The Biosphere 2 experiment in the 1990s attempted to create a fully closed human ecosystem in the Arizona desert. The project faced a critical oxygen shortage because soil microbes consumed oxygen faster than plants could produce it, and the structure's concrete walls absorbed carbon dioxide, disrupting the expected atmospheric balance. This case study highlights the complexity of managing carbon cycles in isolated environments. It demonstrates how unforeseen chemical reactions in building materials and biological activity in soil can undermine climate control efforts, offering valuable data for future sustainable architecture and space colonization.
