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China: Volunteers test worm diet for astronauts
BBC ^ | 22 May 2014 Last updated at 07:13 ET

Posted on 05/27/2014 12:01:22 PM PDT by BenLurkin

Three researchers have been eating worms for 105 days, while living in a sealed laboratory in Beijing, to test whether astronauts could use them as their main source of protein.

The volunteers fattened up the worms on plants grown inside the Moon Palace One biosphere at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the South China Morning Post reports. They had various preparations for eating the worms - using a bean sauce and other seasonings to make the dish as appealing as possible.

The idea of feeding protein-rich mealworms to astronauts was apparently raised as early as 2009, but scientists at western space agencies worried they would be unappetising and lower astronaut morale.

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: astronauts; china; mealworms; worms
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To: Kackikat

I thank you on behalf of the starving N Koreans.


21 posted on 05/27/2014 12:43:05 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Haven't you lost enough freedoms? Support an end to the WOD now.)
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To: Blood of Tyrants

And of course you can take all you want of my worms before shipping...

I heard some time ago that some meats had worms incorporated as filler, but that could have been nonsense...could they do that in the USA?


22 posted on 05/27/2014 12:50:53 PM PDT by Kackikat
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To: Buckeye McFrog

I could have sworn worms and parasites were why we did cleanses every now and then, as they cause diseases. Why else would we have worm medicine. Dr. Clark.


23 posted on 05/27/2014 12:52:49 PM PDT by Kackikat
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To: Kackikat

Why don’t they cut out the middle worm and eat the plants?


24 posted on 05/27/2014 1:36:58 PM PDT by TexasPaul (TexasPaul)
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To: TexasPaul

I have no idea but the worms are not on my list of edibles.


25 posted on 05/27/2014 1:45:03 PM PDT by Kackikat
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To: TexasPaul

Could be they are working on a self-contained eco-system. Its the only way humans will be able to colonize space.

Maybe use plants to recycle CO2 and other human waste, worms to convert plant waste to plant nutrients. Veggies for veggies, excess worms for meat.


26 posted on 05/27/2014 2:41:27 PM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: BenLurkin

They will have to genetically engineer worms to taste like a variety of different good food.


27 posted on 05/27/2014 2:43:22 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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