[SpaceProgram] Fwd: Reinventing the Toilet - for long term survivability on earth and beyond

[Jerry Isdale]

Over on MAKE there is a discussion where it was asked if we need more Plumbers or better toilets
   (http://blog.makezine.com/2012/08/16/more-plumbers-or-reinvented-toilets/) 
We need both actually - 'cause there is massive infrastructure of plumbing, AND  we need better toilets.

We will especially need better toilets for humanity's long term survival on earth and in space.
Consider this brief video from Gates Foundation...
   http://www.gatesfoundation.org/watersanitationhygiene/pages/reinventing-the-toilet.aspx 

Current western flush toilet wastes a LOT of precious water, and relies on massive infrastructure.
And throws away (i.e. dumps elsewhere) what could be valuable resources.
And people without sanitary means of disposing of poop often wind up with very high disease rates.

So one of the challenges for long term space flight is...
  poop.  crap.  fecal matter.  shit.

Solving this problem for space (aside from near 0g) could also help survival on planet (near term).
A topic for Hackerspace Space Program grant?

Jerry Isdale
isdale at gmail.com



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