Astronauts could turn waste into tools

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Astronauts could turn waste into tools

6 yrs ago

Astronauts could turn their own body waste into tools and supplements allowing them to boldly go further into space than ever before.

Researchers have proven that it is possible to harvest vital molecules from urine, faeces and exhaled breath which can be repurposed into 3D printable plastics or nutrients.

Astronauts cannot take a lot of spare parts into space because extra weight adds to the cost of escaping Earth's gravity.

But scientists at Clemson University in South Carolina have discovered strains of yeast that can break down human waste into useful products.

Read more at smh.com.au

7 comments

HappyDaze

6 yrs ago

Mix it in a Petrie dish or ceramic bowl. 'Made in China' or 'out of this world'.

Banjo

6 yrs ago

Amazing, looks like the Mars mission is fast becoming a reality and long distance space travel more and more viable.The researchers presented their results at the 254th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS, the world's largest scientific society, a couple of days ago and I wonder how it was received. Very exciting times we live in.

This video gives a good insight on how it’s done:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6x54zYuqXk&feature=youtu.be

Suze

6 yrs ago

That could be a possibility in view that humans not only managed to litter earth and the ocean as well as the space ...must be heaps of junk out there.

Very sad times to live in.

PlanB

6 yrs ago

Yes Suze, we have totally stuffed the Earth/the Oceans and outer space , now we are heading to the other planets --

Pamiea

6 yrs ago

I would still like to see the money spent on space travel to be spent on pe ople on earth who are homeless and starving living in poverty

PlanB

6 yrs ago

I agree Pamiea, IMO they should also throw in the Trillions that they spend on killing peole too just imagine what a great place the planet would be also,

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Suze

6 yrs ago

Yes the money should be spent on the pill and comdoms .. then there would not be so many starving people living in poverty.

Sophie

6 yrs ago

There will always be something better we can do with money spent on space travel...but to think my grandchildren will witness something so wonderful makes me jealous...

Wish I could live long enough to see that!!

ever though of cryogencis?

do it now so you will thaw out in better condition than if you waited 10 years

catsahoy

6 yrs ago

MY father would have been interested in crogenicis, he was very interested in space, and he would have been one of the first to sign up for space travel, pity he wasnt here to see all this, it is marvelous what man has acceived . pity we have screwed up earth so much, but the mind boggles with what the future holds,

catsahoy

6 yrs ago

IF we keep reproducing the way we are, we will need to find another planet to live on, we are running out of space now, this is what the astronouts are looking for, another planet that will sustain life as we know it.

and we should leave all religious fanatics, criminals and sexual deviants behind

catsahoy

6 yrs ago

i concur RAPHAEL, start afresh,

We will make an exception for you sweetheart.

you can bring Mufstuffa

catsahoy

6 yrs ago

i said start afresh, leave mustaffa behind, he may find someone to mate with, then it really would be 'planet of the apes'

From original post:
“Astronauts cannot take a lot of spare parts into space because extra weight adds to the cost of escaping Earth's gravity.”

Wondering what the weight difference would be between a ‘spare tools’ box and a 3D printer. They might need to make printers more compact and lightweight too, if today’s models are anything to go by.

No matter, onwards and upwards.

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Astronauts could turn waste into tools

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