small terrarium will quickly freeze, and a huge terrarium will eventually fry. There is an optimal size for a terrarium, given its orbit, that keeps its internal temperature within the habitable range.
Also it would need many more plants than animals. I would rather go with an aquarium.
The other side would radiate, losing the heat. Earth, being in a similar position, is neither incinerated nor refrigerated, though different sides of it can be hot or cold.
So... Now we have a way to commit an act of biological terrorism on the whole Milky Way? Just get a hundred of tons of moss spores to space and accelerate them in all direction to spread them all over Milky Way. It is somehow a very satisfying thought. Maybe I'm a born terrorist deep down, and just didn't get the chance to become one?
Once when sitting near a lady on chemo and seeing her withered arms I had a sudden urge to reach out and snap one like a twig. Weird and out of nowhere but oddly satisfying.
Better source: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/nov/20/moss-spores-...
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UPD Archived comment: https://archive.is/tW6SZ
I always wonder what would happen if you put a fully enclosed glass terrarium in space. How would it fair. Not big either. Grape fruit sized.
Sphere's surface grows as radius squared, but volume grows as radius cubed. Hence a small terrarium will quickly freeze, and a huge terrarium will eventually fry. There is an optimal size for a terrarium, given its orbit, that keeps its internal temperature within the habitable range.
Also it would need many more plants than animals. I would rather go with an aquarium.
What does volume have to do with energy balance?
If it was in the sun it would be incinerated and in the shade it would freeze right?
The other side would radiate, losing the heat. Earth, being in a similar position, is neither incinerated nor refrigerated, though different sides of it can be hot or cold.
Earth has the benefit of a thermal mass that's at least a couple times larger than your average terrarium.
So... Now we have a way to commit an act of biological terrorism on the whole Milky Way? Just get a hundred of tons of moss spores to space and accelerate them in all direction to spread them all over Milky Way. It is somehow a very satisfying thought. Maybe I'm a born terrorist deep down, and just didn't get the chance to become one?
Is it 100% certain that's not how they got here in the first place?
Goldilocks theory is pretty interesting
Once when sitting near a lady on chemo and seeing her withered arms I had a sudden urge to reach out and snap one like a twig. Weird and out of nowhere but oddly satisfying.