Main content

Sealed in a glass dome and running out of oxygen

Inside Biosphere 2, a giant air-tight greenhouse in the Arizona desert, eight people endeavoured to see if humans could survive on other planets and better understand our own.

When an intrepid crew of eight entered Biosphere 2, a giant air-tight greenhouse in the Arizona desert in September 1991, no one knew how it would pan out.
It was an experiment to see if humans could live in similar glass worlds on other planets. Their intention was to survive by cultivating the farmland and plant life inside to create the food and oxygen they needed, but quickly both ran dangerously low. This is the story of how original 'Biospherians' Mark Nelson, Sally Silverstone, Jane Poynter and Taber MacCallum endured what's been called one of the most audacious, unusual and controversial experiments of the last decade. Part 2/2.

Mark Nelson and Sally Silverstone have released a new edition the book they wrote whilst inside Biosphere 2 called 'Life Under Glass: Crucial Lessons in Planetary Stewardship from 2 Years in Biosphere 2'.

Presented and produced by Saskia Edwards
Additional production by Mariana Des Forges

Photo: Biosphere 2 at sunset
Credit: Joe Sohm/Getty Images

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Mon 21 Sep 2020 00:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 19 Sep 2020 21:32GMT
  • Sun 20 Sep 2020 08:32GMT
  • Sun 20 Sep 2020 22:32GMT
  • Mon 21 Sep 2020 00:32GMT

Contact Outlook

Contact Outlook

Info on how we might use your contribution on air

Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

Step into someone else鈥檚 life and expect the unexpected