title: Biospherics:  a new science
abstract: The experience of human existence in the last few decades shows clearly that developed civilizations come into greater and greater antagonism with nature.  Modern technology cannot on its own coexist easily with the biosphere without destroying key biological components.  The necessity of comprehending the laws of development of the biosphere as a single whole is becoming more and more obvious and urgent.  Because it is so precious and fragile, the biosphere cannot be subjected to any direct study which may harm it.  Therefore this science depends on the study of analogs and small models such as artificial ecological systems with differing degrees of complexity and closure.  On such model ecosystems we can (and must) study both the particular laws of development of individual elements and components of the ecosystems, and the general principles of turnover of the entire biospheric system.  As this new science is being formed, it is necessary to develop the scientific basis of harmonizing the relationship of humanity and nature, to open the path to the next phase, termed the noosphere by Vernadsky. The principal objects of study are closed ecological systems, from simple microsystems to more sophisticated human life-support systems under extreme conditions on the Earth and in space.  Biospherics by its very nature knows no political boundaries, and is by necessity an international effort.  As such, it is deserving of support both intellectually and economically from all peoples.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biophysics (Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences), International Center for Closed Ecological Systems, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pechurkin
mesh_terms: D018534:Earth, Planet; D018504:Ecological Systems, Closed; D006801:Humans; D008021:Life Support Systems; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012426:Russia; D013026:Space Flight