Biosphere 2 was a bold creation of the 1990s, a utopian vision attempting to replicate Earth’s biosphere within a controlled environment.
In 1991, eight volunteer researchers sealed themselves inside a glass and steel structure for two years. Inside, scientists had recreated several of Earth’s ecosystems, forming part of the ambitious Biosphere 2 project. The goal? To see if humans could one day survive in similar conditions on colonies beyond our planet.
Much of the biospherians’ daily routine centered around farming. They had to grow their own vegetables, harvest grains, and obtain protein from farm animals and fish raised in aquaculture ponds.
Marketed as a “space mission on Earth,” the experiment captivated the media’s attention. But things didn’t go as planned. Crops didn’t grow as expected, food shortages began, oxygen levels dropped, and tensions ran high among the participants.
How Was Biosphere 2 Designed?
Biosphere 2 aimed to be a perfect replica of Earth. Inside, there were multiple biomes, diverse animal species, plants from around the world, and even an artificial ocean and desert.
The original design came from John Polk Allen, a Harvard-trained engineer. Allen also directed Space Biospheres Ventures, the company that bought the property in Oracle, Arizona, where the artificial ecosystem was built in 1984.
Completed in 1989, the structure consisted of three main areas: a large glass and steel dome, a subterranean tech zone, and a living space for the crew.
Due to space and resource limitations, only eight people were chosen for the first mission. In September 1991, the team entered the facility, planning to stay for two years with no contact from the outside world.
What Happened During the Two Years Inside Biosphere 2?
Though they completed the two-year mission, it was far from idyllic. While they managed to grow bananas, peanuts, and sweet potatoes, hunger was a constant issue. For eight highly active people, there simply wasn’t enough food.
Oxygen levels also became a concern. An unusually cloudy period reduced photosynthesis inside the dome, while bacteria thriving in the nutrient-rich soil further consumed oxygen. Eventually, the oxygen inside Biosphere 2 dropped to levels equivalent to an altitude of over 13,000 feet.
The situation became dire, and Roy Waldorf, the group’s physician, had to request supplemental oxygen twice. Between food shortages, oxygen issues, and mounting personal conflicts, the mission was under stress.
Division Among the Biospherians
Tensions boiled over, splitting the crew into two factions that accused each other of hoarding food. All the while, they were still trying to gather data on life inside a sealed environment. In many ways, it resembled a scientific version of Big Brother. The biospherians agree that the food shortages fueled the division.
“We were breathing each other’s air, suffocating and starving,” recalled Linda Leigh. “Fighting certainly didn’t help us achieve the mission we were there for,” Nelson added.
The experiment unraveled, and the initial goal of surviving for two years solely on the resources inside Biosphere 2 failed. Additional food, CO2 scrubbers, and oxygen were brought in from the outside. The media labeled the project a “failure.”
In 1994, a second mission was launched but was canceled before completion.
Today, Biosphere 2 is owned by the University of Arizona and serves as a research facility for studying Earth’s ecosystems. Almost three decades later, there are no more confinements or human experiments inside the giant glass dome. But the legacy of Biosphere 2 lives on, both in science and pop culture.
