Biosphere 2

Poking around in a desert canyon in Arizona you will find a stunning facility dedicated to human ingenuity and human insanity.

The entrance to Biosphere 2

Before entering Biosphere 2

Originally designed to be a self-sustaining community and inhabited by a team of scientists for 2 years and 20 minutes to determine the feasibility of humans living in such a space (we must remember the plans in inhabit Mars were in full swing back then) and being able to survive the hassles and rigors of such a life.

Not only was "serious scientific experimentation" (best read with a nerdy deep voice over) carried out on plants and animals, checking and rechecking the reality of human impact on the original biosphere, Biosphere 2 also seemed to be a hotbed of chaotic experimentation with the human team of seriously Type A personalities all packed into a 3.14 acre area.

Since the space race has cooled a bit for now and the experiments all gleaned amazing data, the wonders of Biosphere 2 are open to visitors with a whopping 2.3 million guests a year meandering through what is essentially the biggest, most expensive greenhouse in the world.

The Biosphere is still a giant working lab and is still spitting out data enough to flood the world with a paper trail waist high to be sure. It is also an amazing nod to human creativity, to the order of the original creation and to the beauty of masterpieces yet to be discovered.

In the Savannah over looking the ocean
It was pretty humid in this spot, but gorgeous over looking the water, and out the glass into the desert beyond.

In the desert
My favorite climate in Biosphere 2.Flowers in the desert.

The Ocean.
Tiny but effective.

In the belly of Biosphere 2

Outside one of the lungs
These devices allow for the expansion and compression of the air inside the domes. Very cool.