Project "Biosphere-2": a failed experiment to survive 8 people in isolation

This interesting experiment was organized by the American billionaire Edward Bass and Space Biosphere Ventures. They hoped to find out whether a person could survive in a closed environment without communication with the outside world. Despite the fact that the organization of the project was approached with the utmost seriousness, and the funding was carried out in due volume, the experiment was deemed failed. Let's see why this happened.

A grandiose complex called "Biosphere-2" was built in the Arizona desert in the United States. It was supposed that it will be a paradise for 8 volunteer researchers who will become participants in the project. In order to exist in an autonomous mode and completely not depend on the outside world, a grandiose complex of 1.5 hectares was arranged as a small copy of the planet Earth. The structure consisted of 7 separate blocks, part of which imitated various ecosystems: tropical forest, mangroves, savannah, ocean, desert. Significant areas were allocated for the cultivation of plants suitable for human consumption. The building itself was isolated from the outside world, and the plants inside were supposed to provide a suitable level of oxygen.

A scientific experiment was started in 1991, and 8 people became its participants: 4 women and 4 men. But in the first month of the project, there were seven participants left, as one woman injured her finger during field work. She was not able to provide medical care at the proper level, and she was forced to leave the project.

The second problem, which was also found at the start of the experiment, was a drop in oxygen. Despite all the calculations and a large number of green photosynthetic plants, the devices showed a decrease in the oxygen content in the air. It turned out that the calculations were performed incorrectly and the oxygen produced by the plants was not enough to provide the residents of the complex.

In addition, it turned out that harmful microorganisms and insects multiplied very quickly in the complex. There was no escape from cockroaches and ants, and green plants were in the grip of pests. Since in the confined space of the Biosphere-2 complex it was not originally intended to use chemicals to control pests, it was decided to collect and destroy insects manually. All this was very exhausting for people, life in the complex turned into hard work.

Well, the last thing that the organizers overlooked was the psychological health of the project participants themselves. It all happened approximately as shown in Hollywood films about flights to Mars. Almost immediately, due to disagreements, people were divided into two groups that had little contact with each other. Due to increased physical activity and lack of food, project participants began to lose weight. On this basis, cases of conflicts within the group became more frequent, and the moral climate in the team left much to be desired. They waved merrily at reporters through the panoramic windows, but actually looked forward to the end of this joyless project.

The project was completed exactly two years later. After some time, information leaked to the press that the missing volume of oxygen was regularly pumped into the complex, as well as an additional supply of food. The experiment was considered unsuccessful. Specialists were forced to agree that the complex and its internal content needed substantial improvements.

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