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Star Trek's Synthehol Now Possible?

[TheBORG] writes "Professor David Nutt, a psychopharmacologist at the University of Bristol in the UK, believes that there is no scientific reason why 'synthehol' (a science-fictional substitute for alcohol that appears in Star Trek:The Next Generation television series) cannot be created now. It will allow drinkers to experience all of the enjoyable, intoxicating effects of alcohol without unpleasant side-effects like hangovers." Of course, there's still the real deal, Romulan Ale, for when you want a splitting headache in the morning.

25 of 509 comments (clear)

  1. Drugs. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Synthehol is my anti-drug.

  2. Re:Actually by jpardey · · Score: 5, Funny

    Some nerds know about biochemistry and how to make alcohol have a lower toxicity... and some nerds know about star trek.

    --
    I have freaks! I did something right...
  3. How About... by Scarletdown · · Score: 5, Funny

    Romulan Ale is okay, but real life forms prefer the Pan Galactic Gargleblaster, for when you want to feel like you have had your head smashed in by a slice of lemon wrapped around a large gold brick.

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    This space unintentionally left blank.
    1. Re:How About... by LithiumX · · Score: 5, Funny

      The main difference is that while the PGG is legal in most of the more liberal parts of the galaxy, Romulan Ale is illegal, which is part of it's attraction (much like a Cuban cigar - it's the law that makes them taste so damned good).

      On the other hand, Romulan Ale doesn't leave you reeling like a man being mugged in a meadow, doesn't eat through the table when spilled, and never ever made anyone yell Pheoww in minor thirds.

      --
      Do not confuse "Freedom of Choice" with "Free Will".
    2. Re:How About... by joe+155 · · Score: 4, Funny

      another advantage to the romulan ale is that you can drink more than 2 of them even if you are not a 30 ton mega-elephant with bhronchital pneumonia

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      *''I can't believe it's not a hyperlink.''
    3. Re:How About... by xSauronx · · Score: 4, Funny
      i heard it was the lithium content that made the things so attractive.

      the cigars, that is, not the adolescents

      --
      By and large, language is a tool for concealing the truth. -- George Carlin
  4. Oh no... by likwidoxigen · · Score: 5, Funny

    Speaking from the perspective of an American College student whom is reasonabally responsible. DO NOT REMOVE THE HANGOVER! I can only imagine how little work I would get done, and how many more students would fail out of college. There needs to be a bit of punishment, or else mass irresponisbilty would follow.

    --
    Walk with me or walk behind.
  5. Re:Great... by hunterx11 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I hear that alcohol leads to close dancing and jazz music. Clearly it should be banned.

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    English is easier said than done.
  6. It already exists by Aqua+OS+X · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...and it's called pot.

    --
    "Things are more moderner than before- bigger, and yet smaller- it's computers-- San Dimas High School football RULES!"
  7. In the name of science by Thnikkaman · · Score: 5, Funny

    If the inventors would like to send me a few kegs, I will consume them. Purely in the name of science, of course.

  8. TNG 6x04 by XanC · · Score: 5, Funny

    Duh!

    1. Re:TNG 6x04 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
      WOOOOP. WOOOOP. WOOOOP.


      Lonestar: What the hell was that?


      Dot: That was my virgin alarm!

  9. risk of psychosis and anxiety by fantomas · · Score: 3, Funny
    wikipedia: -- "studies have shown that a risk does exist in some individuals to develop symptoms of psychosis [1] and anxiety [2]"



    Plus of course regular heavy use may bring on the more feared long term addiction to tie dyed clothing, Grateful Dead, and believing one to be living in California in the late 1960s...

    #1 Prospective cohort study of cannabis use, predisposition for psychosis, and psychotic symptoms in young people, by Cécile Henquet, Lydia Krabbendam, Janneke Spauwen, Charles Kaplan, Roselind Lieb, Hans-Ulrich Wittchen and Jim van Os, British Medical Journal, December 2004, Volume 330: 11

    #2 Cannabis use and mental health in young people: cohort study, by G C Patton, Carolyn Coffey, J B Carlin, Louisa Degenhardt, Micheal Lynskey and Wayne Hall, British Medical Journal, 2005, Volume 325: 1195

  10. Alchohol is a waste of time and money by palad1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    The same could be said about Slashdot but you still post in here.

    Only when I'm drunk!

  11. Re:Great... by rohan972 · · Score: 5, Funny

    We human beings need stress reduction. Many of us choose to drink a moderate amount to do so.

    And there are also those of us who never use it for stress reduction, but do use it to celebrate! I like a quote I heard from a pastor one day "Jesus turned water into wine, and evangelical christians have been trying to turn it back ever since"

  12. Great so.... by stunt_penguin · · Score: 2, Funny

    now we can have 'Free, as in beer' and 'Expensive, as in synthenol'.

    Synthenol Cristal? I'll take 4 cases.

    --
    When the posters fear their moderators, there is tyranny; when the moderators fears the posters, there is liberty.
  13. Re:My Preference... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    In Soviet Russia, the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster beats YOU!

    No wait. It does that everywhere.

    Witty but useless comment defeated! Argh!

  14. Re:It'll never happen... by Siffy · · Score: 5, Funny

    the US is STILL recovering from the effects of alcohol prohibition

    I don't think we're ever gonna be able to get rid of NASCAR now.

  15. Re:Actually by MadCow42 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sinthehol = synthesized alcohol replacement

    Sinthehole = personal entertainment device for Slashdot geeks.

    One may lead to the other, but I don't think they're the same thing. :)

    MadCow

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    I used to have a sig, but I set it free and it never came back.
  16. Re:Yah, alcohol by nineoneone · · Score: 1, Funny

    I'll drink to that!

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    sig under development
  17. Just what we need... by slapout · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...a bunch of drunk people running around with phasers shouting "Make it so!"

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    Coder's Stone: The programming language quick ref for iPad
  18. Re:Actually by Feanturi · · Score: 2, Funny

    feeling it didn't simulate it all that well (considering Scotty's reaction

    Aye but this is no mere mortal yer talkin' about laddie. This is Scotty, who kin tell ye which hour of the day a 60 year old scotch was bottled before the glass is off the table!

  19. Re:Don't panick but ... by rspress · · Score: 2, Funny

    How come nobody mentions price when talking about the PGG or Romulain Ale. What is a better buy for my gold-pressed latinum?

  20. Obligatory Dean Martin quote... by modi123 · · Score: 2, Funny
    Gotta love this one. It puts off all those people who claim I drink too much. Perhaps I shouldn't BREATHE so much? Ha-haaaaaaa!

    I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day.

    -- Dean Martin

    (Ok, so I had to throw in a Nick Cage quote from 'Leaving Las Vegas' - call it a two-fer Friday special!)

  21. Re:Double dutch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Dutch oven...