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Ever Widening Circles

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Science

17 minute lesson

Biosphere 2: A Rainforest and a Reef in the Middle of the Desert?

Ever Widening Circles

What would a colony on Mars really look like? Could we take a piece of our planet with us to space?

It’s hard to answer these kinds of questions without a little experimenting here on Earth. How do you even begin to study such complex systems?

Today, we take you to Biosphere 2, a remarkable place that is experimenting with how life on other planets might look! This marvel of technology, biology, and long-term experimentation is a living lab taking a close look at Earth’s complex systems!

So, let’s head to Arizona with The Good Stuff and check out this incredible place!

Why It Matters

Projects like Biosphere 2 give us a way to see up close the complex and interconnected ways the ecosystems on this planet interact.

Though the intended experiments never panned out, they did highlight the many complexities of life in space. Whether or not we ever see a colony beyond earth, our desire to go further, and look at the horizon with a spirit of possibility is a marvel of humanity.

Let's Talk About It
  1. What do you think would be the most interesting part of living in Biosphere 2?
  2. What do you think the worst part of living in Biosphere 2 would be?
  3. What kind of experiment would you want to run in a place like Biosphere 2 to learn about living in space?

The Good Stuff

Join Craig Benzine as he scours the depths of the universe and the recesses of the inner mind on a never-ending quest for The Good Stuff.

Thank You

Thank you to the EWCed writing staff! If you want to submit content to EWCed, please let us know.

Citations

“Inside Biosphere 2: The World’s Largest Earth Science Experiment.” YouTube. The Good Stuff, 13 Oct. 2015. Web. 27 Oct. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yAcD3wuY2Q>.

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