Life in Biosphere

  • The Earth offers an amazingly effective, interconnected living system, a biosphere. We are part of this biosphere and everything we do can have an impact on how it functions.

Biosphere 2 was an experiment conducted to create an artificial life-support system that mimicked Biosphere 1, the Earth. Biosphere 2 utilized a fully enclosed 3.14 acre (1.27 hectare) network of glass and steel domes, where 8 humans lived between September 26, 1991 and September 26, 1993. The project ran for an impressive length of time (over 2 years) and taught us a great deal about how ecosystems function and our connections to them.

In the end, however, the experiment was incredibly expensive and ultimately failed.


In Biosphere 2, they were losing oxygen (O2) from the atmosphere because they had too much carbon (C) in the compost that was reacting with the O2 in the air and forming carbon dioxide (CO2), which was then absorbed into the cement. So if they could grow more plants, then they could sequester the C from the compost into the plants, which stopped it from combining with the O2, which would leave more O2 in the air.

Flowchart 3 - Nutrient cycling in Eritrea


summary

1. The Biosphere 2 Experiment

  • It contained seven biomes, including a rainforest, an ocean with coral reefs, a savanna, a desert, and an agricultural area.

  • The goal was to test whether humans could live in a self-sustaining environment, simulating potential life-support systems for space colonization.

  • Jane Poynter was one of eight crew members who lived inside for two years (1991–1993), growing their own food and recycling air and water.

2. Challenges Inside Biosphere 2

  • Oxygen Crisis: Oxygen levels dropped from 21% to 14%, leading to fatigue, difficulty breathing, and mental fog—similar to being at a high altitude.

  • Food Shortages: The team had to grow all their food, which resulted in severe calorie restrictions and constant hunger.

  • Ecosystem Imbalance: The disappearance of pollinating insects led to an overpopulation of species like ants and cockroaches.

  • Psychological Stress: The closed environment and group tensions created interpersonal conflicts.

3. Key Lessons & Impact on Sustainability

  • Living in Biosphere 2 deepened Poynter’s awareness of Earth’s fragility—small environmental changes had huge consequences inside the dome.

  • The experience highlighted the interdependence of ecosystems and the need to maintain balance.

  • Biosphere 2 underscored the reality that Earth itself (Biosphere 1) is a closed system, dependent on sustainable resource use.

  • She emphasizes that, just like inside Biosphere 2, we must be conscious of our impact on the planet and take action to protect it.

4. Final Message

Poynter concludes that humans cannot separate themselves from nature—we are part of a living system that sustains us. If we want to thrive, we must treat Earth as carefully as they had to treat Biosphere 2.