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 and his wife decided to put an aquarium in his room. 


"I proceeded to slaughter fish left and right. I had an inability to keep those fish alive, no matter what I did," Buchanan said. 


The repeated fish funerals sparked his interest in tanks — the containers used to keep things alive.


Buchanan is a historian at the University of Minnesota who specializes in science and technology. He began studying tanks in all forms: aquariums, space ships, etc. — artificial environments that allow fish and humans to survive in places they otherwise wouldn't be able to.


Buchanan joined MPR News host Tom Weber to discuss what he's learned in his research. He found that attempts to build artificial environments have actually taught scientists a huge amount about the complexity of the natural world.

For the full discussion about tanks with Nick Buchanan, use the audio player above.

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Studying artificial environments like aquariums and space ships has revealed a lot about the natural world, according to historian Nick Buchanan.

Nicholas Buchanan studies the history of science and technology at the University of Minnesota, and he is fascinated by tanks that people put things in to keep alive.

Fish tanks, spaceships and other vessels that support life in places it shouldn't exist

"Aquarium with Whale, etc.", unknown author, 1873.

Courtesy of Nick Buchanan

'The Family Aquarium,' Henry D. Butler, 1858.

What aquariums taught us about how the world works

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