The University of Arizona’s Biosphere 2 has reopened to the public.
The facility closed to visitors due to COVID-19 in March, then reopened for driving tours in August. Now, visitors are welcome to walk the grounds again but should anticipate changes.
“We have developed a new app that will allow visitors to explore the facility at their own pace while keeping socially distant from other visitors,” said Katie Morgan, manager of ocean systems and education initiatives at Biosphere 2. “We are confident this new experience will provide visitors with a fun and safe way to interact with the facility.”
Biosphere 2 was created in the 1980s by a businessman and philanthropist who wanted to research and develop self-sustaining space-colonization technology. Two missions, between 1991 and 1994, sealed eight people inside the glass enclosure to measure survivability. After the facility changed hands multiple times, UArizona began leasing the property in 2007 and bought it in 2011 to serve as a tool to support scientists studying Earth systems and the consequences of climate change. The facility also was opened for public tours.
Planning a trip to Biosphere 2, located about 45 minutes north of Tucson, will require visitors to purchase tickets online and select a time to visit.