NASA-Backed Microbes Turn Plastic Waste Into Edible Space Cookies
TL;DR
Researchers funded by NASA have developed a method to convert PET plastic and agricultural waste into edible proteins, fats, and flavors using engineered yeasts, which are then shaped into 3D-printed cookies. Human testing awaits regulatory approval, but the team envisions such upcycled nutrition aiding astronauts on long missions and offering a future solution for plastic waste in extreme environments. Current production costs are around $60 per kilogram, with potential reductions as efficiency improves and production scales up.
- ‘Cookies’ made from plastic may be on the menu for future astronauts The Guardian
- Plastic bottles can be turned into edible, vanilla-flavour cookies New Scientist
- Scientists Just Made A Cookie Out of Recycled Plastic 'Slurry'. Welcome to 2026 ScienceAlert
- Engineered yeasts help turn PET plastic and crop waste into protein-rich cookies Phys.org
- Trash to treat: Scientists are baking with plastic waste Courthouse News
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