The Biosphere 2 Podcast features thought provoking in-depth interviews with scientists, authors, engineers, entrepreneurs, artists, and policy makers exploring the threads between Earth, its living systems, and our place in the Universe. Hosted by Aaron Sparks Bugaj. A new study, authored by Biosphere 2 researchers and published in Nature Plants journal, may help to create more accurate climate predictions models in the future. The unique rainforest habitat at Biosphere 2 enabled researchers to control weather variables and gather empirical data on tropical forests that would be difficult or impossible to replicate elsewhere.
The findings suggest that rainforests may be more resistant to temperature increases than previously thought. Read UArizona article. Visit Nature Plants page.
Through time, we worried that the beta carotene that gives them and bananas and carrots their distinctive colors would turn us a disconcerting orange hue. We never noticed any change, but eventually outsiders grew alarmed at our new complexions. Despite our limited food supply, we reserved some goodies for feasts and celebrations. We made cheese, ice cream and fruit smoothies.
We even sauced up the occasional party with banana wine, rice beer and beet whiskey, which everyone abhorred, even while drinking it. His research indicated that our bodies became highly efficient at utilizing nutrients in everything we ate. We gained back some of our weight losses after our bodies adjusted to an initial 1,calorie-a-day regimen.
As we became better farmers, our intake rose to 2, calories a day. Just as our farm and livestock thrived, so did our biomes. Their total biomass—the weight of all the plants—more than doubled. While some plants and trees died, the crew controlled invasive species, and biomes grew rapidly and maintained remarkable diversity despite their small areas. The desert, for example, transformed from an area dominated by cactus to one populated by shrubs and trees.
We let this process unfold. In this biome, the biosphere taught us how it wanted to evolve. In other biomes, we had to intervene to ensure their stability. For example, the reef in our ocean thrived in part because we removed sunlight-blocking algae and managed its water quality. In the rainforest, morning glories went on a purple rampage that forced us to spend hours yanking down their choking vines. We celebrated our world in poetry, film, writing, art and music in inter-biospheric arts festivals with outside artists.
Their monkey-like curiosity led them to explore all parts of our little world. Crew members could meet friends and family at windows or via telephone, but inside it was just the eight of us. We profoundly got to know each other. I could tell by a footstep or breathing who was passing my room. We contracted a syndrome psychologists call irrational antagonism. That is, we split into two groups of four. One side wanted new management and to reconfigure our mission priorities by deemphasizing closure and spending more time on science.
We worked on healing the rifts, reading books on group dynamics and having homegrown group therapy sessions. As much as possible we kept our conflicts in the open. No matter how much we disagreed, we continued to work together.
Everything you might expect to happen with people has happened in here. I spent two years as a happy eco-monk. To Air is Human Several months in, we realized our oxygen levels were falling.
Rather than throwing in the towel by pumping oxygen into Biosphere 2, we decided to study the problem and how it affected us. After 16 months, our oxygen level had dropped from Half of us suffered noticeable symptoms of altitude sickness, including sleep apnea. Refrigerated trucks arrived to pump pure oxygen into Biosphere 2. Home Donate About tickets Shop map contact search. Buy Tickets. Events Past Events What If?
The majority of the biomes including the desert, savanna, ocean, and rain forest are all accessible by wheelchair or scooter. The Biosphere 2 team will work with you to help access the areas open to the public. EDU or call Dress for the weather as you will spend part of your tour outdoors. Good walking shoes are also recommended since the tour consists of approximately stairs up and down and the route is just under one mile to walk round-trip. Water bottles and a camera. Even though food is not permitted on the premises, it would be wise to bring a few snacks or a small cooler in your car since the facility is quite a ways out of the city center.
No outside food is allowed on the Biosphere 2 campus. Picnic tables are located in the parking lot, but it is recommended to eat prior to or after arrival. Biosphere 2 is pretty far off the beaten path.
Expect to drive minutes to dine. Our top restaurant picks within a 15 -mile radius are:.
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