Mike and Elena arranged this visit to the Biosphere 2, a very large living laboratory. Criticism of its 1992 mission aside, it's an impressive engineering feat. The building was sealed from the outside world and contained various ecosystem. Care & feeding of the facility was given to Columbia University, with specific info found at http://www.bio2.edu/ & interesting description of the testing at http://www.permanent.com/s-bio2m1.htm