hypothetical
A hypothesis (plural hypotheses) is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon. For a hypothesis to be a scientific hypothesis, the scientific method requires that one can test it. Scientists generally base scientific hypotheses on previous obser ...
system closed with respect to matter and open with respect to energy capable of sustaining human life indefinitely. The term was coined in 1966 by
Isaac Asimov
yi, יצחק אזימאװ
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Petrovichi, Russian SFSR
, spouse =
, relatives =
, children = 2
, death_date =
, death_place = Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
, nationality = Russian (1920–1922)Soviet (192 ...
in a paper entitled "There’s No Place Like Spome", published in ''Atmosphere in Space Cabins and Closed Environments'' and originally presented as a paper to the American Chemical Society on September 13, 1965. Asimov himself declared his coined word to be ''uneuphonious'' (not pleasant to the ear), and defined it as being a
portmanteau
A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of words
Definition
Asimov described how energy flows through a life-support system from a low
entropic
Entropy is a scientific concept, as well as a measurable physical property, that is most commonly associated with a state of disorder, randomness, or uncertainty. The term and the concept are used in diverse fields, from classical thermodynam ...
state from which it moves all material resources, such as air, water, and food with the rejection of low-grade heat as the final energy output. The concept reflects the dynamics of
ecosystem ecology
Ecosystem ecology is the integrated study of living ( biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of ecosystems and their interactions within an ecosystem framework. This science examines how ecosystems work and relates this to their components s ...
as described by
Howard T. Odum
Howard Thomas Odum (September 1, 1924 – September 11, 2002), usually cited as H. T. Odum, was an American ecologist. He is known for his pioneering work on ecosystem ecology, and for his provocative proposals for additional laws of thermod ...
.
The term applies to any life-support system from submarines to spaceships, and includes the operation of the Earth's own biosphere.
The word "spome" was also referenced in a reprint of Asimov's original article in ''Is Anyone There?'' 1967 by Doubleday, Ash. He surmised that an asteroid could be "spomified" by being hollowed out and equipped suitably for long term, sustainable flight.
Buckminster Fuller
Buckminster Fuller
Richard Buckminster Fuller (; July 12, 1895 – July 1, 1983) was an American architect, systems theorist, writer, designer, inventor, philosopher, and futurist. He styled his name as R. Buckminster Fuller in his writings, publishing more t ...
called the concept of a spome "an astronaut's black box", meaning that the necessities of life were supplied through the absorption of energy to cycle material resources and eject heat from the system. Fuller's institute is furthering this concept through understanding of the Earth's comprehensive life support system.
Gerard O'Neill
Gerard K. O'Neill
Gerard Kitchen O'Neill (February 6, 1927 – April 27, 1992) was an American physicist and space activist. As a faculty member of Princeton University, he invented a device called the particle storage ring for high-energy physics experiments. L ...
does not acknowledge the term "spome", but writes about the concept in '' The High Frontier: Human Colonies in Space''. Asimov's concept predates and exceeds O’Neill’s by using a propulsion system with a Spome to allow development of the solar system, and then leaving to populate the galaxy over eons.