Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Proxima Centauri · 07-02-2003, 10:02 AM

Are you into biology or ecology? You could check out this website.
Try giving the 360 degree motion pictures a twirl.

Proxima Centauri · 07-03-2003, 07:26 AM

So far 47 Infidels have viewed this site. Will no one tell us what they think of it?

Jayjay · 07-03-2003, 08:37 AM

I remember reading about it when I was a kid, and it sounded very exciting: a group of scientists locking themselves in a sealed miniature Earth for two years. Later, I heard the experiment failed, and from this website I get the impression that they've abandoned the original concept altogether. Too bad.

Wyz_sub10 · 07-03-2003, 09:21 AM

My wife and I went to Biosphere2 in 2000. It sucked.

Besides costing waaaaay too much to enter, the exhibits were often broken or missing, and the other stuff was either dull or access restricted.

If you are ever in Arizona, spend the time at Kitt Peak observatory instead. (We couldn't go because of the rain, and thus ended up at Bio2)

LogicMage · 07-03-2003, 11:58 AM

I live pretty close to it... I may have to go

Calzaer · 07-03-2003, 12:34 PM

Why did it fail originally?

Jayjay · 07-03-2003, 01:27 PM

Here:

Quote:

What happened?

During the course of Mission 1, the management of Biosphere 2 installed a carbon dioxide scrubber and also provided some supplies from the outside without reporting these actions to outsiders observers. To make matters worse, two of the managers took a defensive stance when criticisms were raised regarding the degree of self-sufficiency and the lofty claims of the project. (We're not sure whether it was dishonest or misleading actions.)

It would have been understandable (though a little bit disappointing) if the managers had reported unforeseen problems with Mission 1 and reported the measures they had decided to take. If they had been open, the project would have been seen as a great learning experience nevertheless, though not a complete success. Surely, some journalists and egotistical scientists would still have taken shots and sought high profile publicity by criticisms in any case, but it would not have been such sensational criticism, and there would have been due respect by the low key portion of the scientific research community which truly matters. There almost certainly would have been a Mission 2 based on the lessons of Mission 1.

Instead, the press had enough justification to engage in a feeding frenzy. Understand that before Mission 1, the press built up Biosphere 2 as one of the greatest ongoing projects on Earth, e.g., Discover magazine called it "the most exciting scientific project undertaken in the U.S. since President Kennedy launched us toward the Moon", and Phil Donahue did a live on-site broadcast, calling it "one of the most ambitious man-made projects ever". Once something becomes that famous, it attracts egotistical journalists and upwardly mobile scientists who rely on criticisms of others to raise themselves up - the bigger the target, the greater the benefit to one's self if they can land a valid punch. Before long, practically nobody would defend the elements of Biosphere 2 that were worth appreciating, and the stories focused only on its misgivings. Indeed, the focus quickly migrated to sensational, juicy personal matters, e.g., characterizing the group as a cult. In terms of sociopolitical trends, Biosphere 2 had gone from one extreme to the other in the eyes of the press.

When the above issues were raised, the scientific merit of the project also came under a media microscope. While the project collected valuable scientific data and practical experience, it was never set up as a proper scientific laboratory according to certain standards. (Indeed, it's difficult to take on such a large and complex task as Biosphere 2 with a near-term schedule and stick to the stringent scientific standards of academia and the slow, one step at a time process of exact science.) When the project's openness and honesty was called into question, the value as well as the integrity of the scientific data was also called into question by some elements of the popular science media as well as hard science media analysts.

In order to deal with this overwhelming pressure and dramatic loss of face, the financier of Space Biospheres Ventures fired the management of Mission 1 and replaced it with highly respected scientists of the most impeccable credentials. After almost two years, a different project had taken a life of its own, albeit much drier, less ambitious and lower profile. The later project benefitted from the publicity and support of the former project, but without the corresponding ambition and risk.

FoE · 07-03-2003, 09:00 PM

Someone tell me when these things work so i can move to Antartica.

07-02-2003, 10:02 AM	#1
Proxima Centauri Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: England, the EU. Posts: 2,403	Biosphere 2 is Really Cool and Interesting. Are you into biology or ecology? You could check out this website. Try giving the 360 degree motion pictures a twirl.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

07-03-2003, 07:26 AM	#2
Proxima Centauri Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: England, the EU. Posts: 2,403	So far 47 Infidels have viewed this site. Will no one tell us what they think of it?

07-03-2003, 08:37 AM	#3
Jayjay Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Finland Posts: 6,261	I remember reading about it when I was a kid, and it sounded very exciting: a group of scientists locking themselves in a sealed miniature Earth for two years. Later, I heard the experiment failed, and from this website I get the impression that they've abandoned the original concept altogether. Too bad.

07-03-2003, 09:21 AM	#4
Wyz_sub10 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the land of two boys and no sleep. Posts: 9,890	My wife and I went to Biosphere2 in 2000. It sucked. Besides costing waaaaay too much to enter, the exhibits were often broken or missing, and the other stuff was either dull or access restricted. If you are ever in Arizona, spend the time at Kitt Peak observatory instead. (We couldn't go because of the rain, and thus ended up at Bio2)

07-03-2003, 11:58 AM	#5
LogicMage Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Deep within the recesses of a twisted mind Posts: 74	I live pretty close to it... I may have to go

07-03-2003, 12:34 PM	#6
Calzaer Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,762	Why did it fail originally?

07-03-2003, 09:00 PM	#8
FoE Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,168	Someone tell me when these things work so i can move to Antartica.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.