A lettuce leaf makes an unlikely starting point for a mission to Mars. Yet keeping even a small crop alive far from Earth raises questions about water, light, nutrients, and the equipment needed to sustain life when resupply is difficult.
Arizona offers some remarkable places to investigate those questions without leaving the planet. Appleseed Expeditions brings them together in its four-day Mission to Mars sample itinerary, connecting Biosphere 2, astronomy, telescope engineering, cultural heritage, and wildlife conservation in one science-focused journey.
The Rainforest, Desert, and Ocean Under One Roof
A rainforest, desert, mangrove wetland, and ocean might seem like an unusual collection of environments to find within one research facility. At Biosphere 2, near Tucson, these ecosystems exist within an extraordinary glass-and-steel complex operated by the University of Arizona.
