Comments on: Food, urine, and feces as radiation shield for Mars mission http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:28:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Ryan Lenethen http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1674053 Ryan Lenethen Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1674053 Scotty we need more power to the shields! I'm tryin' captin, but she ain't got no more in her! Bonus for Scotty being a brand of TP. Scotty we need more power to the shields!

I’m tryin’ captin, but she ain’t got no more in her!

Bonus for Scotty being a brand of TP.

]]> By: Robert Drop http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1672070 Robert Drop Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1672070 That's a safe assumption. ;) I should have made explicit my caveat *assuming being near lots of fecal matter is a turn off.  Because that capsule is going to smell like space-farts.  And they're the deadliest.  (Also I imagine any thrills gained by enacting one's furtive couplings in rest-rooms are going to disappear when you live in a port-a-potty.) That’s a safe assumption. ;)
I should have made explicit my caveat *assuming being near lots of fecal matter is a turn off.  Because that capsule is going to smell like space-farts.  And they’re the deadliest.  (Also I imagine any thrills gained by enacting one’s furtive couplings in rest-rooms are going to disappear when you live in a port-a-potty.)

]]> By: SomeGuyNamedMark http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671901 SomeGuyNamedMark Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671901 They're in for a real shitstorm They’re in for a real shitstorm

]]> By: rocketpj http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671669 rocketpj Wed, 06 Mar 2013 04:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671669 Well, if you held it that long... Well, if you held it that long…

]]> By: rocketpj http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671668 rocketpj Wed, 06 Mar 2013 04:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671668 That's no moon... That’s no moon…

]]> By: Halloween_Jack http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671644 Halloween_Jack Wed, 06 Mar 2013 03:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671644  The first alien ship that fires upon it is gonna get a <i>biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig</i> surprise.  The first alien ship that fires upon it is gonna get a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig surprise.

]]> By: Halloween_Jack http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671641 Halloween_Jack Wed, 06 Mar 2013 03:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671641  Bradley, I am about to blow your mind, man. You know dirt? The stuff that you've walked on all your life? In fact, a synonym for "earth"? 100% worm shit, dude.  Bradley, I am about to blow your mind, man. You know dirt? The stuff that you’ve walked on all your life? In fact, a synonym for “earth”? 100% worm shit, dude.

]]> By: Halloween_Jack http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671640 Halloween_Jack Wed, 06 Mar 2013 03:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671640  <i>it will get pumped into some cavity you can't see.</i> Whoa, that's hot.  it will get pumped into some cavity you can’t see.

Whoa, that’s hot.

]]> By: awjt http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671631 awjt Wed, 06 Mar 2013 03:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671631 God, I'd take the trip just to take a dump on Mars.  That would be EPIC. God, I’d take the trip just to take a dump on Mars.  That would be EPIC.

]]> By: Preston Sturges http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671573 Preston Sturges Wed, 06 Mar 2013 02:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671573 There were all sorts of worries about whether the Van Allen Belts would fatally irradiate astronauts, and Earl Holliman did that Twilight Zone episode about an astronaut losing his mind in a simulated 20 day trip to the moon. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_Is_Everybody%3F There was endless speculation about whether people could survive in orbit.  There were all sorts of worries about whether the Van Allen Belts would fatally irradiate astronauts, and Earl Holliman did that Twilight Zone episode about an astronaut losing his mind in a simulated 20 day trip to the moon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_Is_Everybody%3F

There was endless speculation about whether people could survive in orbit. 

]]> By: Preston Sturges http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671553 Preston Sturges Wed, 06 Mar 2013 01:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671553 It's a crap! It’s a crap!

]]> By: JIMWICh http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671550 JIMWICh Wed, 06 Mar 2013 01:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671550 This really brings a whole new meaning to the term, "Sh*t-canned." This really brings a whole new meaning to the term, “Sh*t-canned.”

]]> By: Ian Wood http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671494 Ian Wood Tue, 05 Mar 2013 23:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671494 God dammit <i>no more updating of anything by George.</i> God dammit no more updating of anything by George.

]]> By: paprika5alt http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671450 paprika5alt Tue, 05 Mar 2013 23:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671450  Hey man, you know its Marks thing. Better talk to the man himself.  Hey man, you know its Marks thing. Better talk to the man himself.

]]> By: Deidzoeb http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671384 Deidzoeb Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671384 Donovan better get to work revising "The Intergalactic Laxative" song. http://youtu.be/iab9YKocUcw Donovan better get to work revising “The Intergalactic Laxative” song.

http://youtu.be/iab9YKocUcw

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671338 Antinous / Moderator Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671338 I guess you don't cruise carnies. I guess you don’t cruise carnies.

]]> By: katkins http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671295 katkins Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671295 Kinda sad/memorial fun.  Wish we could take a trip to Mark's. Kinda sad/memorial fun.  Wish we could take a trip to Mark’s.

]]> By: Snig http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671269 Snig Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671269 I'm actually quite grateful for your comment, as it allowed me to work the word "bremsstrahlung" into a sentence.  Almost as pleasurable as when I was able to namedrop the only known non-human reservoir of Hansen's disease, when the topic came up at a family gathering.  Armidilloes, if you were wondering.  I’m actually quite grateful for your comment, as it allowed me to work the word “bremsstrahlung” into a sentence.  Almost as pleasurable as when I was able to namedrop the only known non-human reservoir of Hansen’s disease, when the topic came up at a family gathering.  Armidilloes, if you were wondering. 

]]> By: Garymon http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671265 Garymon Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671265 Lets just hope we don't make first contact while in this ship because first impressions matter. Lets just hope we don’t make first contact while in this ship because first impressions matter.

]]> By: pduggie http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671259 pduggie Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671259 Yes, Adam Stone conquered the Pain of Space! Yes, Adam Stone conquered the Pain of Space!

]]> By: archvillain http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671254 archvillain Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671254 Fair enough. For the record, the context I was cuing off was "cosmic rays". I associate beta more with solar activity, which they talked about separately. (Yes I know about secondary particles from cosmic radiation. I've built weapo^D^D^D instruments to harnes^D^D^D detect them. *mustache twirl* ) Fair enough. For the record, the context I was cuing off was “cosmic rays”. I associate beta more with solar activity, which they talked about separately.
(Yes I know about secondary particles from cosmic radiation. I’ve built weapo^D^D^D instruments to harnes^D^D^D detect them. *mustache twirl* )

]]> By: Snig http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671242 Snig Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671242 Likely so, I may be reading mustache twirling and evil grimacing into it that was not your intention.  I don't know why I would misconstrue your motives, Mr. Archvillain. Likely so, I may be reading mustache twirling and evil grimacing into it that was not your intention.  I don’t know why I would misconstrue your motives, Mr. Archvillain.

]]> By: Michael Smith http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671241 Michael Smith Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671241 You have reminded me of the alien designed food recycler on Ringworld with its integrated toilet. You have reminded me of the alien designed food recycler on Ringworld with its integrated toilet.

]]> By: archvillain http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671234 archvillain Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671234 You shouldn't assume everyone else is motivated by smugness, it reflects poorly on you. Your guess as to how to interpret the quote is not mine. You shouldn’t assume everyone else is motivated by smugness, it reflects poorly on you. Your guess as to how to interpret the quote is not mine.

]]> By: William Nicholls http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671202 William Nicholls Tue, 05 Mar 2013 20:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671202 Sleight of hand bullshit headline. Using waste as radiation shielding is just as a replacement for the non-recycled fraction of the the thick wall of water that's actually the main shield. That two-foot thick wall of water would be enormously expensive to ship into space from Earth. The excremental increment of radiation protection would be tiny, but this shit gets attention. Sleight of hand bullshit headline. Using waste as radiation shielding is just as a replacement for the non-recycled fraction of the the thick wall of water that’s actually the main shield. That two-foot thick wall of water would be enormously expensive to ship into space from Earth. The excremental increment of radiation protection would be tiny, but this shit gets attention.

]]> By: Snig http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671189 Snig Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671189 The full quote from the article was "This wouldn't be dangerous as the food would merely be blocking the radiation, it wouldn't become a radioactive source."  What I think he's emphasizing is that food and water are good, but that metal isn't always ideal radiation shielding due to bremsstrahlung.  Most of us think of ships as being built of metal.  In actuality they all would emit bremsstrahlung, hence being sources of radiation, but that emitted by metal would be more dangerous as it would be shorter wavelength and more penetrating. So I believe he is referencing a finer point of radiation protection, and not just dumbing it down to talk to the yokels.  The full quote from the article was “This wouldn’t be dangerous as the food would merely be blocking the radiation, it wouldn’t become a radioactive source.”  What I think he’s emphasizing is that food and water are good, but that metal isn’t always ideal radiation shielding due to bremsstrahlung.  Most of us think of ships as being built of metal.  In actuality they all would emit bremsstrahlung, hence being sources of radiation, but that emitted by metal would be more dangerous as it would be shorter wavelength and more penetrating. So I believe he is referencing a finer point of radiation protection, and not just dumbing it down to talk to the yokels. 

]]> By: welcomeabored http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671186 welcomeabored Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671186 Talk about explosive diarrhea...! Talk about explosive diarrhea…!

]]> By: welcomeabored http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671185 welcomeabored Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671185 However assured that the recycled water was clean, I'd still have the suspicion that I could smell a hint of poo in every sip.  However assured that the recycled water was clean, I’d still have the suspicion that I could smell a hint of poo in every sip. 

]]> By: Cowicide http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671181 Cowicide Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671181 George Lucas is going to have to update what his Star Wars explosions look like. George Lucas is going to have to update what his Star Wars explosions look like.

]]> By: Robert Drop http://boingboing.net/2013/03/05/food-urine-and-feces-as-radi.html#comment-1671178 Robert Drop Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216660#comment-1671178 The fact that the interior of the capsule is essentially a slightly large port-a-potty seems like more of a mood-killer. The fact that the interior of the capsule is essentially a slightly large port-a-potty seems like more of a mood-killer.

]]>