The Plight of the Martian Farmer
This article explores the history of Biosphere 2, a 1990s experiment in self-contained living, while reflecting on the eccentric nature of its original organizers. It contrasts the project's cult-like reputation with the genuine scientific ambition of the biospherians who lived there.
Why it matters
It provides historical context for modern closed-loop habitat research, which is essential for future long-term space colonization efforts.
Maciej Cegłowski Jul 05, 2026 ∙ Paid 4 3 1 Share Programming note : The newsletter now has over 1,000 subscribers! Thank you! It has been a joy to write, and your subscriptions help buy me time to research future posts in my signature style, where I just download and read endless papers like a dinosaur. If you know someone else who would enjoy reading these posts, please let them know!
The author provides a balanced, observational account of a historical scientific experiment without political or ideological framing.
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