Biosphere 2, Oracle, Arizona
By Robin
Neither one of us is good at doing the typical tourist things, like museums, monuments, etc, but if you know us, you’ll know that we are science geeks. We Will Stop for Science!
We didn’t know we’d be camping near Biosphere 2 when we planned our overnight stop in Oracle, Arizona on the way to Tucson. That’s another thing we’re not good at: scouting out tourist attractions ahead of time. We were pretty stoked to discover our campground was minutes from Biosphere 2 and that it was open to tourists.
You may remember Biosphere 2 from back in the 90’s. (Biosphere 1 is considered to be the planet Earth.) It was built by two private investors as a self-contained environmental science experiment. They constructed seven complete biomes, including tropical rainforest, ocean, mangrove wetlands, savannah and desert, enclosed by giant glass panels and steel tubing. It was originally airlocked, so that all oxygen, CO2 and water had to be recycled throughout the system.
The facility is probably most famous for the two experiments conducted with humans and animals sealed into the building in the 90’s. Both trials ended early amid some human-created drama. The first mission also had trouble due to high CO2 levels in the Biosphere. The pods and living area for the people in the original experiments are viewable on the tour. I felt sympathetic to the people who volunteered….I think I’d go a little nuts being trapped with 8 strangers for a year too!
The facility construction required tremendous planning and forethought. The colossal interconnected building and supporting structures were created before our current level of computerization and technology, and essentially continues to operate as well as it did in the 90’s. The only difference now is that the facility is no longer airlocked, and the enormous ‘lungs’ that were built to regulate pressure due to temperature differentials are no longer in operation.
Biosphere 2 changed hands a couple of times and was ultimately acquired by the University of Arizona in 2007. Scientists and student researchers from the university run massive science experiments in the complex.
Current projects include mimicking effects of climate change on rainforest and on coral in the ocean (and developing species of coral that are resistant to warming oceans). Another enormous experiment investigates the hydrology of drainage and the development of soil and evolution of life from bare volcanic rock. There are experiments harnessing solar power and sustainable agriculture practices. One experiment, growing plants beneath solar panels in desert environments, proved so successful so quickly that it’s being implemented now throughout the southwest.
If Biosphere 2 was considered somewhat controversial science at the time of its construction, there’s no doubt the facility is being put to good use today. It tickled us both to be able to take the tour!
