Fun Fact #50: Picture a world for me, one with dragonflies the size of seagulls and giant wingspanroaches roaming the land. This is what parts of the world would have featured 300 million years ago. Back when being a small insect (normal size now) meant you would get oxygen poisoning these creatures grew large to survive. This is a result of higher oxygen concentrations in the atmosphere, too much oxygen is toxic and it is likely that the larvae would passively uptake oxygen from the air.

Question

Fun Fact #50:  Picture a world for me, one with dragonflies the size of seagulls and giant wingspanroaches roaming the land. This is what parts of the world would have featured 300 million years ago. Back when being a small insect (normal size now) meant you would get oxygen poisoning these creatures grew large to survive. This is a result of higher oxygen concentrations in the atmosphere, too much oxygen is toxic and it is likely that the larvae would passively uptake oxygen from the air.

trancenova · Answer

Making themselves larger meant that they had a lower surface area to volume ratio, decreasing oxygen poisoning and resulting in a land roamed by giant creatures!

trancenova · Answer

Source: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/08/110808-ancient-insects-bugs-giants-oxygen-animals-science/ Woo Hoo! Hit Number 50! So here's a funny link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khBmRuFc_P4&feature=related It's a 'Chromosome' Lady Gaga parody :D -Great if you're learning about mitosis.

trancenova · Answer

Note: the word "wingspanroaches" was me trying to type 'roach (insects of the order Blattaria or Blattodea) but the word filter changed it hehe.

anonymous · Answer

congrats on 50 !

trancenova · Answer

Thanks! Would have answered earlier but OS didn't notify me! I didn't think I would make it to 50 hehe :D