Photo by flickr user: zarquon7

Amid the rocky landscape of Oracle, Arizona lies this colossal structure, Biosphere 2.  It happens to be the largest closed system ever constructed.  Built between 1987 and 1991, Biosphere 2 was meant to facilitate researching the possibility of space colonization.   I’m sure most of you are familiar with Biosphere 1 (Earth to the layman), upon which this biosphere is based.      

$200 Million Failed Experiment?

Biosphere 2 was contructed from ’87 – ’91.  Between ’85 – ’07, it cost $200 million.  There were two missions launched between 1991 and 1994, where they sealed bionauts within.

This is the true story… of 8 scientists, doctors, and researchers… picked to live in a materially-sealed ecological system…to work together and maintain a healthy atmosphere–even recycle human waste…to find out what happens… when people stop being polite… and start getting all biologically real…Biosphere 2.

No, there wasn’t a TV show about the whole ordeal.  If they launch another one soon, you can be sure they would have a reality show about this.  Anyhow, neither mission avoided controversy.  Despite the fact that Biosphere 2 was to be completely self-contained, oxygen was pumped in from the outside on several occassions.  There was already too much carbon dioxide from the start of the mission.  Jane Poynter, crewmember in the first mission, recounts her experience as a bionaut in The Human Experiment: Two Years and Twenty Minutes Inside Biosphere 2.  Although the experiment may be considered a failure, ecological and sociological understanding was furthured.  For goodness sake!  It’s a gigantic practice-space; a replica for the earth.

Currently, the University of Arizona manages the site to conduct research.  They also allow visitors–2.3 million have visited the site between 1991 and 2007.
From the official page for Biosphere 2:
3.14 acre facility
7.2 million cubic feet of sealed glass
6,500 windows
91 feet at highest point
sealed from the earth below by 500-ton welded steel liner
40-acre campus
3,820 ft elevation

There are 5 different biomes: ocean with coral reef, mangrove wetlands, tropical rainforest, savannah grassland, and a fog desert.

You have heard about Biosphere 2, even if you think you haven’t.

Remember this film?  In an attempt to win back their girlfriends by showing them that they can be environmentally conscious, Pauly Shore and Stephen Baldwin get locked up in a bio-dome.  Comic mischeif ensues as only Pauly can provide.

The folks behind Biosphere 2 must have been pretty flattered.  Bio-Dome is a parody film based off of the project.

There are a few interesting events going on in the month of April.  In addition to their tours, workshops, and special events, Biosphere 2 is holding its annual Earth Day Festival on April 11.  They will have live music, discussion panels, new exhibits, and science and art activities.  Visit the Biosphere 2 official site for more information.

Ever been to Biosphere 2? Do you think we’ll ever colonize Mars or other planets? Are you blown away by the subtext of the film Bio-Dome?