To cite a basic work of literature: “Everybody poops.” Seeing because the Enterprise could also be out in house with restricted bodily provides for prolonged durations of time, it is sensible they’d discover a strategy to reuse no matter waste they’ve available. As soon as it is damaged down into atoms, it is actually not “poop” anymore, and it may be remodeled into one thing edible that, on the naked minimal, tastes “fairly good.”
Admiral Vance’s revelation is actually one of many funniest “Star Trek” moments in historical past, and it has a fair higher standing inside actuality than most individuals might understand. In 2023, NASA revealed how astronauts aboard the Worldwide House Station have expertise that is able to recycling sweat and urine into drinkable water. Cleansing up urine is one factor, however we’re in all probability a methods off from determining the right way to break down feces and switch it into one thing edible. Though, in response to a report from ABC Information, that might very nicely be on the horizon, because it’s talked about how “Engineers have been engaged on how to verify astronauts have primary wants met with out resupply missions, together with the right way to recycle meals, air and water.” Recycle meals? Feels like changing into an astronaut might grow to be quite a bit much less interesting within the close to future in spite of everything.
All issues thought of, the truth that replicated meals tastes bland at worst means the replicators are actually marvels of engineering. In principle, somebody might be consuming the identical atoms for breakfast each single day. And when one considers how the transporters in “Star Trek” truly work, consuming sanitized, reconfigured poo atoms would not appear to be the worst factor on the planet.