<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Over on MAKE there is a discussion where it was asked if we need more Plumbers or better toilets<br> (<a href="http://blog.makezine.com/2012/08/16/more-plumbers-or-reinvented-toilets/">http://blog.makezine.com/2012/08/16/more-plumbers-or-reinvented-toilets/</a>) <div>We need both actually - 'cause there is massive infrastructure of plumbing, AND we need better toilets.</div><div><br></div><div>We will especially need better toilets for humanity's long term survival on earth and in space.</div><div>Consider this brief video from Gates Foundation...</div><div> <a href="http://www.gatesfoundation.org/watersanitationhygiene/pages/reinventing-the-toilet.aspx">http://www.gatesfoundation.org/watersanitationhygiene/pages/reinventing-the-toilet.aspx</a> </div><div><br></div><div>Current western flush toilet wastes a LOT of precious water, and relies on massive infrastructure.</div><div>And throws away (i.e. dumps elsewhere) what could be valuable resources.</div><div>And people without sanitary means of disposing of poop often wind up with very high disease rates.</div><div><br></div><div>So one of the challenges for long term space flight is...</div><div> poop. crap. fecal matter. shit.</div><div><br></div><div>Solving this problem for space (aside from near 0g) could also help survival on planet (near term).</div><div>A topic for Hackerspace Space Program grant?</div><div><br></div><div>Jerry Isdale</div><div><div><div><a href="mailto:isdale@gmail.com">isdale@gmail.com</a></div><div><br></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
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