On the less glamorous side of space exploration, there’s the
more practical problem of waste — in particular, what to do with astronaut pee.
But rather than ejecting it into space, scientists are developing a new
technique that can turn this waste burden into a boon by converting it into
fuel and much-needed drinking water. Their report, which could also inspire new
ways to treat municipal wastewater, appears in the journal ACS Sustainable
Chemistry & Engineering.