WHAT ON EARTH?

One piece of property near Oracle, AZ has been used for many things over the years, including a cattle ranch, a corporate retreat and a dentist’s hunting lodge. It has even been the site of a countess’ home! Since the 1980s though, it has supported something even more extraordinary—the Biosphere 2.

Imagine trying to “rebuild” Earth on a tiny scale under a glass-and-metal dome structure with different plants from all over the world and even an ocean! Well that’s exactly what these people did! The environment inside consisted of different biomes (desert, savanna, ocean, coastal fog desert and tropical rainforest).

FIRST MISSION INSIDE BIOSPHERE 2

The builders wanted to see if people could live in a materially enclosed environment, meaning that they recycled and reused their air and water, and grew their own food crops. They tried to replicate the Earth.

In the original mission, eight humans (four men and four women) entered Biosphere 2 and never went outside for two years! They learned how difficult it is to recreate the Earth and how hard it will be for humans to travel to and live on the moon or other worlds.

A NEW DIRECTION FOR BIOSPHERE 2

The people who built Biosphere 2 then decided to stop trying to live inside. They decided to use this interesting and unique facility for science research that could help us learn more about problems right here on Earth. Since 2007, The University of Arizona has managed Biosphere 2 and is conducting environmental science research inside.

Scientists at Biosphere 2 are studying things like drought, gases in our atmosphere that come from plants and soils, and the complex workings of water in our world. Biosphere 2 allows scientists to bridge the gap between small experiments done in a laboratory and hard-to-control experiments done out in the natural world. Science experiments performed at Biosphere 2 can’t be done anywhere else in the world!

KIDS & CLASSES CAN EXPERIENCE BIOSPHERE 2

Something else that’s interesting about how science experiments are done at Biosphere 2 is that people like you are invited to watch and ask questions!

You can take a tour and actually interact with scientists. You can ask them questions about their experiments and what they hope to learn. Most people really never get to see scientists at work, but that happens every day at Biosphere 2.

Biosphere 2 has been used for many different and interesting tasks through the years. It has a bright future ahead as scientists work on and try to solve many different environmental problems facing the Earth today and in the future.

Biosphere 2 Is a Special Place for Reporter

The Biosphere 2 is a huge, glass building made for science. I love to go visit when I have the chance! I like learning about the history of the land around the Biosphere 2, which is north of Tucson toward Oracle. It seems like it’s right out of the Wild West, as I imagine it. Although it isn’t really far, when I am there it seems like I’m on a desert mountain, far from the city.

The building is amazing to look at. The space-frame of the Biosphere 2 reminds me of a huge, white jungle gym.

I always want to climb on it! It looks like a bunch of large X’s supporting giant, glass windows that separate Biosphere 2 from the surrounding desert and casitas. Near the big kitchen of the Human Habitat, you can get up close and touch the frame!

One interesting part of the building is the big tower sticking out of the top of the Human Habitat. This was a library, where the Biospherians could sit and read. They were able to look down at the surrounding desert, but they had to climb up a huge staircase and deal with the heat that is trapped in the glass. It’s now open for special tours.

When I go inside the Biosphere 2 proper from the kitchen in the Human Habitat, I immediately smell something great that reminds me of rain. It doesn’t smell like the desert rain, which carries that unique scent of creosote. Rather it smells like the rain that falls when I am up on top of Mt. Lemmon in the summer, but a little different. This is one of my favorite things about Biosphere 2—I’m always surprised by something when I walk inside.

The mountain inside the Tropical Forest Biome is really tall. It almost reaches the top of the space-frame. The mountain, actually made for circulating air inside the tropical forest, is hollow inside. I like how you can climb up and see everything around it. It is extremely slippery. I like being inside this biome because it is so green and it smells so good. It is so different from the brown desert outside.

As you leave the building, you go through an area called “The Lung.” This area is kind of scary. It’s a big chamber that keeps the Biosphere 2 from either imploding or exploding. Now you can walk through it and see the big counterweight that keeps the pressure stable.

Finally, the Ocean Viewing Gallery is a place where you can look underneath the Ocean biome and explore a bunch of fun exhibits that give you information about Biosphere 1’s (Earth’s) ocean. The touch pool, where you can feel the sea life, is neat. This area also has a drinking fountain that I love, but I don’t know why. I guess when you have been walking around the Biosphere 2, it feels so nice to get a cold drink!

I love Biosphere 2! I really enjoy walking around and seeing the scientists working on their projects. You really need to experience Biosphere 2 for yourself!

For more info about tours and field trips go to www.b2science.org or contact Michele Clark at 520-838-6124