EcoSphere

"EcoSphere is a delicate balance of earth, water, air and life--all parts of a working ecosystem. The coexistence of animal and plant life (red shrimp, algae and microbes) thrives in the handblown glass sphere of seawater. Light--the foundation of life. Sunlight provides everything your ecosystem needs; there's no feeding or cleaning required. Seawater --provides the backdrop for this educational, self-contained marine environment. Red shrimp --chosen for their nonaggressive tendencies towards one another, these tiny crustaceans live in perfect harmony with their mini environment. Algae --healthy growth sustains and nourishes shrimp by supplying food and oxygen. Microbes --to feed the algae. Other materials --Gorgonia sprig, gravel, shells and glass provide ample hiding places and smooth surfaces for microbes to attach themselves to and thrive. This technology was developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientists as part of a growing initiative to study our planet's biosphere. NASA was researching self-contained communities for space explorers to live in during long-term flights. Life expectancy EcoSphere has an average life expectancy of two years; however, in the right conditions some have lived for up to 10 years."