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Experiment in Arizona Created Forest, Savannah, and Ocean Inside Ecological Capsule — and Showed How Hard It Is to Live Without Earth
In the middle of the Arizona desert, a building that looks like something out of a science fiction movie houses something unexpected. Inside, there is a tropical forest with a waterfall, a savannah, a fog desert, and even an ocean with a coral reef. All of this in a 1.2-hectare ecological capsule. The project’s name is Biosphere 2, a tribute to Earth, considered Biosphere 1.
In the 1990s, eight people isolated themselves for two years inside Biosphere 2. The idea was to simulate life in a closed and self-sufficient system.
This type of environment would be necessary for future human colonies on Mars or the Moon. Inside the structure, the residents grew their food, recycled water, and produced oxygen through plants.
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But the experiment soon faced serious problems. Over time, oxygen levels dropped drastically. From 21% — the normal level in the air we breathe — the figure plummeted to 14%.
This value is equivalent to the air at high altitudes, above 3,000 meters. This left the participants weak. Basic activities, such as planting and maintaining systems, became more difficult.
The cause was the soil used inside the capsule. It was too rich in organic matter. This favored the growth of fungi and bacteria, which consume oxygen and release carbon dioxide.
The still-young plants could not balance this process. Without fully developed plants, oxygen was not replenished at the same rate it was consumed.
Another problem was the lack of pollinators. Bees and other insects essential for plant reproduction disappeared.
It is believed that this happened due to predatory ants or the lack of ultraviolet light, which insects use to see flowers.
To resolve this, the residents had to manually pollinate some plant species.
Despite the setbacks, the project generated learnings. For many scholars, like historian Lisa Rand, the experiment was ahead of its time.
Mark Nelson, one of the participants, said that living in a closed system made everyone realize how each part of the ecosystem is linked to our survival.
The original idea came from John Allen and was funded by billionaire Ed Bass. The cost was US$ 150 million — equivalent to over R$ 2 billion today.
The team was made up of generalists, not traditional scientists. This generated criticism. At one point, one of the participants needed to leave after suffering a cut.
At another time, it was necessary to inject oxygen from the outside. The media treated the experiment as a fraud, even though it was a unique experience.
Today, Biosphere 2 belongs to the University of Arizona. The site has become one of the largest climate research centers in the world.
Scientists use the structure in the desert as a “time machine” to understand the impacts of global warming on different ecosystems.
Current studies show that tropical forests, for example, withstand heat better than previously thought.
However, they are very sensitive to drought. In one test, researchers simulated a drought of 70 days. Some trees managed to survive by absorbing water from deep layers of soil.
It was also discovered that under water stress, certain trees release substances that help form rain clouds.
In the marine sector of Biosphere 2, scientists were able to prove that the increase in ocean acidity — caused by carbon dioxide absorption — harms coral growth.
Currently, research is being conducted to try to strengthen corals using probiotics or pre-exposure to heat as a form of adaptation.
Another interesting point is the absence of wind inside the structure. With this, scientists realized that trees grow more fragile.
Wind, by swaying plants, stimulates the formation of denser wood. In the case of corals, researchers are also studying the need for certain types of light for their growth in captivity.
Despite the technical errors and criticisms, those involved in the desert project never considered the experience a failure.
For them, it was an experiment like any other: full of difficulties, but also filled with discoveries.
According to Lisa Rand, the biggest mistake was trying to evaluate Biosphere 2 with the same criteria as traditional scientific projects.
The costs of a project like this are also high. Ecologist David Tilman from the University of Minnesota estimates that maintaining a space colony in the mold of Biosphere 2 would cost about US$ 82,500 per person each month.
And this without guaranteeing survival. He states that it is very expensive to try to recreate what Earth already provides for free.
In the end, the main lesson from Biosphere 2 is clear: life on Earth is irreplaceable. Mark Nelson sums this up by saying that we are all “biospheric.” In other words, we depend on the health of ecosystems to continue to exist.
Today, while some billionaires dream of living off the planet, Biosphere 2 in the Arizona desert reinforces a simple idea: it is wiser — and more urgent — to take care of the Earth we already have.
With information from BBC.
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