Biosphere 2

Biosphere 2 was meant to lay groundwork for future space colonization missions, as well as act as an environmental and social experiment: Eight scientists were to be locked into a three-acre dome containing five different earthly biomes for two years, from September 1991 to September 1993. The goal was to see if humans could survive and become self-sufficient in a "closed system"—that is, one that was not supposed to have any supplies coming in or out. Texas philanthropist Ed Bass, who'd inherited his family's oil fortune but took on ecological causes, poured $200 million into the project, but hired Steve Bannon in 1993 to stop the huge runaway costs of the experiment gone awry. In late 1993, Space Biosphere Ventures refused to accept Bannon's proposal to remove top Biosphere 2 management. Bannon quit over this, but returned as CEO the following year when Bass gave in to his requests. Two of the original eight researchers staged a mutiny from outside when they heard Bannon was back. Later a Pinal County jury ordered Space Biosphere Ventures to pay $600,000 in damages to the two researchers. In spite of Bannon's short and tumultuous rule, Biosphere 2 lives on today as B2, now owned by University of Arizona.