NASA Funding 3D Food Printer Research (The Replicator!?)

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The_Trutherizer

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Jul 21, 2008
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I think "synthetic" food will solve the world problems. That said I believe the printing of food should be done using actual cells cultured in bio-reactors. So only half synthetic assembled really. Staple grains should be relatively simple - It does not even need very advanced printing if any once you have cultured the cells. Good meat substitutes will be the real deal. I have high hope that such manufactured foods will help us avoid some dystopian future scenarios.
 

The_Trutherizer

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I think "synthetic" food will solve the world problems. That said I believe the printing of food should be done using actual cells cultured in bio-reactors. So only half synthetic assembled really. Staple grains should be relatively simple - It does not even need very advanced printing if any once you have cultured the cells. Good meat substitutes will be the real deal. I have high hope that such manufactured foods will help us avoid some dystopian future scenarios.
 

ddpruitt

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Jun 4, 2012
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Yet another reason Star Trek is better than Star Wars! (couldn't help myself)
Now I can see a whole new business springing up, companies selling plans for building (!?) different foods. Let's see what we can turn this into!
 

mynith

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It's an interesting way of doing it, but the machine will have to be a lot quicker than current 3D printers if they want to feed an entire spacecrew and still get decent texture out of the finished product. I suppose it can't be that hard for foods like pepperoni pizza, but the fibrous texture of most meats and vegetables could be quite challenging to replicate. Also, I wonder if the food comes out already cooked (yet still cold, maybe?) or still needs cooking.
 
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