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[Dwarf4Explosives]

Mostly, I am trying to give it the ability to move more than a meter without running out of energy instantaneously. At this size, only some sort of internally contained photosynthesis makes sense to me, as it doesn't require the creature to find and consume massive amounts of prey to keep going, something that is nearly impossible at this size. Keep in mind that I'm trying to fit this creature into a specific LEGO theme, as well, which sets some limitations.

[GiglameshDespair]

I remember a story i read once where the atmosphere had basically frozen. The protagonists had to dig up oxygen and let it thaw inside their shelter in order to be able to breath without oxygen masks. Lots of people had frozen solid, and it was apparently very creepy (the protagonist aws a youngish child) seeing the statues that had been people everywhere. The story was written so you expected them to come to life or something.

If you look at deep sea creatures, which are porbably the closest comparioson on earth (very cold, little oxygen, little life) most of them are very stationary for the greatest amount of time and a lot just feed off the debris floating down from above. Without an atmosphere the rays of the star would be very harsh and dangerous, maybe beyond the ability of large creatures to survive. Bacteria can adapt to high radiation, but tardigrades are the largest creature that can survive open space - effectively what the creature is in - without harm, and they basically just go dormant.

[LeoLeonardoIII]

Wouldn't the atmosphere precipitate out over time and end up coating the surface as a solid?

[GiglameshDespair]

Yeah, it had formed layers of the different gases.

[LeoLeonardoIII]

So what was the deal? There were people, which means at one point it had to be habitable. Did the sun go out? I assume even relatively low levels of solar output would still be enough to prevent these gasses from freezing.

Also I just learned that oxygen freezes at a lower temperature than nitrogen. I had assumed the opposite. THE MORE YOU KNOW!

[GiglameshDespair]

It had been thrown out of orbit of the sun, as far as I recall by a rogue planetoid that destabilised the system. It was quite a old story, and no doubt was not perfect science. But a good read nonetheless, though I can't remember the name.

[GlyphGryph]

only some sort of internally contained photosynthesis makes sense to me

I have absolutely no clue what this could possibly mean, but every explanation I can guess at is obviously and blatantly impossible.

[GiglameshDespair]

Obviously bioluminescence that the light is used for photosynthesis, producing infinite energy. Problem physics?

[scrdest]

Obviously bioluminescence that the light is used for photosynthesis, producing infinite energy. Problem physics?

Photosynthesis does not use just light. Light is the source of energy, yes, but that energy needs to be put into something useable, which means you need raw materials for the chemicals you use to synthesize the end-product, in case of plants - carbon dioxide. From, you know, the atmosphere. Also oxygen, but that aside. And water.

It would be much easier if it wasn't 'no atmosphere, period', just something humans wouldn't want to breathe, such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, mineral acids or whatever, that you can work with.

[LeoLeonardoIII]

Internally contained photosynthesis is what plants do, right? It's not internally contained light - although that would be awesome. Glowing plants!

[GiglameshDespair]

Obviously bioluminescence that the light is used for photosynthesis, producing infinite energy. Problem physics?

Photosynthesis does not use just light. Light is the source of energy, yes, but that energy needs to be put into something useable, which means you need raw materials for the chemicals you use to synthesize the end-product, in case of plants - carbon dioxide. From, you know, the atmosphere. Also oxygen, but that aside. And water.

It would be much easier if it wasn't 'no atmosphere, period', just something humans wouldn't want to breathe, such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, mineral acids or whatever, that you can work with.

My statement, of course, was meant to be scientifically accurate.

[LeoLeonardoIII]

Or he could live in a planet awash with hydrocarbons and process it into diesel with a stomach-like organ.

[scrdest]

Internally contained photosynthesis is what plants do, right? It's not internally contained light - although that would be awesome. Glowing plants!

If we go by plants, then 'internally contained' is redundant, not like there's any other kind of photosynthesis.

[DarkArtemisFowl]

I have a question about spiders (yay re-railing the topic)
What spiders should I be worried about in the SW United States, and what spiders should I be friendly with? Or insects in general that will do organic pest control through nom nom nom?

[GiglameshDespair]

Brown recluses, maybe?