Sealed in a Jar: A YouTuber Locks Himself in a Homemade Bio-Dome

One of the hardest things about climate change is, believe it or not, demonstrating it. We've talked about the excess of carbon dioxide and other gases previously, but how can we visualize that excess when we take something as critical as air quality for granted? Well, the YouTuber Kurtis Baute decided to take a very particular and risky approach: sealing himself in a 'jar'—a homemade bio-dome—to evaluate the increase of carbon dioxide in the air, its impact on his body... and what might happen to Earth in the future.

Breathe! Do it while you can, this is no joke. Remember what happened in China? The authorities tried everything, from drones to artificial rain. They even considered banning internal combustion engines. Following the solar route is not a bad idea, but China is just one element in a global equation. Every coal plant still open, every bus burning diesel, every kilogram of beef produced... these practices throw into the air things that should exist in much lower quantities. A significant part of the problem lies in carbon dioxide. The excess gas accumulates, ocean acidification advances, and no matter how slow the process is, it has the potential to end everything. If someone needs a demonstration (on a smaller scale), just watch three videos from YouTuber Kurtis Baute:

It all began with a jar full of plants, living and dying in that closed ecosystem. The jar remained in balance for two years, and the question was: How big should a jar be for a human to survive in it? That led Baute to build a kind of jar-greenhouse with a volume of 30,000 liters, and seal himself inside. The idea was that the plants (200 of them) would reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air through photosynthesis, assisted by a water 'buffer' (80 liters in total, part of which was consumed by Baute) that absorbs some of the gas. The YouTuber also installed a number of devices to measure carbon dioxide levels in the air, and of course, to monitor his health.

The good news is that Baute's blood oxygen saturation never reached critical levels. The bad news is that he only lasted 14 hours inside due to carbon dioxide levels. Patrick from the channel Corporis explains that if carbon dioxide reaches 50,000 parts per million, the body's compensation mechanisms begin to fail. Baute left his jar at 10,000 parts per million, but it was clear he felt pretty bad. Another detail is that the sun never fully came out, limiting the plants' oxygen production. Baute closes his experiment with an uncomfortable message: Earth is like that small jar, only we can't leave it with a cutter. We need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, leaving the car at home more often, eating less meat, and above all, talking to acknowledge, analyze, and communicate the problem.