Life in Biosophere 2

In regard to the amusing Christopher Corbett piece (Opinion, March 29) satirizing the Biosphere 2 experiment, I send greetings to your readers from the Biosphere 2 crew. We had to read the article via our electronic fax system as our growing pile of newspapers from our home delivery was obstructing the airlock doors!

On March 27, I and the other seven crew members surpassed the Russian record for humans occupying a closed biological life-support system. We have now been working and living in Biosphere 2 for over six months. We are in good health and super spirits, down to fighting weight since switching to our low-calorie, low-fat (but all fresh and organically grown food) diet and enjoying the adventure of pioneering a new world.

The first six months in Biosphere 2 have been something of a “shakedown cruise.” All of the life systems are in good shape, our technical systems have been remarkably reliable thus far and the research data will be extremely interesting on the dynamics of our small world. An independent Scientific Advisory Committee will be issuing a report sometime this summer about the project.

On behalf of the Biosphere 2 crew I invite you and your readers to visit us in Arizona to see this innovative and spectacular experiment in how humans can cooperate with a biospheric life support system.

MARK NELSON

Biosphere 2 Crew Member

Oracle, Ariz.