On September 26, 1991 eight scientists entered
the Biosphere 2 (or B2) research facility in Oracle, Arizona, for two years in
a closed system to study ecosystem processes under controlled conditions. A
system closed off from the outside world, Biosphere 2 is a glass-enclosed 3.14
acre facility with 7.2 million feet enclosed under 6500 windows. The impressive structure looms 91 feet tall at
the highest point and is sealed from earth below by a 500-ton welded stainless-steel
liner, with thousands of miles of wiring, pipes, and ductwork throughout. B2
was originally meant to explore the web of interactions within life systems in
a structure with five areas based on biomes; an agricultural area and human
living and working space to study the interactions between humans, farming, and
technology with the rest of nature. The five biome areas include a rainforest, ocean
with a coral reef, mangrove wetlands, savannah grassland, and desert.
There was much publicity about this bold
experiment, most of which focused on the problems ranging from low amounts of
food and oxygen, die-offs of many animal and plant species, and squabbling
among the resident scientists. However, B2 ultimately provided unexpected
scientific results not possible through other means. Constructed between 1987
and 1991 by a private company called Space Biosphere Ventures, Biosphere 2 is
now owned by the University of Arizona with daily tours offered to the public. I
was fascinated with the details of how the scientists lived this way for that length
of time, how they raised food, what they were looking for, and what they ultimately
discovered. The tour and limited peek into this momentous undertaking only
served to whet my appetite for more information – looks like I’ll be reading
one or more of the many books published on this subject!
And, if you were wondering about Biosphere 1 –
that would be Planet Earth.
