Ode to Mother (Earth)

I've been wanting to visit Biosphere 2 for a couple of years now and the other day, en route from Tucson to Holbrook (and ultimately, Moab), we did.


And what an amazing place it is. Built between 1987 and 1991 to conduct research in a closed and controlled environment about life systems in the original Biosphere (planet earth), one of its major projects involved 8 people from various disciplines spending 2 years inside the sealed structure conducting various experiments thought to be of possible use in space exploration amongst other things. Yeah, no sending out for pizza on Fridays after a long work week. And no heading to the mountains in the hot weather or to warmer climes in winter.


The original funding came from private donors and at the end of the seclusion experiments (there were 2 in total), it was given to the University of Arizona in Tucson where, as part of the Science Faculty, it continues to explore questions about earth's ecosystems. A great deal of the current research focusses on the BIG question, global climate change and in particular questions about how to reduce harm to the environment, use resources, particularly water, wisely, etc.


Here is some of what we saw on the tour.....

The centre structure is the main public building which includes an education space for programs and presentations. To the right is the north "lung", one of 2 which "breathe" for the main research building, slightly visible on the left.

This is the inside of the lung. The centre structure (the one with the legs) moves up and down depending on the amount of air inside.

This is the main research building where the 8 scientists spent their 2 years. You can sort of see the plants of the jungle biome through the glass.

Some of the fruit trees from the original Biosphere 2 experiment. Lemons, yum. There were also some banana trees and fig plants.

A section of the rainforest biome.

The ocean biome.

The temperate biome.

Green roof experiments. They're trying various combinations of plants which they hope will be a self-sustaining system that can live on whatever water happens to fall on it and that will replenish nutrients in the soil through in-place composting.

These metal hands are set onto tubes and have a hole in the palm and are set into the ground beside some of the plants. Rainwater funnels through to the roots so the plants get more of the rain that falls.

"Condo" for the kind of bees that don't build hives but, rather, live in holes in trees, etc.

There are a number of these "casitas" which originally housed support staff and now are designated a conference centre. Artists occasionally spend retreat time there as well.


It was so interesting I just wanted to go and live there. Alas, not possible. No further living-on-site projects will be happening. Still, at least one of us is keen to come back for whatever amount of time we can manage.