Inside Biosphere 2: Earth Science Under Glass

by Mary Kay Carson

Overview

In the Arizona desert, scientists conduct studies and experiments aimed to help us better understand our environment and what sort of things are happening to it due to climate change. The location is Biosphere 2, an immense structure that contains a replica ocean, savannah, and rainforest, among other Earth biomes. It’s a unique take on the Scientists in the Field mission statement — in this case, the lab is a replica that allows the scientists to conduct large-scale experiments that would otherwise be impossible.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780358362586
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/17/2021
Series:	Scientists in the Field Series
Pages:	80
Sales rank:	679,206
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.49(d)
Age Range:	10 - 12 Years

About the Author

Mary Kay Carson lives with her husband, Tom Uhlman, and their dog, Ruby, in a century-old house surrounded by deer, hawks, woodchucks, songbirds, and other creatures in Cincinnati, Ohio. Check out their other Scientists in the Field books, including The Tornado Scientist, Park Scientists, Emi and the Rhino Scientist, The Bat Scientists, Inside Biosphere 2, and Mission to Pluto.

Editorial Reviews

* "This enlightening title adeptly connects Biosphere 2’s past with its present and future. Stunning photographs, clear and colorful graphics, and illuminating insets enhance the appeal...Highly recommended for all middle school science collections." —School Library Journal, starred review "An encouraging example of earth scientists working to understand and deal with climate change in new and amazing ways." —Kirkus * "From examining how forests handle climate change to the impact of the ocean becoming more acidic, to developing a deeper understanding of the water cycle for soil erosion, and to predicting climate conditions, the scope of the research is vast...Truly eye-opening." —Booklist, starred review —

From the Publisher

★ 10/01/2015
Gr 5–8—The latest installment in this stellar series examines Biosphere 2, a research facility in Oracle, AZ. Biosphere 2 began as an engineering marvel and an experiment in creating a self-sustaining, closed biological system that could support a team of humans for two years. In 1993, when the original Biosphere 2 experiment ended amid controversy, few could have predicted what the future would hold for the research facility. While briefly addressing the original experiment and its triumphs and shortcomings, Carson focuses on telling a compelling story of the scientific research being conducted at Biosphere 2 today and the importance of that work in understanding our biosphere: the planet Earth. This enlightening title adeptly connects Biosphere 2's past with its present and future. Stunning photographs, clear and colorful graphics, and illuminating insets enhance the appeal, and direct quotes from the Biosphere 2 scientists are liberally incorporated throughout. The processes, products, and purposes of the research are addressed, and information about the facility's past is provided in a series of "Flashback to the Biospherians" photographic sidebars. VERDICT Highly recommended for all middle school science collections.—Kelly Kingrey-Edwards, Mirus Academy Library, TX

School Library Journal

2015-07-27
A 1990s science experiment aimed at space exploration finds a new purpose in the 21st century. Built to test long-term human survival in a closed ecological system like a potential Mars colony, the 3.14-acre glass-enclosed structure called Biosphere 2 is now being used for investigations of climate change here on Earth. Framing her narrative as a tour of the facility, now open to and welcoming visitors, Carson's information-packed text introduces the original experiment, in which eight people survived for 2 years, and then, chapter by chapter, describes new studies. In the rain forest, biogeochemist Joost van Haren investigates how much carbon dioxide a forest can hold and the effects of drought. An "ocean" with a no-longer-viable coral reef is being repurposed into a model of the nearby Gulf of California, under the supervision of marine biologist Rafe Sagarin. What was once a farm is now a Landscape Evolution Observatory, with replicas of a nearby hillside where hydrologist Luke Pangle studies how water, energy, and carbon move through landscapes. Sustainability coordinator Nate Allen works underneath in the Technosphere, where power and plumbing systems support the entire structure. Well-chosen, clearly captioned photographs support the text, while flashback boxes inform readers of what came before. For middle and high school readers, an encouraging example of earth scientists working to understand and deal with climate change in new and amazing ways. (glossary, resources, index) (Nonfiction. 12-15)

Kirkus Reviews