Researcher exits sealed Biosphere 2 after two-week experiment – KOLD

Report on the Biosphere 2 SAM Experiment and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A two-week experiment was conducted at the Biosphere 2 facility, marking the first human sealing in over three decades. The research, centered in the Space Analog for the Moon and Mars (SAM) unit, investigated the efficacy of plants in maintaining a breathable atmosphere within a closed ecological system. This report details the experiment’s methodology, preliminary findings, and its significant contributions to achieving several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning health, innovation, climate action, and sustainable living.

Experimental Overview

The primary objective was to monitor carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and their effect on a human subject in a sealed, controlled environment. The experiment was structured in two distinct phases:

1. Phase One (Week 1): The subject, Matthias Beach, cohabited with 144 pea plants. The plants were tasked with performing natural photosynthesis to convert human-exhaled CO2 into oxygen, thereby purifying the air.
2. Phase Two (Week 2): All plant life was removed from the facility. This was done to create a baseline and measure the rate of CO2 accumulation in the absence of a natural air filtration system.

Key Observations

While a full data analysis is pending, initial observations from both onboard sensors and the human subject confirmed a significant environmental shift between the two phases.

• Atmospheric Composition: A marked increase in CO2 concentrations was recorded immediately following the removal of the pea plants.
• Qualitative Experience: The subject reported a tangible difference in air quality, noting the “smell of humidity and green” during the first week, which was absent in the second, making the environment feel more sterile and “like a spaceship.”

Relevance to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This research provides critical insights and data directly applicable to several SDGs. The development of closed-loop life support systems is fundamental to creating sustainable habitats, both on Earth and in future interplanetary missions.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The experiment directly addresses the importance of air quality for human health by quantifying the role of plants in removing harmful CO2. It also acknowledges the psychological benefits of interacting with plant life, a key component of mental well-being in isolated environments.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The SAM facility represents an innovation in building resilient infrastructure for extreme environments. The research fosters scientific and technological advancement in life support systems, which has applications for sustainable urban development and resource management on Earth.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The experiment is a model of a circular economy. It demonstrates a sustainable production and consumption pattern where a waste product (CO2) is utilized as a resource by plants to produce essential life-sustaining outputs (oxygen and nutrients).

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  At its core, the study is a microcosm of climate action. It highlights the fundamental role of botanical solutions in carbon capture and sequestration, reinforcing the importance of preserving and expanding plant life to mitigate climate change on a global scale.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The research underscores the indispensable function of terrestrial ecosystems (Life on Land) in creating and maintaining a habitable atmosphere. It proves that plant life is not merely a passive component of an environment but an active and essential technology for sustaining life.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

The SAM experiment is the inaugural step in a long-term research initiative. According to Research Director Kai Staats, future work will analyze the complex interactions between human physiological patterns and the closed system’s stability. The project’s findings will be instrumental in designing sustainable, self-sufficient habitats for future space exploration. More importantly, the principles demonstrated—resource circularity, nature-based air purification, and the human-plant connection—offer a powerful blueprint for advancing sustainable development and climate resilience on Earth.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article connects to this goal by focusing on the conditions necessary for human survival and well-being in a closed environment. It mentions monitoring the subject’s “physiological patterns” and the “psychological benefit” of plants, highlighting the direct link between environmental quality and human health. The experiment’s core focus on air quality (managing CO2) is a fundamental aspect of a healthy living environment.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • This goal is addressed through the article’s description of a cutting-edge scientific experiment. The project, SAM (Space Analog for the Moon and Mars), is an example of advanced research and innovation. The research director calls it the “start of years-long experimenting,” and the participant emphasizes that “this is real science, we are really doing something good here,” which aligns with the goal of fostering innovation and scientific research.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • While the experiment simulates a spaceship, its principles are relevant to creating sustainable human habitats on Earth. The challenge of managing air quality and creating a self-sustaining environment by using plants to remove CO2 is a microcosm of the challenges faced in designing sustainable urban environments and buildings with clean air.

4. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • The experiment directly investigates a key mechanism related to climate action: the role of plants in carbon sequestration. The article states that the pea plants “cleaned the air of CO2” and that sensors showed an “obvious increase in CO2 emissions once the plants were removed.” This research contributes to the fundamental understanding of how biological systems can be used to capture carbon dioxide, a primary greenhouse gas.

5. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • This goal is relevant as the experiment demonstrates the critical life-support function of terrestrial ecosystems (plants). It highlights how plants provide essential ecosystem services, such as converting “carbon dioxide… to oxygen,” which is fundamental for all life. The study underscores the importance of understanding and utilizing plant life to create and sustain habitable environments.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

   • The experiment’s focus on monitoring and managing carbon dioxide levels in a sealed habitat directly relates to understanding and mitigating the health impacts of air quality. High CO2 levels are a form of air contamination in a closed system, and this research explores biological methods to control it.

2. Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries… encouraging innovation.

   • The article is a case study of this target in action. The Biosphere 2 experiment is a clear example of enhancing scientific research to further knowledge for a future industry (space exploration). The statement that this is the “start of years-long experimenting” shows a commitment to ongoing research and innovation.

3. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality…

   • The experiment’s core objective of using plants to manage CO2 and maintain breathable air in a confined space provides insights and potential technologies applicable to improving air quality in urban buildings and enclosed public spaces, thus reducing the adverse environmental impact on inhabitants.

4. Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.

   • This research project contributes to the body of scientific knowledge about carbon capture, a key climate change mitigation strategy. By demonstrating the effectiveness of plants in cleaning CO2 from the air, it serves as a powerful educational tool and enhances our scientific capacity to address climate change.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Concentration of Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

   • The article explicitly states that the experiment “monitored Beach’s carbon dioxide emissions” and that “sensors showed an obvious increase in CO2 emissions once the plants were removed.” The level of CO2 in the air is a direct, quantifiable indicator of air quality, relevant to measuring progress towards targets in SDG 3 and SDG 11.

2. Human Physiological and Psychological Metrics

   • The article implies the use of health-related indicators by mentioning the monitoring of “human’s physiological patterns” and noting the “psychological benefit” of plants. These could include metrics like heart rate, stress levels, and cognitive function, which serve as indicators for well-being under SDG 3.

3. Scientific Research Activity

   • The existence of the experiment itself, described as “real science” and the “start of years-long experimenting,” serves as a qualitative indicator of progress towards SDG 9.5. It represents an investment in research and development and the active pursuit of innovation.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Identified in the Article

Source: kold.com