Where does human waste go when going to the toilet in the Star Trek universe?Have bodily functions been...
Could quantum mechanics be necessary to analyze some biology scenarios?
Which branches of mathematics can be done just in terms of morphisms and composition?
Dilemma of explaining to interviewer that he is the reason for declining second interview
Why zero tolerance on nudity in space?
How to prepare vegetables for a sandwich that can last for several days in a fridge?
Called into a meeting and told we are being made redundant (laid off) and "not to share outside". Can I tell my partner?
4 Spheres all touching each other??
How can I mix up weapons for large groups of similar monsters/characters?
Proof by Induction - New to proofs
What is better: yes / no radio, or simple checkbox?
What does a violin mute do?
How to acknowledge an embarrassing job interview, now that I work directly with the interviewer?
Is my plan for fixing my water heater leak bad?
Meaning of すきっとした
Should I choose Itemized or Standard deduction?
Why do members of Congress in committee hearings ask witnesses the same question multiple times?
Incompressible fluid definition
Is the theory of the category of topological spaces computable?
Wanted: 5.25 floppy to usb adapter
Find the number of ways to express 1050 as sum of consecutive integers
Sometimes a banana is just a banana
Why does the DC-9-80 have this cusp in its fuselage?
Using AWS Fargate as web server
I am on the US no-fly list. What can I do in order to be allowed on flights which go through US airspace?
Where does human waste go when going to the toilet in the Star Trek universe?
Have bodily functions been abolished in the Star Trek universe?Where do replicators get their material?How does Data maintain his personal hygiene?Can a replicator de-replicate?How does cross-species (Klingon/Human, Vulcan/Human) breeding work genetically in Star Trek?Is human culture in the Star Trek Universe stagnant?Where does Artemis stand in the Star Trek timeline?Is Star Trek Online part of the Star Trek universe/timeline?What does “subatomic” mean in Star Trek universe?Married Couples in the Star Trek Universe?Star Trek: Of Gods and Men - Where does it fit in the Star Trek timeline?When did our universe and the Star Trek universe diverge?Chemical Elements in the Star Trek UniverseWhy does human racial diversity exist in Star Trek?
Even if the society in Star Trek has evolved into a cashless state, that still leaves the matter of stools and other bodily excretions (not sweat or blood) to deal with.
Where does that all faecal matter and urine go?
Having not seen any depiction of toilets or water closets in any of the films or TV series, there has to be a way to deal with this basic bodily function. They're not the Brady Bunch after all.
They eat fine and drink plenty of tea from the replicators. And that Neelix fellow on Voyagar sure cooks up exotic meals. All that has to be handled in some hygienic manner. It's not like they stand around the transport room and have their bowels expunged into space. Do they?
star-trek
edited 3 hours ago
Niffler
4,2471750
asked Jan 22 '11 at 18:51
Eight Days of MalaiseEight Days of Malaise
1,4441824
|
show 7 more comments
Even if the society in Star Trek has evolved into a cashless state, that still leaves the matter of stools and other bodily excretions (not sweat or blood) to deal with.
Where does that all faecal matter and urine go?
Having not seen any depiction of toilets or water closets in any of the films or TV series, there has to be a way to deal with this basic bodily function. They're not the Brady Bunch after all.
They eat fine and drink plenty of tea from the replicators. And that Neelix fellow on Voyagar sure cooks up exotic meals. All that has to be handled in some hygienic manner. It's not like they stand around the transport room and have their bowels expunged into space. Do they?
star-trek
edited 3 hours ago
Niffler
4,2471750
asked Jan 22 '11 at 18:51
Eight Days of MalaiseEight Days of Malaise
1,4441824
7
this would have to be an especially important consideration with a crew full of different species all sampling one another's cuisines.
– JustJeff
Jan 22 '11 at 23:02
5
How many television shows and movies have shown any sort of toilets? There was one scene in the first season of Babylon 5 where Sinclair and Garibaldi were having a brief conversation in the men's room, and that's all I remember.
– David Thornley
Jan 25 '11 at 2:57
4
When I was a callow youth, I thought that in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ humans had evolved beyond the need to physically expel waste, because you never saw a bathroom in the show.
– Paul D. Waite
Jun 29 '11 at 18:42
2
Going to the bathroom is an inefficiency of time and equipment. Starfleet recommends teleporting the waste directly out of your bowels and bladder. (just kidding)
– chobok
May 9 '12 at 3:27
9
Fun fact, the writers addressed the complete missing of toilets or bathrooms in the series in First Contact: "I've gotta take a leak." - "A leak? I'm not detecting a leak." - "Don't you people from the 24th century ever pee?"
– Bobby
Jul 21 '12 at 21:24
|
show 7 more comments
Even if the society in Star Trek has evolved into a cashless state, that still leaves the matter of stools and other bodily excretions (not sweat or blood) to deal with.
Where does that all faecal matter and urine go?
Having not seen any depiction of toilets or water closets in any of the films or TV series, there has to be a way to deal with this basic bodily function. They're not the Brady Bunch after all.
They eat fine and drink plenty of tea from the replicators. And that Neelix fellow on Voyagar sure cooks up exotic meals. All that has to be handled in some hygienic manner. It's not like they stand around the transport room and have their bowels expunged into space. Do they?
star-trek
edited 3 hours ago
Niffler
4,2471750
asked Jan 22 '11 at 18:51
Eight Days of MalaiseEight Days of Malaise
1,4441824
Even if the society in Star Trek has evolved into a cashless state, that still leaves the matter of stools and other bodily excretions (not sweat or blood) to deal with.
Where does that all faecal matter and urine go?
Having not seen any depiction of toilets or water closets in any of the films or TV series, there has to be a way to deal with this basic bodily function. They're not the Brady Bunch after all.
They eat fine and drink plenty of tea from the replicators. And that Neelix fellow on Voyagar sure cooks up exotic meals. All that has to be handled in some hygienic manner. It's not like they stand around the transport room and have their bowels expunged into space. Do they?
star-trek
star-trek
edited 3 hours ago
Niffler
4,2471750
asked Jan 22 '11 at 18:51
Eight Days of MalaiseEight Days of Malaise
1,4441824
edited 3 hours ago
Niffler
4,2471750
asked Jan 22 '11 at 18:51
Eight Days of MalaiseEight Days of Malaise
1,4441824
edited 3 hours ago
Niffler
4,2471750
edited 3 hours ago
Niffler
4,2471750
edited 3 hours ago
Niffler
4,2471750
4,2471750
asked Jan 22 '11 at 18:51
Eight Days of MalaiseEight Days of Malaise
1,4441824
asked Jan 22 '11 at 18:51
Eight Days of MalaiseEight Days of Malaise
1,4441824
asked Jan 22 '11 at 18:51
Eight Days of MalaiseEight Days of Malaise
1,4441824
1,4441824
7
this would have to be an especially important consideration with a crew full of different species all sampling one another's cuisines.
– JustJeff
Jan 22 '11 at 23:02
5
How many television shows and movies have shown any sort of toilets? There was one scene in the first season of Babylon 5 where Sinclair and Garibaldi were having a brief conversation in the men's room, and that's all I remember.
– David Thornley
Jan 25 '11 at 2:57
4
When I was a callow youth, I thought that in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ humans had evolved beyond the need to physically expel waste, because you never saw a bathroom in the show.
– Paul D. Waite
Jun 29 '11 at 18:42
2
Going to the bathroom is an inefficiency of time and equipment. Starfleet recommends teleporting the waste directly out of your bowels and bladder. (just kidding)
– chobok
May 9 '12 at 3:27
9
Fun fact, the writers addressed the complete missing of toilets or bathrooms in the series in First Contact: "I've gotta take a leak." - "A leak? I'm not detecting a leak." - "Don't you people from the 24th century ever pee?"
– Bobby
Jul 21 '12 at 21:24
|
show 7 more comments
7
this would have to be an especially important consideration with a crew full of different species all sampling one another's cuisines.
– JustJeff
Jan 22 '11 at 23:02
5
How many television shows and movies have shown any sort of toilets? There was one scene in the first season of Babylon 5 where Sinclair and Garibaldi were having a brief conversation in the men's room, and that's all I remember.
– David Thornley
Jan 25 '11 at 2:57
4
When I was a callow youth, I thought that in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ humans had evolved beyond the need to physically expel waste, because you never saw a bathroom in the show.
– Paul D. Waite
Jun 29 '11 at 18:42
2
Going to the bathroom is an inefficiency of time and equipment. Starfleet recommends teleporting the waste directly out of your bowels and bladder. (just kidding)
– chobok
May 9 '12 at 3:27
9
Fun fact, the writers addressed the complete missing of toilets or bathrooms in the series in First Contact: "I've gotta take a leak." - "A leak? I'm not detecting a leak." - "Don't you people from the 24th century ever pee?"
– Bobby
Jul 21 '12 at 21:24
7
7
this would have to be an especially important consideration with a crew full of different species all sampling one another's cuisines.
– JustJeff
Jan 22 '11 at 23:02
this would have to be an especially important consideration with a crew full of different species all sampling one another's cuisines.
– JustJeff
Jan 22 '11 at 23:02
5
5
How many television shows and movies have shown any sort of toilets? There was one scene in the first season of Babylon 5 where Sinclair and Garibaldi were having a brief conversation in the men's room, and that's all I remember.
– David Thornley
Jan 25 '11 at 2:57
How many television shows and movies have shown any sort of toilets? There was one scene in the first season of Babylon 5 where Sinclair and Garibaldi were having a brief conversation in the men's room, and that's all I remember.
– David Thornley
Jan 25 '11 at 2:57
4
4
When I was a callow youth, I thought that in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ humans had evolved beyond the need to physically expel waste, because you never saw a bathroom in the show.
– Paul D. Waite
Jun 29 '11 at 18:42
When I was a callow youth, I thought that in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ humans had evolved beyond the need to physically expel waste, because you never saw a bathroom in the show.
– Paul D. Waite
Jun 29 '11 at 18:42
2
2
Going to the bathroom is an inefficiency of time and equipment. Starfleet recommends teleporting the waste directly out of your bowels and bladder. (just kidding)
– chobok
May 9 '12 at 3:27
Going to the bathroom is an inefficiency of time and equipment. Starfleet recommends teleporting the waste directly out of your bowels and bladder. (just kidding)
– chobok
May 9 '12 at 3:27
9
9
Fun fact, the writers addressed the complete missing of toilets or bathrooms in the series in First Contact: "I've gotta take a leak." - "A leak? I'm not detecting a leak." - "Don't you people from the 24th century ever pee?"
– Bobby
Jul 21 '12 at 21:24
Fun fact, the writers addressed the complete missing of toilets or bathrooms in the series in First Contact: "I've gotta take a leak." - "A leak? I'm not detecting a leak." - "Don't you people from the 24th century ever pee?"
– Bobby
Jul 21 '12 at 21:24
|
show 7 more comments
10 Answers
10
active
oldest
votes
The best (and I think only) "in-show" reference to this is in an Enterprise episode called Breaking the Ice. The crew records a series of answers for school children in Ireland and one of the questions is "When you flush the toilet [on the Enterprise], where does it go?" Captain Archer tells Engineer Trip Tucker to answer the question, which he reluctantly does, saying (not verbatim) that waste is broken down into its constituant molecules and recycled as anything required, namely boots, uniforms, etc. (Presumably at that point they don't get to make it into anything edible. Food is indeed mentioned later as being stocked and "natural.")
By TNG era, as Zypher points out, the breaking down of matter is most likely atomic (literally pulverizing the icky argument) and food can be replicated as well, or a reasonably close facsimile thereof. Table waste was also likewise disposed of (there's a mention in DS9).
answered Jan 23 '11 at 4:38
MPelletierMPelletier
8,46043361
7
There are multiple episodes showing table waste being returned to the replicator, where it seems to be re-absorbed, including the plate.
– blueberryfields
Jan 28 '11 at 19:06
@blueberryfields: I suddenly feel sorry for the props guy who had to clean the set every shoot if they missed...
– MPelletier
Jan 28 '11 at 20:39
6
I don't get what the problem is. If the replicator can rip apart atoms, and possibly even more into particles, then it really doesn't matter? Dead bodies could be replicator food, and turned into real food or some other material.
– Lee Louviere
Feb 17 '12 at 14:37
@Xaade That's the idea. There's an ick factor with many people, though, even if you go to the atomic level...
– MPelletier
Feb 17 '12 at 15:41
6
@MPelletier - I guess we shouldn't tell them what the stuff farmers put on their crops is made from, then.
– Periata Breatta
Sep 4 '16 at 23:19
|
show 1 more comment
According to the ST:TNG technical manual sections 13.4 and 13.5 wastewater is reclaimed by the replicator system, although they will use up their stock of fresh source material first and only dive into the reclaimed material in emergency situations.
answered Jan 22 '11 at 19:27
ZypherZypher
1,6761210
4
They end up eating their own poop and pee?
– Eight Days of Malaise
Jan 22 '11 at 20:33
37
@Eight Days: If you follow it far enough through the ecological cycles, we all do. It may give an ‘ick’ moment when you first realise it, but that’s how things are…
– PLL
Jan 22 '11 at 23:01
8
this is also similar to the what the fremen wear in dune.
– Sean Tilson
Jan 23 '11 at 1:28
2
@RoguePlanetoid: So when they get a glass of water, what happens? They beam the water in the replicated glass? I thought latinum was just a one-of-a-kind unreplicatable compound.
– MPelletier
Jan 26 '11 at 21:52
3
@Eight Days - keep in mind that the replicator breaks stuff down to the molecular level. So what was once "poop and pee" is now nothing more than carbon, nitrogen, and various other molecular substances. At that point, it's no more poop and pee than a pile of bricks is a house.
– eidylon
Nov 3 '11 at 4:28
|
show 8 more comments
Easy answer:Raw material for the replicators.
answered Jan 26 '11 at 19:05
AdamAdam
1,137510
add a comment |
In Star Trek V when Kirk, Spock, and McCoy are in the brig, Kirk takes a seat on what appears to be a toilet. The only reason I believe it is a toilet is because there is signage saying something like "do not use while in Spacedock." (What else could it be?)
While I agree with the above answers, I assume also that the designers of that brig didn't want prisoner poo to be "reclaimed."
answered Jan 26 '11 at 5:56
RunnerRickRunnerRick
1,4401524
2
Why would prisoner poo be treated differently? At the end of the day, atoms are atoms.
– Paul Wagland
Jan 26 '11 at 8:01
Oh, nice observation. I'm guessing it's an in-joke, a reference to commercial planes which might have a similar notice, but obviously for airports. And the reason why they don't want you to poop in there while at the airport is that they are draining the waste, and nobody wants it on their head during the operation.
– MPelletier
Jan 26 '11 at 10:59
6
Planes don't have that notice, but trains certainly used to.
– DJClayworth
May 19 '11 at 16:20
14
It seems silly to have a sign like that in the brig. I could understand crew obeying a sign like that, but why would prisoners give a shit?
– Erick Robertson
Oct 31 '11 at 11:13
@PaulWagland possibly in case the prisoner poo and pee needed to be analysed for security purposes, such as if the prisoner had taken drugs or stored contraband where the sun doesn't shine.
– pleurocoelus
Apr 17 '17 at 11:52
add a comment |
As a side reference, to support most of these comments, in one episode of Voyager (Year of Hell), when they are running very low on supplies, Chakotay is told to recycle something he replicated for Janeway. The implication of this is that they have the facilities to recycle material for the replicators, and it would be logical to assume that human waste - as well as any other waste - could also be included in this.
Of course, no details are given as to how material is recycled, or how the replicators work and use their resources to make anything.
edited Nov 3 '11 at 13:05
a CVn
1,2711125
answered Nov 2 '11 at 13:16
Schroedingers CatSchroedingers Cat
6,94222341
Sorry - watching Warehouse 13, where she is playing a Jane!!!
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 3 '11 at 19:16
add a comment |
In the documentary Journey's End: The Saga of Star Trek - The Next Generation, Johnathan Frakes actually answers this question by pointing out that only 1 bathroom is ever on an actual map in one of the props.
So, if you wanna be technical, there was only 1 bathroom on the Enterprise.
answered Nov 2 '11 at 5:57
OghmaOsirisOghmaOsiris
25.2k43167286
So why do you never see a queue of 100 people waiting to get in there near the start of a shift?
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 2 '11 at 9:53
Well the queue is there and it's not there at the same time. We just haven't observed it yet ;)
– OghmaOsiris
Nov 2 '11 at 12:57
Tiny transporter systems embedded in the uniforms negate the need for the crew to physically go to the restroom. All waste products are beamed directly to the toilet, no fuss, no muss!
– Beofett
Nov 2 '11 at 13:25
@Beofett It also makes julienne fries.
– OghmaOsiris
Nov 2 '11 at 13:55
1
or there's 1 bathroom per section, with each map only representing a small section of the ship. And there's always the option of multiple toilets per bathroom, which is common in office buildings as well.
– jwenting
Nov 2 '11 at 14:05
|
show 3 more comments
It's natural to assume that it's decomposed in the replicator system, but in DS9, there are a few mentions of Rom cleaning the waste disposal systems, which clashes a bit with that explanation.
answered Nov 2 '11 at 1:20
NihilNihil
511
1
There would be parts of the system that needed cleaning - transfer to the replicator reclamation unit, for example.
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 2 '11 at 9:52
3
It is possible that the Cardassians had a different waste management system than normal Federation facilities.
– Jack B Nimble
Nov 2 '11 at 16:57
add a comment |
Waste in the disposal unit would most likely be flushed to a single location via traditional plumbing and atomised in bulk at a set time each day, which would be more energy efficient than using replicator technology with each flush, as well as account for the need to clean them.
answered Jun 11 '15 at 11:52
VallinVallin
111
1
How would adding long pipes in a ship make more sense than using transporter system?
– user16696
Jun 11 '15 at 14:11
1
"which would be more energy efficient than using replicator technology with each flush" According to what evidence?
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jun 11 '15 at 18:04
add a comment |
According to The Making of Star Trek the original Kirk era Enterprise NCC-1701 had a "waste and water reconversion" area in the secondary hull.
answered Nov 18 '17 at 20:06
dean1957dean1957
1,1651919
add a comment |
As MPelletier points out, waste handling (any part of the issue from restroom facilities to disposition of the waste material) never got so much as a mention on-screen outside of the school children's Q&A sequence in ST:Enterprise, although I vaguely recall at least one perhaps ambiguous reference to "waste extraction" in DS9.
Given that the ISS reclaims water from human waste and, in nature, everything is ultimately recycled, it's reasonable to assume that in the Star Trek universe, all of the waste would be reclaimed in some fashion. Even on a large vessel like the TOS Enterprise, space is constrained, so it doesn't make sense to store months worth of provisions if you have the means to implement an alternative approach. In TOS, there is only mention of "food processors", not clearly specifying how food selections are prepared (whether synthesized or drawn from stores), so no indication if there is a "closed system". TNG-era replicator technology, however, would clearly suggest that waste processing would be like a replicator run in reverse, so waste handling could be part of a closed system with food synthesis.
answered 28 mins ago
Anthony XAnthony X
4,35511339
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "186"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fscifi.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f1241%2fwhere-does-human-waste-go-when-going-to-the-toilet-in-the-star-trek-universe%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
10 Answers
10
active
oldest
votes
10 Answers
10
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
The best (and I think only) "in-show" reference to this is in an Enterprise episode called Breaking the Ice. The crew records a series of answers for school children in Ireland and one of the questions is "When you flush the toilet [on the Enterprise], where does it go?" Captain Archer tells Engineer Trip Tucker to answer the question, which he reluctantly does, saying (not verbatim) that waste is broken down into its constituant molecules and recycled as anything required, namely boots, uniforms, etc. (Presumably at that point they don't get to make it into anything edible. Food is indeed mentioned later as being stocked and "natural.")
By TNG era, as Zypher points out, the breaking down of matter is most likely atomic (literally pulverizing the icky argument) and food can be replicated as well, or a reasonably close facsimile thereof. Table waste was also likewise disposed of (there's a mention in DS9).
answered Jan 23 '11 at 4:38
MPelletierMPelletier
8,46043361
7
There are multiple episodes showing table waste being returned to the replicator, where it seems to be re-absorbed, including the plate.
– blueberryfields
Jan 28 '11 at 19:06
@blueberryfields: I suddenly feel sorry for the props guy who had to clean the set every shoot if they missed...
– MPelletier
Jan 28 '11 at 20:39
6
I don't get what the problem is. If the replicator can rip apart atoms, and possibly even more into particles, then it really doesn't matter? Dead bodies could be replicator food, and turned into real food or some other material.
– Lee Louviere
Feb 17 '12 at 14:37
@Xaade That's the idea. There's an ick factor with many people, though, even if you go to the atomic level...
– MPelletier
Feb 17 '12 at 15:41
6
@MPelletier - I guess we shouldn't tell them what the stuff farmers put on their crops is made from, then.
– Periata Breatta
Sep 4 '16 at 23:19
|
show 1 more comment
The best (and I think only) "in-show" reference to this is in an Enterprise episode called Breaking the Ice. The crew records a series of answers for school children in Ireland and one of the questions is "When you flush the toilet [on the Enterprise], where does it go?" Captain Archer tells Engineer Trip Tucker to answer the question, which he reluctantly does, saying (not verbatim) that waste is broken down into its constituant molecules and recycled as anything required, namely boots, uniforms, etc. (Presumably at that point they don't get to make it into anything edible. Food is indeed mentioned later as being stocked and "natural.")
By TNG era, as Zypher points out, the breaking down of matter is most likely atomic (literally pulverizing the icky argument) and food can be replicated as well, or a reasonably close facsimile thereof. Table waste was also likewise disposed of (there's a mention in DS9).
answered Jan 23 '11 at 4:38
MPelletierMPelletier
8,46043361
7
There are multiple episodes showing table waste being returned to the replicator, where it seems to be re-absorbed, including the plate.
– blueberryfields
Jan 28 '11 at 19:06
@blueberryfields: I suddenly feel sorry for the props guy who had to clean the set every shoot if they missed...
– MPelletier
Jan 28 '11 at 20:39
6
I don't get what the problem is. If the replicator can rip apart atoms, and possibly even more into particles, then it really doesn't matter? Dead bodies could be replicator food, and turned into real food or some other material.
– Lee Louviere
Feb 17 '12 at 14:37
@Xaade That's the idea. There's an ick factor with many people, though, even if you go to the atomic level...
– MPelletier
Feb 17 '12 at 15:41
6
@MPelletier - I guess we shouldn't tell them what the stuff farmers put on their crops is made from, then.
– Periata Breatta
Sep 4 '16 at 23:19
|
show 1 more comment
The best (and I think only) "in-show" reference to this is in an Enterprise episode called Breaking the Ice. The crew records a series of answers for school children in Ireland and one of the questions is "When you flush the toilet [on the Enterprise], where does it go?" Captain Archer tells Engineer Trip Tucker to answer the question, which he reluctantly does, saying (not verbatim) that waste is broken down into its constituant molecules and recycled as anything required, namely boots, uniforms, etc. (Presumably at that point they don't get to make it into anything edible. Food is indeed mentioned later as being stocked and "natural.")
By TNG era, as Zypher points out, the breaking down of matter is most likely atomic (literally pulverizing the icky argument) and food can be replicated as well, or a reasonably close facsimile thereof. Table waste was also likewise disposed of (there's a mention in DS9).
answered Jan 23 '11 at 4:38
MPelletierMPelletier
8,46043361
The best (and I think only) "in-show" reference to this is in an Enterprise episode called Breaking the Ice. The crew records a series of answers for school children in Ireland and one of the questions is "When you flush the toilet [on the Enterprise], where does it go?" Captain Archer tells Engineer Trip Tucker to answer the question, which he reluctantly does, saying (not verbatim) that waste is broken down into its constituant molecules and recycled as anything required, namely boots, uniforms, etc. (Presumably at that point they don't get to make it into anything edible. Food is indeed mentioned later as being stocked and "natural.")
By TNG era, as Zypher points out, the breaking down of matter is most likely atomic (literally pulverizing the icky argument) and food can be replicated as well, or a reasonably close facsimile thereof. Table waste was also likewise disposed of (there's a mention in DS9).
answered Jan 23 '11 at 4:38
MPelletierMPelletier
8,46043361
edited Jul 17 '12 at 16:23
answered Jan 23 '11 at 4:38
MPelletierMPelletier
8,46043361
answered Jan 23 '11 at 4:38
MPelletierMPelletier
8,46043361
answered Jan 23 '11 at 4:38
MPelletierMPelletier
8,46043361
8,46043361
7
There are multiple episodes showing table waste being returned to the replicator, where it seems to be re-absorbed, including the plate.
– blueberryfields
Jan 28 '11 at 19:06
@blueberryfields: I suddenly feel sorry for the props guy who had to clean the set every shoot if they missed...
– MPelletier
Jan 28 '11 at 20:39
6
I don't get what the problem is. If the replicator can rip apart atoms, and possibly even more into particles, then it really doesn't matter? Dead bodies could be replicator food, and turned into real food or some other material.
– Lee Louviere
Feb 17 '12 at 14:37
@Xaade That's the idea. There's an ick factor with many people, though, even if you go to the atomic level...
– MPelletier
Feb 17 '12 at 15:41
6
@MPelletier - I guess we shouldn't tell them what the stuff farmers put on their crops is made from, then.
– Periata Breatta
Sep 4 '16 at 23:19
|
show 1 more comment
7
There are multiple episodes showing table waste being returned to the replicator, where it seems to be re-absorbed, including the plate.
– blueberryfields
Jan 28 '11 at 19:06
@blueberryfields: I suddenly feel sorry for the props guy who had to clean the set every shoot if they missed...
– MPelletier
Jan 28 '11 at 20:39
6
I don't get what the problem is. If the replicator can rip apart atoms, and possibly even more into particles, then it really doesn't matter? Dead bodies could be replicator food, and turned into real food or some other material.
– Lee Louviere
Feb 17 '12 at 14:37
@Xaade That's the idea. There's an ick factor with many people, though, even if you go to the atomic level...
– MPelletier
Feb 17 '12 at 15:41
6
@MPelletier - I guess we shouldn't tell them what the stuff farmers put on their crops is made from, then.
– Periata Breatta
Sep 4 '16 at 23:19
7
7
There are multiple episodes showing table waste being returned to the replicator, where it seems to be re-absorbed, including the plate.
– blueberryfields
Jan 28 '11 at 19:06
There are multiple episodes showing table waste being returned to the replicator, where it seems to be re-absorbed, including the plate.
– blueberryfields
Jan 28 '11 at 19:06
@blueberryfields: I suddenly feel sorry for the props guy who had to clean the set every shoot if they missed...
– MPelletier
Jan 28 '11 at 20:39
@blueberryfields: I suddenly feel sorry for the props guy who had to clean the set every shoot if they missed...
– MPelletier
Jan 28 '11 at 20:39
6
6
I don't get what the problem is. If the replicator can rip apart atoms, and possibly even more into particles, then it really doesn't matter? Dead bodies could be replicator food, and turned into real food or some other material.
– Lee Louviere
Feb 17 '12 at 14:37
I don't get what the problem is. If the replicator can rip apart atoms, and possibly even more into particles, then it really doesn't matter? Dead bodies could be replicator food, and turned into real food or some other material.
– Lee Louviere
Feb 17 '12 at 14:37
@Xaade That's the idea. There's an ick factor with many people, though, even if you go to the atomic level...
– MPelletier
Feb 17 '12 at 15:41
@Xaade That's the idea. There's an ick factor with many people, though, even if you go to the atomic level...
– MPelletier
Feb 17 '12 at 15:41
6
6
@MPelletier - I guess we shouldn't tell them what the stuff farmers put on their crops is made from, then.
– Periata Breatta
Sep 4 '16 at 23:19
@MPelletier - I guess we shouldn't tell them what the stuff farmers put on their crops is made from, then.
– Periata Breatta
Sep 4 '16 at 23:19
|
show 1 more comment
According to the ST:TNG technical manual sections 13.4 and 13.5 wastewater is reclaimed by the replicator system, although they will use up their stock of fresh source material first and only dive into the reclaimed material in emergency situations.
answered Jan 22 '11 at 19:27
ZypherZypher
1,6761210
4
They end up eating their own poop and pee?
– Eight Days of Malaise
Jan 22 '11 at 20:33
37
@Eight Days: If you follow it far enough through the ecological cycles, we all do. It may give an ‘ick’ moment when you first realise it, but that’s how things are…
– PLL
Jan 22 '11 at 23:01
8
this is also similar to the what the fremen wear in dune.
– Sean Tilson
Jan 23 '11 at 1:28
2
@RoguePlanetoid: So when they get a glass of water, what happens? They beam the water in the replicated glass? I thought latinum was just a one-of-a-kind unreplicatable compound.
– MPelletier
Jan 26 '11 at 21:52
3
@Eight Days - keep in mind that the replicator breaks stuff down to the molecular level. So what was once "poop and pee" is now nothing more than carbon, nitrogen, and various other molecular substances. At that point, it's no more poop and pee than a pile of bricks is a house.
– eidylon
Nov 3 '11 at 4:28
|
show 8 more comments
According to the ST:TNG technical manual sections 13.4 and 13.5 wastewater is reclaimed by the replicator system, although they will use up their stock of fresh source material first and only dive into the reclaimed material in emergency situations.
answered Jan 22 '11 at 19:27
ZypherZypher
1,6761210
4
They end up eating their own poop and pee?
– Eight Days of Malaise
Jan 22 '11 at 20:33
37
@Eight Days: If you follow it far enough through the ecological cycles, we all do. It may give an ‘ick’ moment when you first realise it, but that’s how things are…
– PLL
Jan 22 '11 at 23:01
8
this is also similar to the what the fremen wear in dune.
– Sean Tilson
Jan 23 '11 at 1:28
2
@RoguePlanetoid: So when they get a glass of water, what happens? They beam the water in the replicated glass? I thought latinum was just a one-of-a-kind unreplicatable compound.
– MPelletier
Jan 26 '11 at 21:52
3
@Eight Days - keep in mind that the replicator breaks stuff down to the molecular level. So what was once "poop and pee" is now nothing more than carbon, nitrogen, and various other molecular substances. At that point, it's no more poop and pee than a pile of bricks is a house.
– eidylon
Nov 3 '11 at 4:28
|
show 8 more comments
According to the ST:TNG technical manual sections 13.4 and 13.5 wastewater is reclaimed by the replicator system, although they will use up their stock of fresh source material first and only dive into the reclaimed material in emergency situations.
answered Jan 22 '11 at 19:27
ZypherZypher
1,6761210
According to the ST:TNG technical manual sections 13.4 and 13.5 wastewater is reclaimed by the replicator system, although they will use up their stock of fresh source material first and only dive into the reclaimed material in emergency situations.
answered Jan 22 '11 at 19:27
ZypherZypher
1,6761210
answered Jan 22 '11 at 19:27
ZypherZypher
1,6761210
answered Jan 22 '11 at 19:27
ZypherZypher
1,6761210
answered Jan 22 '11 at 19:27
ZypherZypher
1,6761210
1,6761210
4
They end up eating their own poop and pee?
– Eight Days of Malaise
Jan 22 '11 at 20:33
37
@Eight Days: If you follow it far enough through the ecological cycles, we all do. It may give an ‘ick’ moment when you first realise it, but that’s how things are…
– PLL
Jan 22 '11 at 23:01
8
this is also similar to the what the fremen wear in dune.
– Sean Tilson
Jan 23 '11 at 1:28
2
@RoguePlanetoid: So when they get a glass of water, what happens? They beam the water in the replicated glass? I thought latinum was just a one-of-a-kind unreplicatable compound.
– MPelletier
Jan 26 '11 at 21:52
3
@Eight Days - keep in mind that the replicator breaks stuff down to the molecular level. So what was once "poop and pee" is now nothing more than carbon, nitrogen, and various other molecular substances. At that point, it's no more poop and pee than a pile of bricks is a house.
– eidylon
Nov 3 '11 at 4:28
|
show 8 more comments
4
They end up eating their own poop and pee?
– Eight Days of Malaise
Jan 22 '11 at 20:33
37
@Eight Days: If you follow it far enough through the ecological cycles, we all do. It may give an ‘ick’ moment when you first realise it, but that’s how things are…
– PLL
Jan 22 '11 at 23:01
8
this is also similar to the what the fremen wear in dune.
– Sean Tilson
Jan 23 '11 at 1:28
2
@RoguePlanetoid: So when they get a glass of water, what happens? They beam the water in the replicated glass? I thought latinum was just a one-of-a-kind unreplicatable compound.
– MPelletier
Jan 26 '11 at 21:52
3
@Eight Days - keep in mind that the replicator breaks stuff down to the molecular level. So what was once "poop and pee" is now nothing more than carbon, nitrogen, and various other molecular substances. At that point, it's no more poop and pee than a pile of bricks is a house.
– eidylon
Nov 3 '11 at 4:28
4
4
They end up eating their own poop and pee?
– Eight Days of Malaise
Jan 22 '11 at 20:33
They end up eating their own poop and pee?
– Eight Days of Malaise
Jan 22 '11 at 20:33
37
37
@Eight Days: If you follow it far enough through the ecological cycles, we all do. It may give an ‘ick’ moment when you first realise it, but that’s how things are…
– PLL
Jan 22 '11 at 23:01
@Eight Days: If you follow it far enough through the ecological cycles, we all do. It may give an ‘ick’ moment when you first realise it, but that’s how things are…
– PLL
Jan 22 '11 at 23:01
8
8
this is also similar to the what the fremen wear in dune.
– Sean Tilson
Jan 23 '11 at 1:28
this is also similar to the what the fremen wear in dune.
– Sean Tilson
Jan 23 '11 at 1:28
2
2
@RoguePlanetoid: So when they get a glass of water, what happens? They beam the water in the replicated glass? I thought latinum was just a one-of-a-kind unreplicatable compound.
– MPelletier
Jan 26 '11 at 21:52
@RoguePlanetoid: So when they get a glass of water, what happens? They beam the water in the replicated glass? I thought latinum was just a one-of-a-kind unreplicatable compound.
– MPelletier
Jan 26 '11 at 21:52
3
3
@Eight Days - keep in mind that the replicator breaks stuff down to the molecular level. So what was once "poop and pee" is now nothing more than carbon, nitrogen, and various other molecular substances. At that point, it's no more poop and pee than a pile of bricks is a house.
– eidylon
Nov 3 '11 at 4:28
@Eight Days - keep in mind that the replicator breaks stuff down to the molecular level. So what was once "poop and pee" is now nothing more than carbon, nitrogen, and various other molecular substances. At that point, it's no more poop and pee than a pile of bricks is a house.
– eidylon
Nov 3 '11 at 4:28
|
show 8 more comments
Easy answer:Raw material for the replicators.
answered Jan 26 '11 at 19:05
AdamAdam
1,137510
add a comment |
Easy answer:Raw material for the replicators.
answered Jan 26 '11 at 19:05
AdamAdam
1,137510
add a comment |
Easy answer:Raw material for the replicators.
answered Jan 26 '11 at 19:05
AdamAdam
1,137510
Easy answer:Raw material for the replicators.
answered Jan 26 '11 at 19:05
AdamAdam
1,137510
answered Jan 26 '11 at 19:05
AdamAdam
1,137510
answered Jan 26 '11 at 19:05
AdamAdam
1,137510
answered Jan 26 '11 at 19:05
AdamAdam
1,137510
1,137510
add a comment |
add a comment |
In Star Trek V when Kirk, Spock, and McCoy are in the brig, Kirk takes a seat on what appears to be a toilet. The only reason I believe it is a toilet is because there is signage saying something like "do not use while in Spacedock." (What else could it be?)
While I agree with the above answers, I assume also that the designers of that brig didn't want prisoner poo to be "reclaimed."
answered Jan 26 '11 at 5:56
RunnerRickRunnerRick
1,4401524
2
Why would prisoner poo be treated differently? At the end of the day, atoms are atoms.
– Paul Wagland
Jan 26 '11 at 8:01
Oh, nice observation. I'm guessing it's an in-joke, a reference to commercial planes which might have a similar notice, but obviously for airports. And the reason why they don't want you to poop in there while at the airport is that they are draining the waste, and nobody wants it on their head during the operation.
– MPelletier
Jan 26 '11 at 10:59
6
Planes don't have that notice, but trains certainly used to.
– DJClayworth
May 19 '11 at 16:20
14
It seems silly to have a sign like that in the brig. I could understand crew obeying a sign like that, but why would prisoners give a shit?
– Erick Robertson
Oct 31 '11 at 11:13
@PaulWagland possibly in case the prisoner poo and pee needed to be analysed for security purposes, such as if the prisoner had taken drugs or stored contraband where the sun doesn't shine.
– pleurocoelus
Apr 17 '17 at 11:52
add a comment |
In Star Trek V when Kirk, Spock, and McCoy are in the brig, Kirk takes a seat on what appears to be a toilet. The only reason I believe it is a toilet is because there is signage saying something like "do not use while in Spacedock." (What else could it be?)
While I agree with the above answers, I assume also that the designers of that brig didn't want prisoner poo to be "reclaimed."
answered Jan 26 '11 at 5:56
RunnerRickRunnerRick
1,4401524
2
Why would prisoner poo be treated differently? At the end of the day, atoms are atoms.
– Paul Wagland
Jan 26 '11 at 8:01
Oh, nice observation. I'm guessing it's an in-joke, a reference to commercial planes which might have a similar notice, but obviously for airports. And the reason why they don't want you to poop in there while at the airport is that they are draining the waste, and nobody wants it on their head during the operation.
– MPelletier
Jan 26 '11 at 10:59
6
Planes don't have that notice, but trains certainly used to.
– DJClayworth
May 19 '11 at 16:20
14
It seems silly to have a sign like that in the brig. I could understand crew obeying a sign like that, but why would prisoners give a shit?
– Erick Robertson
Oct 31 '11 at 11:13
@PaulWagland possibly in case the prisoner poo and pee needed to be analysed for security purposes, such as if the prisoner had taken drugs or stored contraband where the sun doesn't shine.
– pleurocoelus
Apr 17 '17 at 11:52
add a comment |
In Star Trek V when Kirk, Spock, and McCoy are in the brig, Kirk takes a seat on what appears to be a toilet. The only reason I believe it is a toilet is because there is signage saying something like "do not use while in Spacedock." (What else could it be?)
While I agree with the above answers, I assume also that the designers of that brig didn't want prisoner poo to be "reclaimed."
answered Jan 26 '11 at 5:56
RunnerRickRunnerRick
1,4401524
In Star Trek V when Kirk, Spock, and McCoy are in the brig, Kirk takes a seat on what appears to be a toilet. The only reason I believe it is a toilet is because there is signage saying something like "do not use while in Spacedock." (What else could it be?)
While I agree with the above answers, I assume also that the designers of that brig didn't want prisoner poo to be "reclaimed."
answered Jan 26 '11 at 5:56
RunnerRickRunnerRick
1,4401524
answered Jan 26 '11 at 5:56
RunnerRickRunnerRick
1,4401524
answered Jan 26 '11 at 5:56
RunnerRickRunnerRick
1,4401524
answered Jan 26 '11 at 5:56
RunnerRickRunnerRick
1,4401524
1,4401524
2
Why would prisoner poo be treated differently? At the end of the day, atoms are atoms.
– Paul Wagland
Jan 26 '11 at 8:01
Oh, nice observation. I'm guessing it's an in-joke, a reference to commercial planes which might have a similar notice, but obviously for airports. And the reason why they don't want you to poop in there while at the airport is that they are draining the waste, and nobody wants it on their head during the operation.
– MPelletier
Jan 26 '11 at 10:59
6
Planes don't have that notice, but trains certainly used to.
– DJClayworth
May 19 '11 at 16:20
14
It seems silly to have a sign like that in the brig. I could understand crew obeying a sign like that, but why would prisoners give a shit?
– Erick Robertson
Oct 31 '11 at 11:13
@PaulWagland possibly in case the prisoner poo and pee needed to be analysed for security purposes, such as if the prisoner had taken drugs or stored contraband where the sun doesn't shine.
– pleurocoelus
Apr 17 '17 at 11:52
add a comment |
2
Why would prisoner poo be treated differently? At the end of the day, atoms are atoms.
– Paul Wagland
Jan 26 '11 at 8:01
Oh, nice observation. I'm guessing it's an in-joke, a reference to commercial planes which might have a similar notice, but obviously for airports. And the reason why they don't want you to poop in there while at the airport is that they are draining the waste, and nobody wants it on their head during the operation.
– MPelletier
Jan 26 '11 at 10:59
6
Planes don't have that notice, but trains certainly used to.
– DJClayworth
May 19 '11 at 16:20
14
It seems silly to have a sign like that in the brig. I could understand crew obeying a sign like that, but why would prisoners give a shit?
– Erick Robertson
Oct 31 '11 at 11:13
@PaulWagland possibly in case the prisoner poo and pee needed to be analysed for security purposes, such as if the prisoner had taken drugs or stored contraband where the sun doesn't shine.
– pleurocoelus
Apr 17 '17 at 11:52
2
2
Why would prisoner poo be treated differently? At the end of the day, atoms are atoms.
– Paul Wagland
Jan 26 '11 at 8:01
Why would prisoner poo be treated differently? At the end of the day, atoms are atoms.
– Paul Wagland
Jan 26 '11 at 8:01
Oh, nice observation. I'm guessing it's an in-joke, a reference to commercial planes which might have a similar notice, but obviously for airports. And the reason why they don't want you to poop in there while at the airport is that they are draining the waste, and nobody wants it on their head during the operation.
– MPelletier
Jan 26 '11 at 10:59
Oh, nice observation. I'm guessing it's an in-joke, a reference to commercial planes which might have a similar notice, but obviously for airports. And the reason why they don't want you to poop in there while at the airport is that they are draining the waste, and nobody wants it on their head during the operation.
– MPelletier
Jan 26 '11 at 10:59
6
6
Planes don't have that notice, but trains certainly used to.
– DJClayworth
May 19 '11 at 16:20
Planes don't have that notice, but trains certainly used to.
– DJClayworth
May 19 '11 at 16:20
14
14
It seems silly to have a sign like that in the brig. I could understand crew obeying a sign like that, but why would prisoners give a shit?
– Erick Robertson
Oct 31 '11 at 11:13
It seems silly to have a sign like that in the brig. I could understand crew obeying a sign like that, but why would prisoners give a shit?
– Erick Robertson
Oct 31 '11 at 11:13
@PaulWagland possibly in case the prisoner poo and pee needed to be analysed for security purposes, such as if the prisoner had taken drugs or stored contraband where the sun doesn't shine.
– pleurocoelus
Apr 17 '17 at 11:52
@PaulWagland possibly in case the prisoner poo and pee needed to be analysed for security purposes, such as if the prisoner had taken drugs or stored contraband where the sun doesn't shine.
– pleurocoelus
Apr 17 '17 at 11:52
add a comment |
As a side reference, to support most of these comments, in one episode of Voyager (Year of Hell), when they are running very low on supplies, Chakotay is told to recycle something he replicated for Janeway. The implication of this is that they have the facilities to recycle material for the replicators, and it would be logical to assume that human waste - as well as any other waste - could also be included in this.
Of course, no details are given as to how material is recycled, or how the replicators work and use their resources to make anything.
edited Nov 3 '11 at 13:05
a CVn
1,2711125
answered Nov 2 '11 at 13:16
Schroedingers CatSchroedingers Cat
6,94222341
Sorry - watching Warehouse 13, where she is playing a Jane!!!
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 3 '11 at 19:16
add a comment |
As a side reference, to support most of these comments, in one episode of Voyager (Year of Hell), when they are running very low on supplies, Chakotay is told to recycle something he replicated for Janeway. The implication of this is that they have the facilities to recycle material for the replicators, and it would be logical to assume that human waste - as well as any other waste - could also be included in this.
Of course, no details are given as to how material is recycled, or how the replicators work and use their resources to make anything.
edited Nov 3 '11 at 13:05
a CVn
1,2711125
answered Nov 2 '11 at 13:16
Schroedingers CatSchroedingers Cat
6,94222341
Sorry - watching Warehouse 13, where she is playing a Jane!!!
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 3 '11 at 19:16
add a comment |
As a side reference, to support most of these comments, in one episode of Voyager (Year of Hell), when they are running very low on supplies, Chakotay is told to recycle something he replicated for Janeway. The implication of this is that they have the facilities to recycle material for the replicators, and it would be logical to assume that human waste - as well as any other waste - could also be included in this.
Of course, no details are given as to how material is recycled, or how the replicators work and use their resources to make anything.
edited Nov 3 '11 at 13:05
a CVn
1,2711125
answered Nov 2 '11 at 13:16
Schroedingers CatSchroedingers Cat
6,94222341
As a side reference, to support most of these comments, in one episode of Voyager (Year of Hell), when they are running very low on supplies, Chakotay is told to recycle something he replicated for Janeway. The implication of this is that they have the facilities to recycle material for the replicators, and it would be logical to assume that human waste - as well as any other waste - could also be included in this.
Of course, no details are given as to how material is recycled, or how the replicators work and use their resources to make anything.
edited Nov 3 '11 at 13:05
a CVn
1,2711125
answered Nov 2 '11 at 13:16
Schroedingers CatSchroedingers Cat
6,94222341
edited Nov 3 '11 at 13:05
a CVn
1,2711125
edited Nov 3 '11 at 13:05
a CVn
1,2711125
edited Nov 3 '11 at 13:05
a CVn
1,2711125
1,2711125
answered Nov 2 '11 at 13:16
Schroedingers CatSchroedingers Cat
6,94222341
answered Nov 2 '11 at 13:16
Schroedingers CatSchroedingers Cat
6,94222341
answered Nov 2 '11 at 13:16
Schroedingers CatSchroedingers Cat
6,94222341
6,94222341
Sorry - watching Warehouse 13, where she is playing a Jane!!!
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 3 '11 at 19:16
add a comment |
Sorry - watching Warehouse 13, where she is playing a Jane!!!
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 3 '11 at 19:16
Sorry - watching Warehouse 13, where she is playing a Jane!!!
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 3 '11 at 19:16
Sorry - watching Warehouse 13, where she is playing a Jane!!!
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 3 '11 at 19:16
add a comment |
In the documentary Journey's End: The Saga of Star Trek - The Next Generation, Johnathan Frakes actually answers this question by pointing out that only 1 bathroom is ever on an actual map in one of the props.
So, if you wanna be technical, there was only 1 bathroom on the Enterprise.
answered Nov 2 '11 at 5:57
OghmaOsirisOghmaOsiris
25.2k43167286
So why do you never see a queue of 100 people waiting to get in there near the start of a shift?
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 2 '11 at 9:53
Well the queue is there and it's not there at the same time. We just haven't observed it yet ;)
– OghmaOsiris
Nov 2 '11 at 12:57
Tiny transporter systems embedded in the uniforms negate the need for the crew to physically go to the restroom. All waste products are beamed directly to the toilet, no fuss, no muss!
– Beofett
Nov 2 '11 at 13:25
@Beofett It also makes julienne fries.
– OghmaOsiris
Nov 2 '11 at 13:55
1
or there's 1 bathroom per section, with each map only representing a small section of the ship. And there's always the option of multiple toilets per bathroom, which is common in office buildings as well.
– jwenting
Nov 2 '11 at 14:05
|
show 3 more comments
In the documentary Journey's End: The Saga of Star Trek - The Next Generation, Johnathan Frakes actually answers this question by pointing out that only 1 bathroom is ever on an actual map in one of the props.
So, if you wanna be technical, there was only 1 bathroom on the Enterprise.
answered Nov 2 '11 at 5:57
OghmaOsirisOghmaOsiris
25.2k43167286
So why do you never see a queue of 100 people waiting to get in there near the start of a shift?
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 2 '11 at 9:53
Well the queue is there and it's not there at the same time. We just haven't observed it yet ;)
– OghmaOsiris
Nov 2 '11 at 12:57
Tiny transporter systems embedded in the uniforms negate the need for the crew to physically go to the restroom. All waste products are beamed directly to the toilet, no fuss, no muss!
– Beofett
Nov 2 '11 at 13:25
@Beofett It also makes julienne fries.
– OghmaOsiris
Nov 2 '11 at 13:55
1
or there's 1 bathroom per section, with each map only representing a small section of the ship. And there's always the option of multiple toilets per bathroom, which is common in office buildings as well.
– jwenting
Nov 2 '11 at 14:05
|
show 3 more comments
In the documentary Journey's End: The Saga of Star Trek - The Next Generation, Johnathan Frakes actually answers this question by pointing out that only 1 bathroom is ever on an actual map in one of the props.
So, if you wanna be technical, there was only 1 bathroom on the Enterprise.
answered Nov 2 '11 at 5:57
OghmaOsirisOghmaOsiris
25.2k43167286
In the documentary Journey's End: The Saga of Star Trek - The Next Generation, Johnathan Frakes actually answers this question by pointing out that only 1 bathroom is ever on an actual map in one of the props.
So, if you wanna be technical, there was only 1 bathroom on the Enterprise.
answered Nov 2 '11 at 5:57
OghmaOsirisOghmaOsiris
25.2k43167286
answered Nov 2 '11 at 5:57
OghmaOsirisOghmaOsiris
25.2k43167286
answered Nov 2 '11 at 5:57
OghmaOsirisOghmaOsiris
25.2k43167286
answered Nov 2 '11 at 5:57
OghmaOsirisOghmaOsiris
25.2k43167286
25.2k43167286
So why do you never see a queue of 100 people waiting to get in there near the start of a shift?
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 2 '11 at 9:53
Well the queue is there and it's not there at the same time. We just haven't observed it yet ;)
– OghmaOsiris
Nov 2 '11 at 12:57
Tiny transporter systems embedded in the uniforms negate the need for the crew to physically go to the restroom. All waste products are beamed directly to the toilet, no fuss, no muss!
– Beofett
Nov 2 '11 at 13:25
@Beofett It also makes julienne fries.
– OghmaOsiris
Nov 2 '11 at 13:55
1
or there's 1 bathroom per section, with each map only representing a small section of the ship. And there's always the option of multiple toilets per bathroom, which is common in office buildings as well.
– jwenting
Nov 2 '11 at 14:05
|
show 3 more comments
So why do you never see a queue of 100 people waiting to get in there near the start of a shift?
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 2 '11 at 9:53
Well the queue is there and it's not there at the same time. We just haven't observed it yet ;)
– OghmaOsiris
Nov 2 '11 at 12:57
Tiny transporter systems embedded in the uniforms negate the need for the crew to physically go to the restroom. All waste products are beamed directly to the toilet, no fuss, no muss!
– Beofett
Nov 2 '11 at 13:25
@Beofett It also makes julienne fries.
– OghmaOsiris
Nov 2 '11 at 13:55
1
or there's 1 bathroom per section, with each map only representing a small section of the ship. And there's always the option of multiple toilets per bathroom, which is common in office buildings as well.
– jwenting
Nov 2 '11 at 14:05
So why do you never see a queue of 100 people waiting to get in there near the start of a shift?
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 2 '11 at 9:53
So why do you never see a queue of 100 people waiting to get in there near the start of a shift?
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 2 '11 at 9:53
Well the queue is there and it's not there at the same time. We just haven't observed it yet ;)
– OghmaOsiris
Nov 2 '11 at 12:57
Well the queue is there and it's not there at the same time. We just haven't observed it yet ;)
– OghmaOsiris
Nov 2 '11 at 12:57
Tiny transporter systems embedded in the uniforms negate the need for the crew to physically go to the restroom. All waste products are beamed directly to the toilet, no fuss, no muss!
– Beofett
Nov 2 '11 at 13:25
Tiny transporter systems embedded in the uniforms negate the need for the crew to physically go to the restroom. All waste products are beamed directly to the toilet, no fuss, no muss!
– Beofett
Nov 2 '11 at 13:25
@Beofett It also makes julienne fries.
– OghmaOsiris
Nov 2 '11 at 13:55
@Beofett It also makes julienne fries.
– OghmaOsiris
Nov 2 '11 at 13:55
1
1
or there's 1 bathroom per section, with each map only representing a small section of the ship. And there's always the option of multiple toilets per bathroom, which is common in office buildings as well.
– jwenting
Nov 2 '11 at 14:05
or there's 1 bathroom per section, with each map only representing a small section of the ship. And there's always the option of multiple toilets per bathroom, which is common in office buildings as well.
– jwenting
Nov 2 '11 at 14:05
|
show 3 more comments
It's natural to assume that it's decomposed in the replicator system, but in DS9, there are a few mentions of Rom cleaning the waste disposal systems, which clashes a bit with that explanation.
answered Nov 2 '11 at 1:20
NihilNihil
511
1
There would be parts of the system that needed cleaning - transfer to the replicator reclamation unit, for example.
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 2 '11 at 9:52
3
It is possible that the Cardassians had a different waste management system than normal Federation facilities.
– Jack B Nimble
Nov 2 '11 at 16:57
add a comment |
It's natural to assume that it's decomposed in the replicator system, but in DS9, there are a few mentions of Rom cleaning the waste disposal systems, which clashes a bit with that explanation.
answered Nov 2 '11 at 1:20
NihilNihil
511
1
There would be parts of the system that needed cleaning - transfer to the replicator reclamation unit, for example.
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 2 '11 at 9:52
3
It is possible that the Cardassians had a different waste management system than normal Federation facilities.
– Jack B Nimble
Nov 2 '11 at 16:57
add a comment |
It's natural to assume that it's decomposed in the replicator system, but in DS9, there are a few mentions of Rom cleaning the waste disposal systems, which clashes a bit with that explanation.
answered Nov 2 '11 at 1:20
NihilNihil
511
It's natural to assume that it's decomposed in the replicator system, but in DS9, there are a few mentions of Rom cleaning the waste disposal systems, which clashes a bit with that explanation.
answered Nov 2 '11 at 1:20
NihilNihil
511
answered Nov 2 '11 at 1:20
NihilNihil
511
answered Nov 2 '11 at 1:20
NihilNihil
511
answered Nov 2 '11 at 1:20
NihilNihil
511
511
1
There would be parts of the system that needed cleaning - transfer to the replicator reclamation unit, for example.
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 2 '11 at 9:52
3
It is possible that the Cardassians had a different waste management system than normal Federation facilities.
– Jack B Nimble
Nov 2 '11 at 16:57
add a comment |
1
There would be parts of the system that needed cleaning - transfer to the replicator reclamation unit, for example.
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 2 '11 at 9:52
3
It is possible that the Cardassians had a different waste management system than normal Federation facilities.
– Jack B Nimble
Nov 2 '11 at 16:57
1
1
There would be parts of the system that needed cleaning - transfer to the replicator reclamation unit, for example.
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 2 '11 at 9:52
There would be parts of the system that needed cleaning - transfer to the replicator reclamation unit, for example.
– Schroedingers Cat
Nov 2 '11 at 9:52
3
3
It is possible that the Cardassians had a different waste management system than normal Federation facilities.
– Jack B Nimble
Nov 2 '11 at 16:57
It is possible that the Cardassians had a different waste management system than normal Federation facilities.
– Jack B Nimble
Nov 2 '11 at 16:57
add a comment |
Waste in the disposal unit would most likely be flushed to a single location via traditional plumbing and atomised in bulk at a set time each day, which would be more energy efficient than using replicator technology with each flush, as well as account for the need to clean them.
answered Jun 11 '15 at 11:52
VallinVallin
111
1
How would adding long pipes in a ship make more sense than using transporter system?
– user16696
Jun 11 '15 at 14:11
1
"which would be more energy efficient than using replicator technology with each flush" According to what evidence?
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jun 11 '15 at 18:04
add a comment |
Waste in the disposal unit would most likely be flushed to a single location via traditional plumbing and atomised in bulk at a set time each day, which would be more energy efficient than using replicator technology with each flush, as well as account for the need to clean them.
answered Jun 11 '15 at 11:52
VallinVallin
111
1
How would adding long pipes in a ship make more sense than using transporter system?
– user16696
Jun 11 '15 at 14:11
1
"which would be more energy efficient than using replicator technology with each flush" According to what evidence?
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jun 11 '15 at 18:04
add a comment |
Waste in the disposal unit would most likely be flushed to a single location via traditional plumbing and atomised in bulk at a set time each day, which would be more energy efficient than using replicator technology with each flush, as well as account for the need to clean them.
answered Jun 11 '15 at 11:52
VallinVallin
111
Waste in the disposal unit would most likely be flushed to a single location via traditional plumbing and atomised in bulk at a set time each day, which would be more energy efficient than using replicator technology with each flush, as well as account for the need to clean them.
answered Jun 11 '15 at 11:52
VallinVallin
111
answered Jun 11 '15 at 11:52
VallinVallin
111
answered Jun 11 '15 at 11:52
VallinVallin
111
answered Jun 11 '15 at 11:52
VallinVallin
111
111
1
How would adding long pipes in a ship make more sense than using transporter system?
– user16696
Jun 11 '15 at 14:11
1
"which would be more energy efficient than using replicator technology with each flush" According to what evidence?
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jun 11 '15 at 18:04
add a comment |
1
How would adding long pipes in a ship make more sense than using transporter system?
– user16696
Jun 11 '15 at 14:11
1
"which would be more energy efficient than using replicator technology with each flush" According to what evidence?
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jun 11 '15 at 18:04
1
1
How would adding long pipes in a ship make more sense than using transporter system?
– user16696
Jun 11 '15 at 14:11
How would adding long pipes in a ship make more sense than using transporter system?
– user16696
Jun 11 '15 at 14:11
1
1
"which would be more energy efficient than using replicator technology with each flush" According to what evidence?
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jun 11 '15 at 18:04
"which would be more energy efficient than using replicator technology with each flush" According to what evidence?
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jun 11 '15 at 18:04
add a comment |
According to The Making of Star Trek the original Kirk era Enterprise NCC-1701 had a "waste and water reconversion" area in the secondary hull.
answered Nov 18 '17 at 20:06
dean1957dean1957
1,1651919
add a comment |
According to The Making of Star Trek the original Kirk era Enterprise NCC-1701 had a "waste and water reconversion" area in the secondary hull.
answered Nov 18 '17 at 20:06
dean1957dean1957
1,1651919
add a comment |
According to The Making of Star Trek the original Kirk era Enterprise NCC-1701 had a "waste and water reconversion" area in the secondary hull.
answered Nov 18 '17 at 20:06
dean1957dean1957
1,1651919
According to The Making of Star Trek the original Kirk era Enterprise NCC-1701 had a "waste and water reconversion" area in the secondary hull.
answered Nov 18 '17 at 20:06
dean1957dean1957
1,1651919
answered Nov 18 '17 at 20:06
dean1957dean1957
1,1651919
answered Nov 18 '17 at 20:06
dean1957dean1957
1,1651919
answered Nov 18 '17 at 20:06
dean1957dean1957
1,1651919
1,1651919
add a comment |
add a comment |
As MPelletier points out, waste handling (any part of the issue from restroom facilities to disposition of the waste material) never got so much as a mention on-screen outside of the school children's Q&A sequence in ST:Enterprise, although I vaguely recall at least one perhaps ambiguous reference to "waste extraction" in DS9.
Given that the ISS reclaims water from human waste and, in nature, everything is ultimately recycled, it's reasonable to assume that in the Star Trek universe, all of the waste would be reclaimed in some fashion. Even on a large vessel like the TOS Enterprise, space is constrained, so it doesn't make sense to store months worth of provisions if you have the means to implement an alternative approach. In TOS, there is only mention of "food processors", not clearly specifying how food selections are prepared (whether synthesized or drawn from stores), so no indication if there is a "closed system". TNG-era replicator technology, however, would clearly suggest that waste processing would be like a replicator run in reverse, so waste handling could be part of a closed system with food synthesis.
answered 28 mins ago
Anthony XAnthony X
4,35511339
add a comment |
As MPelletier points out, waste handling (any part of the issue from restroom facilities to disposition of the waste material) never got so much as a mention on-screen outside of the school children's Q&A sequence in ST:Enterprise, although I vaguely recall at least one perhaps ambiguous reference to "waste extraction" in DS9.
Given that the ISS reclaims water from human waste and, in nature, everything is ultimately recycled, it's reasonable to assume that in the Star Trek universe, all of the waste would be reclaimed in some fashion. Even on a large vessel like the TOS Enterprise, space is constrained, so it doesn't make sense to store months worth of provisions if you have the means to implement an alternative approach. In TOS, there is only mention of "food processors", not clearly specifying how food selections are prepared (whether synthesized or drawn from stores), so no indication if there is a "closed system". TNG-era replicator technology, however, would clearly suggest that waste processing would be like a replicator run in reverse, so waste handling could be part of a closed system with food synthesis.
answered 28 mins ago
Anthony XAnthony X
4,35511339
add a comment |
As MPelletier points out, waste handling (any part of the issue from restroom facilities to disposition of the waste material) never got so much as a mention on-screen outside of the school children's Q&A sequence in ST:Enterprise, although I vaguely recall at least one perhaps ambiguous reference to "waste extraction" in DS9.
Given that the ISS reclaims water from human waste and, in nature, everything is ultimately recycled, it's reasonable to assume that in the Star Trek universe, all of the waste would be reclaimed in some fashion. Even on a large vessel like the TOS Enterprise, space is constrained, so it doesn't make sense to store months worth of provisions if you have the means to implement an alternative approach. In TOS, there is only mention of "food processors", not clearly specifying how food selections are prepared (whether synthesized or drawn from stores), so no indication if there is a "closed system". TNG-era replicator technology, however, would clearly suggest that waste processing would be like a replicator run in reverse, so waste handling could be part of a closed system with food synthesis.
answered 28 mins ago
Anthony XAnthony X
4,35511339
As MPelletier points out, waste handling (any part of the issue from restroom facilities to disposition of the waste material) never got so much as a mention on-screen outside of the school children's Q&A sequence in ST:Enterprise, although I vaguely recall at least one perhaps ambiguous reference to "waste extraction" in DS9.
Given that the ISS reclaims water from human waste and, in nature, everything is ultimately recycled, it's reasonable to assume that in the Star Trek universe, all of the waste would be reclaimed in some fashion. Even on a large vessel like the TOS Enterprise, space is constrained, so it doesn't make sense to store months worth of provisions if you have the means to implement an alternative approach. In TOS, there is only mention of "food processors", not clearly specifying how food selections are prepared (whether synthesized or drawn from stores), so no indication if there is a "closed system". TNG-era replicator technology, however, would clearly suggest that waste processing would be like a replicator run in reverse, so waste handling could be part of a closed system with food synthesis.
answered 28 mins ago
Anthony XAnthony X
4,35511339
answered 28 mins ago
Anthony XAnthony X
4,35511339
answered 28 mins ago
Anthony XAnthony X
4,35511339
answered 28 mins ago
Anthony XAnthony X
4,35511339
4,35511339
add a comment |
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Science Fiction & Fantasy Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fscifi.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f1241%2fwhere-does-human-waste-go-when-going-to-the-toilet-in-the-star-trek-universe%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
7
this would have to be an especially important consideration with a crew full of different species all sampling one another's cuisines.
– JustJeff
Jan 22 '11 at 23:02
5
How many television shows and movies have shown any sort of toilets? There was one scene in the first season of Babylon 5 where Sinclair and Garibaldi were having a brief conversation in the men's room, and that's all I remember.
– David Thornley
Jan 25 '11 at 2:57
4
When I was a callow youth, I thought that in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ humans had evolved beyond the need to physically expel waste, because you never saw a bathroom in the show.
– Paul D. Waite
Jun 29 '11 at 18:42
2
Going to the bathroom is an inefficiency of time and equipment. Starfleet recommends teleporting the waste directly out of your bowels and bladder. (just kidding)
– chobok
May 9 '12 at 3:27
9
Fun fact, the writers addressed the complete missing of toilets or bathrooms in the series in First Contact: "I've gotta take a leak." - "A leak? I'm not detecting a leak." - "Don't you people from the 24th century ever pee?"
– Bobby
Jul 21 '12 at 21:24