this post was submitted on 20 Apr 2025
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Mildly Interesting

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This is for strictly mildly interesting material. If it's too interesting, it doesn't belong. If it's not interesting, it doesn't belong.

This is obviously an objective criteria, so the mods are always right. Or maybe mildly right? Ahh.. what do we know?

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

If I had to guess it'd be the ability for oxygen to diffuse through the shell and reach the embryo?

[–] [email protected] 27 points 9 hours ago (3 children)

I got curious and your assumption is correct for one of the limiting factors.

Here is what I found:

  • The shell must be strong enough to support the egg’s weight and protect the embryo, but thin enough for the chick to break through when hatching.
  • As size increases, the weight grows cubically (volume), but shell strength only increases quadratically (surface area), so there’s a point where the shell would have to be too thick to hatch from.
  • The distance from the shell to the center increases.
  • Oxygen diffusion becomes inefficient, and the embryo could suffocate.
  • Larger eggs are harder to keep at a uniform temperature.
  • Birds incubating the eggs would need to generate and distribute more heat, which is physically demanding.
[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 hours ago

Appreciate the share, that's awesome info

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Didn't think I would find egg facts so interesting... Cool!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago) (1 children)

That’s eggcellent and I’m eggstatic that you enjoyed. Come back next Easter for more egg facts.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 15 minutes ago

Benedict!

I don't think I'm doing this right.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

I never even considered that but it makes total sense. Thanks for the great post.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 hours ago

No problem. I get curious myself so figure it nice to share with people that don’t tell me they’re not interested in useless facts.