Sphere of Influence: Biosphere II

In the fall of 1990, researchers sealed themselves inside Biosphere II, the world’s largest terrarium, in the Arizona desert. Over a two-year stint, the terrarium’s ecological systems would recycle air, water and nutrients to maintain life of the 3,800 plant and animal species living inside the glass and space-frame structure. Space Biospheres Ventures (SBV), the private ecological research firm that created Biosphere II, contracted Hewlett-Packard to design a network of computers, electonic sensors, and analytical and medical instruments for Biosphere II’s data. “It’s the most interesting project in the U.S. since the early days of the Apollo Space program,” said Roger Brathwaite, an HP project manager.