"You can't take a cow with you in outer space"

[welsummerchicks]

I realize most folks here like food that is produced in a natural wholesome way so this should really gross you out.

A small very underfunded group of scientists is researching the growing of 'lab meat'

Proteins, fats and other components would be combined with various extracts from the animal, to 'grow' meat in a lab.

One of the scientists cheerfully admitted, that to work on he really needed a billion dollars and he didn't actually have a million dollars. He also admitted that there was a certain easily detectable 'yuck factor' involved with the whole idea.

But he continued to stress how practical of an idea it is. After all, when you go on long explorations in outer space (presumably to find a substitute planet to replace the one we're busily wrecking) 'you can't take a cow with you in outer space'.

I'm sorry but I just cannot get upset about this, not yet. I just get this image of a scientist saying, 'well we need a billion dollars...but...we actually don't have a million dollars'....

I also have this very unattractive picture of '2001, a Space Odyssy with Cows', and a very, very crowded instrument panel with a Keir Dullea sitting at the controls with four or five cows hanging over his shoulders, going, 'HAL, HAL, **** ** HAL, clean up these cowpies'

'I'm sorry, I can't do that, Dave'.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

That goes into the top ten pronouncements that I've heard any time recently - "You can't take a cow with you into outer space."

And, oh please, I wish they would find something better to do with a billion dollars. Seriously, come out of the lab into the real world every so often.

 

[awesomefowl]

Thats silly! For Pete's sake...

 

[welsummerchicks]

"something better to do with a billion dollars" (or a million)

It might bear repeating that no one seems on the verge of giving them either sum, or even less.

Evidently, they're a tad bit short of investors.

I don't have a problem with a cheap, readily available 'manufactured' protein, actually, if it would improve the diet of undernourished people. I'd like to be sure it was carefully tested and the manufacturing was properly regulated.

But my thought is, that the energy required to manufacture 'meat', would be absolutely ridiculous, and an 'ultimately negative equation' as my SO calls any 'advances' that actually spend more energy than they conserve/save.

 

[Organics North]

Indeed, no need to manufacture "meat" but to grow a single cell protein that provides what is needed, does not sound like a terrible thing to research.
Meat is horribly wasteful as it is and not necessary to sustain the life of animals such as humans.
ON

 

[annaraven]

Actually, I have some vegetarian friends who wouldn't mind eating this "meat". They'd probably have to call it something else though. Still, if it fit the bill, it might not be a bad idea for those who wanted it.

 

[welsummerchicks]

'charmeat' I think, for charlotte, NC, I think.

 

[sfw2]

"You can't take a cow with you in outer space"

Sounds like a challenge, to me.

"Houston? We're going to need a bigger shuttle. And a big shovel. And a bucket."

 

[mom'sfolly]

Sound like an interesting sort of tissue culture, and I can see it in the future. I'm not sure I'd trust the people growing it though.

 

[ella]

Clearly you have never seen the show, Firefly. Cows in space? YES!