Hobbies And Interests
Infrastructure
The Biosphere 2 facility itself displays many scientific innovations. The structure's seals, used to keep the biosphere's atmosphere self-contained, set world records for their low air leakage rates of under 10 percent per year. This rate is 30 times better than the space station's and shows a 300-fold improvement over NASA's closed ecological systems. The facility also contains 26 air handlers, units designed to adjust the temperature and humidity of the air in the facility's ecosystems.
Missions
The eight-member crew of the first Biosphere 2 mission was sealed into the facility on September 26, 1991. The mission lasted two years and experienced mixed results. The crew survived largely on a nutrient-rich diet grown entirely within Biosphere 2. However, dropping oxygen levels meant that oxygen had to be pumped into the system on two occasions. The crew also experienced significant social upheaval, eventually dividing into two hostile factions that remained isolated from one another toward the end of the mission. Mission Two, in 1994, ended prematurely due to conflict between the crew and the management.
Landscape Evolution Observatory
The Landscape Evolution Observatory (LEO) is a major research project designed to explore issues such as climate change, water cycles, carbon cycles and the complex interactions between landscapes and biological systems. The LEO will comprise three large-scale landscapes constructed within a controlled environment. The construction of the first landscape is expected to be complete in early 2012. The landscapes will contain embedded sensors to enable researchers to track the flow of water and carbon in real time.
Energy and Sustainability
The University of Arizona has expanded the mission of Biosphere 2 to include research into technology that will decrease the threats posed by global climate change. The Biosphere 2 campus can operate as a model city for developing and testing solutions like smart grid technology and solar energy sources. The tests modeled at the facility will help researchers develop a richer understanding of how to implement specific technologies as well as creating viable business plans to help the solutions take hold in practice.