Biosphere 2, Oracle

About Biosphere 2

Biosphere 2 is a 3.14-acre living laboratory in Oracle where visitors explore research into Earth's ecosystems and sustainability science. The facility contains four of the world's five major biomes under sealed glass: a rainforest, ocean, mangrove environment, and desert, plus the Landscape Evolution Observatory. Visitors walk through these interconnected systems to see active research on coral reef restoration, plant responses to atmospheric carbon dioxide, and how ecosystems interact under controlled conditions impossible to replicate in nature. The 40-acre campus includes classrooms, administrative offices, and housing alongside the glass enclosure. Education programs engage learners from kindergarten through graduate school with hands-on activities in the research setting. The facility, now operated by the University of Arizona, has welcomed over three million visitors since 1991 and continues to conduct interdisciplinary science focused on understanding and sustaining life on Earth and beyond. Tickets are sold online through the venue's website.