Point-Counterpoint: Pee-Recycling

Last week NASA announced that included in the space shuttle Endeavor that launched November 14, is a new gadget! What's so special about this addition, you ask? Why, it's the first time that astronauts will be able to recycle their own pee (and other things) in order to drink it! Yay!

Wired Science covered the break through pretty thoroughly here. My favorite thing is the explanation of the distillation and recycling process:

The machine will use a distillation process that compensates for the absence of gravity to remove impurities from urine. Then the water will be combined with fluid from showers, shaving, tooth brushing and hand washing, as well as perspiration and water vapor that collects inside the astronauts' space suits.

Hahahahahaha Perspiration?? You'll be drinking a urine/sweat cocktail! Delicious.

In all honesty, I would like to taste that water. And if you think about it, this process has some big implications for future water preservation and recycling. Because let's face it--after we get done fighting over all the world's oil reserves, we're going to be throwing down over our fresh water reserves. In 2050, water will totally be the new oil. You can quote me on that.