To: gr8eman
Until some DA explains to me how gasses can be insulators, I refuse to pay attention and just call them commies.
Gases are almost always the better insulator. Solids/liquids are much more dense, and therefore translate energy better. Since gases are less dense, the molecules interact less and don't translate that energy as efficiently.
Double-paned windows - usually filled with a gas in between that provides better insulation. Survival - always put your only blanket under you, as the ground (solid) steals heat faster than the air (gas). Set a hair-dryer to 180 degrees, and it's nice and warm. Set your jacuzzi to 180 degrees, and it's too hot to just jump in right away.
The best insulator is actually a vacuum, but that's not practical in most applications except for some coffee mugs - and those keep your coffee hotter longer than any other mugs!
To: Svartalfiar; gr8eman
Forgot to add, I do get your point in regards to global warming. CO2 isn’t any more of a global insulator than any other gas (esp when it’s such a tiny part of the atmosphere), and I believe that water vapor is actually a much more effective “greenhouse gas”.
However, increasing CO2 doesn’t really cause any bonus heat, it’s more of a plant food that causes plants to grow much better. I remember reading a while ago that the ideal CO2 concentration for growing plants is about 10x greater than our atmosphere generally is.
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