Living Experiment Has New Life Without People
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Biosphere's main structure.
CLUI photo
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Among the many projects exploring alternative
community living systems, Biosphere 2 is perhaps the most monolithic
and technologically elaborate. Located northeast of Tucson Arizona,
the complex was built in the late 1980's by Texas oil billionaire
Edward Bass. One of the original missions of Biosphere 2 was
to explore the possibility of living outside of the earth --biosphere
1--should the earth become uninhabitable.
The primary structure consists of a large, mostly
glass faced building, enclosing over three acres of land surface.
Within this sealed enclosure, five of the earth's biotic zones
are represented in condensed form: the rain forest, desert,
Savannah, swamp and ocean. In addition there is an intensive
agricultural area and a "micro city".
Biosphere gained notoriety when, in 1991, eight
"biospherians" entered the structure to begin the
project's first major experiment: to farm and live in the totally
sealed-off, self-contained world for two years. No material
was supposed to pass into or out of the facility during that
time. During the course of the experiment, however, oxygen levels
dropped, and carbon dioxide levels rose to dangerous levels.
Some biospherians became sick and spent time outside the structure.
Ants from the rainforest invaded the desert, and the one million
gallon ocean, complete with a coral reef uprooted from the Yucatan,
clouded over into an opaque algeal soup. Finally, two biospherians
broke the seals of the biosphere to let in some fresh air.
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View inside the "Human Habitat"
at Biosphere indicates the change of strategy for the
project.
CLUI photo
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Since the beginning of this experiment, Biosphere
has floundered in controversy and management battles, losing
all of its credibility in the hallowed halls of science. Eventually
the owner and original investor, Edward Bass, gained control
and entered into an agreement with New York's Columbia University,
to restore "real" science to the $200 million plus
project.
Columbia took over in January of 1996, with a
research agenda that mostly explores the effects of a high carbon
dioxide atmosphere on plant development. Though the enclosure
is opened only at scheduled times (usually twice a day to let
workers in and out), no more biospherians will be sealing themselves
in the Biosphere for any length of time.
Biosphere continues to be, perhaps more than anything, a tourist
attraction, bringing in several bus-loads daily. After paying
the $12.50 admission, visitors can buy Biosphere souvenirs at
one of five gift shops, can eat at one of two restaurants and
even stay at the "Inn at the Biosphere". Columbia
will continue to develop the educational resources and public
programs at the Biosphere, including the experimental gardens
and science displays located outside the sealed structure.
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Biosphere as a rotating model on display
in the orientation center.
CLUI photo
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