Peter wrote:
> http://www.hammacher.com/publish/17496.asp?promo=to_learning
> 
> Can this really last three years ?
> 
> Peter

I recall seeing these as far back as the '70's in CoEvolution Quarterly, 
the successor to the Whole Earth Catalog.  There was a follow up article 
on one of them around 16 years later - still going strong.

The 'secret' is a collection of lifeforms that can live off of each 
others waste products.  Then all that is required is energy - sunlight. 
  But a sure-fire way to kill off the ecosystem is with excess energy 
input so they must be located near a window with just the right amount 
of indirect sunlight each day.

The glass globe is filled and then sealed off with a torch per usual lab 
style glasswork techniques.

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