this post was submitted on 18 Feb 2025
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Crazy Ideas
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I always like the semi-sci fi idea of the universal recycler. It's a method of recycling that relies entirely on known science and technology, but is simply impractical in the current economy.
The idea is that you literally turn everything into a plasma and then separate it down into base elements via magnetic separation. On one end, you input nearly anything - regular trash, construction waste, "recyclables," medical waste, decommissioned biological weapons - it doesn't matter. It all gets torn down to base elements and sold back into the economy. The only waste this method couldn't deal with would be nuclear waste, as magnetic separation isn't going to magically make unstable nuclei stable again.
This would totally work in principle. It's just incredibly energy-intensive. You need an economy where either the cost of energy is much much lower, or people are willing to spend much more in order to dispose of waste. It would enable the complete recycling of nearly anything, but it would just require an ungodly amount of energy.
That's a really cool concept that I hadn't really considered being an option before. As you said,.that's definitely going to take a lot of energy to accomplish so maybe it'll be an economic possibility after fusion is readily available, which sadly is still a ways away but getting closer to becoming achievable every day.
A Star Trek Replicator in every house, please. Throw in the trash, get out whatever we need.
Yeah, this is basically a reverse replicator. We can't build the replicator, and we may never be able to. But we can however build a reverse replicator! Or, the unreplicator!
You know, that's what you could call it if "the universal recycler" is to pretentious. Just call it the unreplicator!
That is how Star Trek replicators worked. They went both ways. You say "catfish po' boy with extra chuckle", and it produces a sandwich on a plate. You eat the sandwich, and then place the dirty plate right back into the replicator to be recycled. The plate, along with any remaining food crumbs, sauce, etc. get converted back into energy, ready for the next thing you replicate.
Sure. I just find it amusing that while we can't build a replicator, we can build a shitty unreplicator.
Sounds gooey