# Biosphere 2: What Went Wrong and Why **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 18, 2005, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797 "2005-06-18T07:11:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797/1 "2005-06-18T07:11:14Z")
Whenever the subject of colonizing places like Mars comes up, people always point to Biosphere 2 and state, “Well, _that_ proves we don’t know what the hell we’re doing, so there’s **no** way it could ever work on Mars!” I _knew_ that there was an article written by one of the scientists involved with the project that had a detailed explaination of what was wrong with the design, and how with a few changes it could have worked. I found the magazine, did some digging on the net, and found the complete article on line. The [article](http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1510/is_n89/ai_18109922) points out that the location and the design of Biosphere 2 pretty much doomed it. > [@](#): > > In short, Bios 2’s location, orientation, glass, framing struts and walls, flat-surface dust, ice, algae, and grime, and the glass itself transformed the building into an anemic photosynthesizer, powered by less than half of the local photon flow, churning out perhaps 20 percent less oxygen than the “real world.” In ecodesign terms, humanoid infrastructure - grow lamps for more photos, air conditioners to warm or cool the interior, air handlers to distribute the heat by artificial wind, the impossible task of window washing, and electric energy (from diesel or the grid) - had to replace sun power and a sunnier site location. The choices were far from easy. Truly light-admitting glass is a form of pure quartz, at a cost of $5,000 for a smallish pane. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797/2 "2005-06-18T10:30:13Z")
I also recall, back in the days when they were building it, that at least one of the major backers stated that he didn’t expect a roaring success of it, and they he thought we’d learn more from failures and what _didn’t_ work than anything else. And we did learn some things NOT to do. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797/3 "2005-06-18T15:04:19Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > And we did learn some things NOT to do. Yeah, like: Make sure you don’t let Pauly Shore get in. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797/4 "2005-06-18T16:41:54Z")
Since that article is nearly 10 years old now, I’ll point out that Columbia University no longer runs the place. They let it go in 2003 when their lease was up, since it was never successful enough as an “Earth science campus” to cover the costs of running the place. A bunch of investors are now trying to make a go of the place as a tourist attraction/conference center/research facilty/etc. [Biosphere 2](http://www.cbre.com/usa/us/az/tucson/property/biosphere2) ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797/5 "2005-06-19T03:11:08Z")
You know it’s bad when the OP states “glass” as a problem . . . twice. Give me a TEMPER Tent, and I’ll colonize anything you friggin’ want. See, the only problem with Biosphere II is that the inhabitant lacked guts. John Wayne would have laughed at their asses. Apparently, they couldn’t adapt and overcome, and thus, it wasn’t a _real_ simulation. “Oh shoot, we can’t clean the windows! Pause the exercise!!” :rolleyes: Those pansies. Tripler A [TEMPER Tent](http://www.galleria-e.com/cgi-bin/Colemans.storefront/en/product/314401). (The only picture I could find) ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797/6 "2005-06-19T07:21:41Z")
Huh? How are you going to grow food and create oxygen in a tent? ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797/7 "2005-06-19T08:01:54Z")
They made a sequel of that turd?! ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797/8 "2005-06-19T09:03:41Z")
Seems to me it wasn’t a failure at all. We learned some valuable stuff we might not have otherwise. Don’t build it out of uncured concrete, or at least seal the stuff. Don’t put a lot of organic material into your soil at the outset. Add it gradually, like nature does. What else? Lack of light. Not a problem in space, and I imagine not a problem on Mars. Maybe there’s some dust, but probably not a big deal to brush off. Don’t let ants in. Can’t imagine that’s a problem in space or on Mars. If critters are a problem on Mars, I think it would be worth the unfortunate sacrifice of our colonists to find out. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797/9 "2005-06-19T09:08:54Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > If critters are a problem on Mars, I think it would be worth the unfortunate sacrifice of our colonists to find out. Ooookay, I could probably have phrased that better. Not advocatin’ the sacrifice of our colonists! I’d just love to find life on Mars. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797/10 "2005-06-19T10:08:30Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Lack of light. Not a problem in space, and I imagine not a problem on Mars. Maybe there’s some dust, but probably not a big deal to brush off. Problem on Mars. Mars does received significantly less solar energy than Earth. And the “dust” on Mars isn’t like the grit we have on Earth. It’s more like really, really fine talcum powder. It may be a problem with getting into every tiniest crack and crevice, and is so small it may pose a breathing hazard if our lungs - evolved to deal with weightier particles - can clean it out efficienly ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797/11 "2005-06-19T16:16:16Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Problem on Mars. Mars does received significantly less solar energy than Earth. Of course, Mars has significantly fewer clouds than Earth, and a slightly longer day, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797/12 "2005-06-19T20:22:10Z")
Oh, the hours per day of sunshine might be greater than almost anywhere outsid the Sahara or Antartic Summer, but _quality_ and _intensity_ are much less than on Earth. Fewer photons per square foot and all that. It doesn’t rule out solar power, but you will need a larger array to achieve the same level of electrical energy ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797/13 "2005-06-20T02:13:37Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Problem on Mars. Mars does received significantly less solar energy than Earth. What I meant was that the light Mars receives is a known quantity so we could adjust for it. AFAIK, Mars doesn’t have cloudy periods, which is what happened to Bioshere 2. Didn’t the year they started the experiment turn out to be one of the most cloudy years on record or something? Doesn’t Mars receive a dangerous level of radiation? Would a permanent Mars habitat even be made of transparent material? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797/14 "2005-06-20T03:40:46Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Don’t let ants in. Can’t imagine that’s a problem in space or on Mars. Well I for one welcome our ant overlords… ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797/15 "2005-06-20T04:04:53Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > What I meant was that the light Mars receives is a known quantity so we could adjust for it. AFAIK, Mars doesn’t have cloudy periods, which is what happened to Bioshere 2. Didn’t the year they started the experiment turn out to be one of the most cloudy years on record or something? > > Doesn’t Mars receive a dangerous level of radiation? Would a permanent Mars habitat even be made of transparent material? You can engineer materials that are transparent to visible wavelengths, but block UV and cosmic rays. But it’s expensive. I’d guess that early habitats on Mars won’t be on the surface at all, but built underneath the ground. This blocks the radiation, the dust, and may even help seal in a breathable amosphere. Of course, then you couldn’t use the sun for growing at all… ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797/16 "2005-06-20T05:41:50Z")
From my very experienced based knowledge of greenhouse growing, the worst problem is that, with optimal growing conditions, the bugs come in, too. This is a pain, but can be resolved with relatively benign solutions, albeit some buggy leafs. My question; Tuckerfan, what was the problem w/ Biosphere. Unwashed windows? That just sounds supremely lazy, as far as any Earthly horticulturist’s life goes . Wonderin’ ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797/17 "2005-06-20T06:00:47Z")
> [@elelle](#): > > From my very experienced based knowledge of greenhouse growing, the worst problem is that, with optimal growing conditions, the bugs come in, too. This is a pain, but can be resolved with relatively benign solutions, albeit some buggy leafs. > > My question; Tuckerfan, what was the problem w/ Biosphere. Unwashed windows? That just sounds supremely lazy, as far as any Earthly horticulturist’s life goes . > > Wonderin’ I don’t know specifically. but judging from [this picture](http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennis/5648238/) of the inside, and [this picture](http://www.classicalarchives.com/astro/Arizona/01-Biosphere_2.jpg) (warning it’s a **big** pic) of the outside, I’d say that it wouldn’t be an easy task to clean the windows. Which goes back to the article’s point that it was a bad design. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797/18 "2005-06-20T06:01:42Z")
I’d heard that the problem was runaway bacterial/fungal/algal growth in the sealed environment. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797/19 "2005-06-20T06:40:22Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > I’d heard that the problem was runaway bacterial/fungal/algal growth in the sealed environment. That’s part of it as the author points out here: > [@](#): > > The decision to install all that organic carbon (as compost and peat moss) in one single act reflects Bios 2’s “Noah’s Ark” management policy. While dramatic, it was a mistake of ecodesign. In future biospheres, adding small amounts of organic carbon bit by bit into the soil will keep the 02 and C02 levels closer to levels on the planet Earth. Monitoring the soils and incorporating just a little more compost at each opening would have prevented the microbial feeding frenzy and the elevated CO2 concentrations. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797/20 "2005-06-20T07:20:53Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > I don’t know specifically. but judging from [this picture](http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennis/5648238/) of the inside, and [this picture](http://www.classicalarchives.com/astro/Arizona/01-Biosphere_2.jpg) (warning it’s a **big** pic) of the outside, I’d say that it wouldn’t be an easy task to clean the windows. Which goes back to the article’s point that it was a bad design. The author talks about the problem here: > [@](#): > > The hardest choices concerned the structure itself. White piping in weblike Bucky Fuller geometric arrays both dazzle the eyes (especially from inside) and block solar photon flow. The pyramidal glass walls cascade to flat glass surfaces, then return to pyramidal angles. They evoke the Mayans and Egypt. Unfortunately, during the rains, each slanted glass wall washes the desert dust onto the flat glass surfaces, where the rainwater ponds, grows bacteria and algae, and further blocks photon flow. In winter the ponded water freezes to translucent ice - and once again reduces photon flux. But again, this wouldn’t be a problem in space or on the moon or Mars, since there’s no water, algae or bacteria to grow, at least on the outsides of the glass. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biosphere-2-what-went-wrong-and-why/308797.md?page=2)