Biosphere 2, Earth system science research facility in Oracle, Arizona, US
Biosphere 2 is a research facility in Oracle, Arizona, that contains multiple enclosed ecosystems under a glass dome. The complex covers about 3 acres (1.3 hectares) and includes a rainforest, an artificial ocean, a desert, mangrove wetlands, and a savanna environment.
Launched in 1984 by Ed Bass and John P. Allen, Biosphere 2 was built between 1987 and 1991. Eight people entered on 26 September 1991 for a two-year closure; a second crew followed in 1994. Columbia University managed it from 1995 to 2003, and the University of Arizona took over in 2007, gaining full ownership in 2011.
The center welcomes school groups and adults who want to learn about environmental research, offering guided walks through the different ecosystems. Visitors often see researchers working in the greenhouses and labs, which gives a direct look at how science happens here day by day.
Visitors usually explore the site on their own, guided by a mobile app that explains ongoing research and the different zones inside. The walkways pass through climate-controlled areas with high humidity in the rainforest section and drier zones, so light clothing and water are helpful.
During the first mission, the agricultural zone grew more than 80 percent of the food needed by the crew, including bananas, papayas, and sweet potatoes. The team had to harvest, process, and store everything on site, which gave an unusually close look at self-contained food systems.
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