This Cookie Was a Plastic Bottle
Would you eat a trashy treat? The post This Cookie Was a Plastic Bottle appeared first on Nautilus .
In an effort to feed astronauts on long space journeys, NASA has developed a novel method to create protein-rich cookies from plastic waste. The Deep Space Food Challenge aims to produce innovative food production technologies, and one of its recent outcomes is the "µBites" cookie. The cookie's base starts with polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a common plastic found in soda bottles and electronics packaging.
This PET waste, along with other biomass like corn stalks, undergoes oxidative hydrothermal dissolution, a process that involves oxygen, water, and heat to break the waste down into its constituent chemicals. The resulting mixture is fed to genetically engineered yeast, which is pre-programmed to produce nutrients such as proteins, fats, and acids, as well as flavor and coloring agents.
After adding fiber, starch, and sweeteners, the slurry is extruded into cookie-like shapes using a 3D printer and then microwaved. While FDA approvals for testing are pending, initial reviews of the cookie's aroma have been positive, suggesting that people would consume them in challenging situations like disaster zones. This proof-of-concept technology could potentially address Earth's growing food demand, which is projected to increase by 35-56% by 2050, and help combat global hunger.
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