Can the world produce "Food Replicators" like on Star Trek?

Question

Are we any nearer to this Sci-fi becoming a reality and if so, who is leading the R&D?

Answer 1

I can think of two examples that I have heard of within the past few years. The first is a computer printer which can print sequenced "tastes" onto special paper and when you eat it, it tastes (according to the manufacturer) almost exactly like the food you are supposed to be enjoying (ie, pizza).

Second, there is a push to create a so-called "open source replicator." While this might not be used for sequencing food, it is an interesting idea in terms of replicating technology. The idea behind it is to take prototyping machines and use them to create other prototyping machines, and have the specs freely available online for a number of common household products. This way, a manufacturer's prototyping machine can replicate itself and you can then own a prototyping machine, which you can use to make things from a toaster to an umbrella.

Finally, if you look closely at a LOT of the Star Trek technology portrayed on ALL versions of the show, you will see that current day technology is not that far behind (except of course for Data, warp drive, transporter technology, etc!)

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Replicators create matter directly from energy. Even replicating a ham sandwhich would require vast sums of energy (think nuclear arsenal). In Star Trek, this energy comes from the ship's reactor, which aparently works from a fusion reaction using duterium (hydrogen with two nuetrons). Fusion processes, if we managed to master them, could theoretically provide the vast amounts of cheap energy needed, but they would require as much matter as is need to make the sandwhich as input!

The real problem is that we know of no way to convert energy directly to mass. even our best nuclear fission processes are less than 1% efficient at converting matter to energy, so we're a looong way off from true replicators.

Alternatively, there is talk of growing bacteria that could synthezise meat-like protiens for human consumption from simpler plant protiens. This has been achieving in laboratory settings on a small scale. However, this system would require a pound-for-oound input of protien as well (proboly from soy).

Answer 3

No, we are nowhere near that kind of sophistication. The closest thing they have done is to transport a few subatomic particles from one place to another. The energy source needed to replicate food or transport someone from one place to another simply does not exist at this point and the estimates are that it could take another 500 years before we get there.

Answer 4

Yes the world can produce food. It's called planting and growing.

Answer 5

I heard of a project (at MIT, I believe) where they are designing materials that taste and feel like real food, but are completely sythetic.

Answer 6

Not unless William Shatner and George Foreman get together and market it.

Answer 7

Where do you think KIRK got his? If not from "the world"?

Answer 8

No, humans are not that advanced yet