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Growing A House From Meat

baosol writes "From the boundary-pushing team of archi-visionaries who brought us the fabulous Fab Tree Hab comes a new (and somewhat disgusting) way to grow a structure — using animal flesh! The In Vitro Meat Habitat is a futuristic concept home composed of meat cells grown in a lab. The creator of the concept, Mitchell Joachim, is a futurist with a twist– he says he is actually developing the concept in a lab."

106 of 133 comments (clear)

  1. Minerals by TheKidWho · · Score: 1

    We need more mineralssssssssssssss.

    1. Re:Minerals by Jarik+C-Bol · · Score: 2, Funny

      that was the first thing i thought when i saw this during his TED talk. "godamn it we are not the zerg, take your meat house and get the hell off my lawn" what is worse is the fact that he tacked this meat house onto this talk about growing homes from trees that are guided into the shapes we need, so your house is a living plant, *and he tried to make the meat house sound like a better idea than the tree house*

      --
      I've decided to Diversify my Holdings. I've divided my cash between my left and right pockets, instead of all in one.
    2. Re:Minerals by xmousex · · Score: 1

      i want zerg house now!

      article says this is all okay because the house isnt sentient though. "no sentient animals or something were harmed in the process of whatever the fuck it said"

      too bad because thats exactly what i need. it needs to think for itself and it needs to talk to me.

  2. mmmmmm Beefy! by e2d2 · · Score: 1

    mmmmmm Beefy!

    I am curious though, how does this do against Bears? Black bears of course because they are best.

  3. Better Off Ted by kannibal_klown · · Score: 1

    But does it taste like despair.

    Not perfectly related, but whenever I hear about advancements in meat I can't help but think of that episode.

    Poor Better off Ted, you will be missed.

  4. WTF by Xacid · · Score: 2, Funny

    I don't even want to write a long intelligent response to this. I just want to say WTF over and over again.

    1. Re:WTF by butterflysrage · · Score: 5, Funny

      then let me just say two words: Beef Curtains.

      --
      the preceding post was not spell checked... suck it.
    2. Re:WTF by liquiddark · · Score: 1

      GAH! Why do I never have mod points when I need them!!!

    3. Re:WTF by geekoid · · Score: 1

      udderly disgusting.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    4. Re:WTF by dadioflex · · Score: 1
      It'll come, regardless of the current response. The alternative is... soylent green, and that ain't happening. Bio-engineering? Meh. I've been reconciled to this since Nemesis the Warlock from 2000AD. Then there was Farscape, and later Battlestar Galactica.

      What's the problem? We eat meat, we dress in meat by-products, most of our sports' stars have meat between their ears... easy adjust.

    5. Re:WTF by Monchanger · · Score: 2, Funny

      ... and a doorbell that goes "moooooooo".

    6. Re:WTF by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Beef Curtains.

      you have won the game.

  5. Re:Prior Art by cayenne8 · · Score: 1

    I'm guessing when you drive through the older neighborhood of 'meat' houses....it all just smells like jerky??

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  6. Fatal Flaw by Tebriel · · Score: 1

    Once I get one, how will I keep from eating my bacon house?

    --
    The Blaster Master Fighting for Truth, Justice, and Evil Pie since 1979
    1. Re:Fatal Flaw by confused+one · · Score: 1

      The house might bite back...

    2. Re:Fatal Flaw by flaming+error · · Score: 1

      And what will keep the house from eating its occupants?

  7. DO NOT WANT: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    From TFA:

    For fenestration, or openings of windows and doors, he envisions sphincter muscles that can open and close

    Nothing like coming home from work to squeeze your way into a clenched asshole.

    1. Re:DO NOT WANT: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      There are some people who enjoy that you insensitive clod!

      Mmmmm... yeah baby...

    2. Re:DO NOT WANT: by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Isn't that the goal of every man?

    3. Re:DO NOT WANT: by clem · · Score: 1

      Not that door. There's a reason it's labeled "Exit Only".

      --
      Your courageous and selfless spelling corrections have made me a better person.
  8. Why? by camperdave · · Score: 1

    A house made of meat?

    Why?

    --
    When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    1. Re:Why? by Bugamn · · Score: 1

      So we can have houses that look like what is expected by humans. -- Overmind

    2. Re:Why? by Saxerman · · Score: 1

      "They're made out of meat."
      "Meat?"
      "Meat. They're made out of meat."
      http://baetzler.de/humor/meat_beings.html

      --

      A steaming cup of soykaf would be real wiz right now.

    3. Re:Why? by frank_adrian314159 · · Score: 1

      Yeah. It sounds like a pretty jerky idea.

      --
      That is all.
  9. This is a terrible, terrible idea. by Revotron · · Score: 1

    [Dr. Joachim] envisions a wall in which tissues, skin and bones replace insulation, siding, and studs respectively. For fenestration, or openings of windows and doors, he envisions sphincter muscles that can open and close.

    First thoughts that come to mind:

    1) Newlywed Couples. "First thing I'm doing once we're married is picking you up and carrying you through the sphincter!"

    2) Invasions of privacy. "My neighbors are really starting to get nosy. I was standing in the kitchen cooking dinner, and there's my next-door neighbor looking straight into my sphincter!"

    3) Medical issues. "Doctor, can you tell me why once a month, my walls start bleeding?"

    1. Re:This is a terrible, terrible idea. by guruevi · · Score: 1

      Well, bones are a very strong structure (density and weight wise compared to their relative flexibility). If you could build a house with some very dense bones, I think that would stand up to a lot of things. The meat/skin/tissue part of it would probably be gross and attract insects and vermin but it might be a good alternative in places like the North Pole where the stuff won't rot and people need to keep warm.

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
  10. Zerg!!! by bgweber · · Score: 1

    Have we not learned from the errors of the Xel'Naga?

  11. Spam Spam Spam by Linker3000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    There's no place like Hormel

    --
    AT&ROFLMAO
  12. Growing building eh? by easterberry · · Score: 1

    Next step? My own TARDIS!

  13. Re:Prior Art by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Either that or Rot. I find it hard to believe they've synthesized a high-protein cell that can beat cellulose for structural strength and permanence.

    --
    SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
  14. Farscape! by B5_geek · · Score: 1

    Prior Art:

    Farscape: Moya
    Lexx: Lexx

    And every Star Wars geek knows a TomTom will do in a pinch. (And you thought they smelt bad on the outside!)

    --
    "The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." ~Plato (427-347 BC)
    1. Re:Farscape! by julesh · · Score: 1

      You call yourself a B5 geek and didn't think of Vorlon ships? Shame.

    2. Re:Farscape! by natehoy · · Score: 1

      No, a Tauntaun would be a TENT. We're talking about HOUSES here.

      --
      "This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
    3. Re:Farscape! by B5_geek · · Score: 1

      Damn you are right. Now my life does suck.
      =)

      --
      "The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." ~Plato (427-347 BC)
    4. Re:Farscape! by thethibs · · Score: 1

      Babylon 5: Vorlon Technology

      --
      I'm a Programmer. That's one level above Software Engineer and one level below Engineer.
  15. Delicious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    ....just don't eat yourself out of house and home.

    Does this mean the house meat eats for nourishment? If so - does it poop?

  16. Is it only me? by khraz · · Score: 1

    The pictures of these houses are making me hungry. Mmm, tasty flesh.

  17. The build quality... by Reason58 · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...looks to be well done.

    1. Re:The build quality... by BattleApple · · Score: 2, Funny

      these houses are actually quite rare

    2. Re:The build quality... by adolf · · Score: 1

      Mmm. Barbecue.

  18. I'm flabergasted by Dynedain · · Score: 1

    If this technology becomes widespread, I'll eat my shoe!

    --
    I'm out of my mind right now, but feel free to leave a message.....
    1. Re:I'm flabergasted by Revotron · · Score: 1

      By that time somebody will have created shoes made out of meat.

    2. Re:I'm flabergasted by shadowrat · · Score: 1

      i already have shoes made out of meat. i call them feet.

    3. Re:I'm flabergasted by XnavxeMiyyep · · Score: 1

      Live in meat!
      Eat your shoes!
      Wear your house!

      But never fix the Idle CSS

      --
      I put the 't' in electrical engineering.
  19. Mmmmm... Arson by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The tastiest house fire ever!

  20. I think I get it... by Billy+the+Mountain · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I think ideally the structure would have a fur coat exterior or some sort of hide. Otherwise the bare meat would get infected. Still you'd have trouble with things like fleas. How would the structure fend off mosquitoes and other parasites? Might prove to be a maintenance nightmare.

    BTM

    --
    That was the turning point of my life--I went from negative zero to positive zero.
    1. Re:I think I get it... by Revotron · · Score: 3, Funny

      I think ideally the structure would have a fur coat exterior or some sort of hide.

      Good thinking! The vegans and fur activists will go around painting houses for free.

  21. confused by confused+one · · Score: 1

    I am both intrigued and disgusted at the same time.

  22. Roast Beef Curtains by ground.zero.612 · · Score: 1

    on the windows?

    --
    "Be prepared, son. That's my motto. Be prepared." --Joe Hallenbeck
  23. Re:Prior Art by doti · · Score: 1
    --
    factor 966971: 966971
  24. I'm not entirely sure why but. . . by rev_sanchez · · Score: 1

    somehow it seems really important to know which of my house's orifices my toilet is connected to.

    --
    If you didn't come to party don't bother knocking on my door. Prince '1999'
  25. Perfect! by natehoy · · Score: 1

    Now we just need to develop the technology to bake a sufficiently large bun, and we finally have a burger large enough for even the American market.

    --
    "This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
  26. Meat? by breakfastpirate · · Score: 1

    "They're made out of meat." "Meat?" "Meat. Their houses are made out of meat." "Meat?" http://www.setileague.org/articles/meat.htm

  27. Look at it this was.... by ch-chuck · · Score: 1

    Imagine that trees could walk around, talk, and needed shelter. Suddenly, some Tree Scientist suggests that their houses should be make out of WOOD!!! Ahhhhh!! How disgusting!!!!!

    --
    try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
    1. Re:Look at it this was.... by natehoy · · Score: 1

      Depends on which trees are intelligent. If all of them are, then they'd just start slaughtering each other for wood. Probably form various religions around leaf shapes or bark color it to make it cool with everyone first, though.

      Otherwise, if there were various levels of intelligence, then the smart trees would simply start farming the dumb ones, like we do with cows and chickens.

      --
      "This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
  28. And in the closet . . . by wrencherd · · Score: 1

    . . . skirt steak? (Could be weird depending on who does or does not live there.)

  29. Mmmmm by SnarfQuest · · Score: 1

    Bacon!

    Why does my house keep disappearing on me just before breakfast?

    --
    Who would win this election: Andrew Weiner vs Andrew Weiner's weiner.
  30. Returning to the womb by izomiac · · Score: 1

    I seem to remember some psychological theory that men, at heart, just want to return to the womb. At the time I thought it was ridiculous. Now I realize that they were onto something and this is what's ridiculous.

    IMHO, at some point you just need to accept that a human life costs the lives of many tasty animals, tons of plants, and innumerable microorganisms. Is a tree's life worth more than the grass this structure kills by blocking the sun? How about the detrivores that live on dead plants? Or the unique and ancient rock that was broken up for gravel or cement, and the organisms living on it?

    OTOH, many animals find meat to be tasty, and this house should be no different... What happens when you have a bear that has been eating your back door and comes inside looking for more food? Or your house gets gangrene? Or you leave for vacation and found the openings for your door "healed" while you were gone?

    1. Re:Returning to the womb by Reason58 · · Score: 1

      I seem to remember some psychological theory that men, at heart, just want to return to the womb.

      They do, but not in the way you are thinking.

  31. House of meat's been done many times . . . by wrencherd · · Score: 1

    . . . the one in NYC was called, "Studio 54".

  32. PETH by Unka+Willbur · · Score: 2, Funny

    Join my new organization, P.E.T.H. People for the Ethical Treatment of Houses!

    --
    "Remember when I said I would never lie? Well, that was the first time."
  33. T-rex returns by n0w0rries · · Score: 1

    What happens when nature evolves a new predator to eat this abundance of protein? Maybe aliens gave cavemen this technology just to watch the t-rex's go to town?

  34. Exoskeleton by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Meat is a silly idea for many reasons. The smarter move would be growing an exoskeletal structure. Instead of meat imagine hard plates. I think that kind of bio-engineering will happen one day but it's decades if not centuries off. Once it happens we could see fully recyclable houses that can biodegrade. Instead of cutting down forests they would be grown using a nutrient mixture and could be grown on location. The final structure would be like a cross between a geodesic dome and a large insect. The structure could even be engineered to be flexible so in hurricanes or earthquakes it would flex instead of crumbling.

    1. Re:Exoskeleton by Jarik+C-Bol · · Score: 1

      while still disturbing on several levels, your idea is far less disgusting than the meat house.

      --
      I've decided to Diversify my Holdings. I've divided my cash between my left and right pockets, instead of all in one.
    2. Re:Exoskeleton by WillDraven · · Score: 1

      Perhaps beehive style complex structures could replace larger structures like apartment complexes and skyscrapers. Of course I'd hate to think what it would be like living in a building that has the flu.

      --
      This is my sig. There are many like it but this one is mine.
    3. Re:Exoskeleton by XnR'rn · · Score: 1

      Now, this is more obescure then all those Farscape, Soy Green and B5 references, but what you describe sounds like one of the ways they 'built' houses in the Future of Kir Bulychev books.

  35. Next Step: by ducomputergeek · · Score: 1

    Soylent House! It's made of people!

    --
    "The problem with socialism is eventually you run out of other people's money" - Thatcher.
  36. Perhaps vegetarian has its advantages by CityZen · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Instead of meat, what about bioengineering trees to grow into more house-like shapes?

    At least, if the tree dies, you've still got a solid wood structure.

    1. Re:Perhaps vegetarian has its advantages by ZosX · · Score: 1

      Yeah. How many dead trees remain standing for years and years?

  37. Moya in making?! by Codeyman · · Score: 1

    Anyone else thinks that this gets us one step closer to a real Moya?! (any farscape fan here.. ?)

  38. Mitchell Joachim: self promoting huckster? by spun · · Score: 1

    It seems that whenever this 'futurist' gets a brain fart, he thinks the entire world needs to hear it. As his ideas always seem to be of the most out-there, fringe, wing-nutty type, I am left wondering, is he simply incredibly narcissistic or is he attempting to milk some venture capitalists? Either way, if I never hear another brain dead idea from this goofball, it will be too soon. There are plenty of real engineers out there toiling away in obscurity trying to come up with viable sustainable technology, Slashdot, why not do some pieces on them? Oh yes, the eternal flaw of all media: laziness. It's easier to parrot back a huckster's press release than to find the people making real innovations. Meat houses, really? Seriously, if we could grow meat in a lab, we could, oh I don't know, feed people with it or something. This is ludicrous.

    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
  39. Pest Control by __aajfby9338 · · Score: 1

    So, instead of becoming infested with mice, it'll become infested with dogs? Well, I guess that's an improvement.

  40. Re:What a dumb idea. by maxwell+demon · · Score: 3, Funny

    The need to feed the house would be an ongoing problem.

    Well, the real problems start when the house figures out how to feet itself, and discovers that there are great sources of proteine and fat directly inside it. :-)

    --
    The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
  41. Sci-Fi did this by Andtalath · · Score: 1

    In many other sci-fi series, the idea of living structure has been used already.

    The idea is not entirely without merit, however, it does bring a lot of problems as well.

    Lexx is probably the coolest example, but Farscape did it very well too.
    Heck, even stargate atlantis did it decently.

    1. Re:Sci-Fi did this by Lohrno · · Score: 1

      I forget which book it was from, but in one of the books I read, the settlers of a planet often used a "fast coral" plant to grow their houses...

  42. Re:Prior Art by Hylandr · · Score: 1

    Silly man, Jerky is what you get when you've milked the bull!

    - Dan.

    Yea I know that was bad pun, please don't mod me down. :)

    --
    ~ People that think they are better than anyone else for any reason are the cause of all the strife in the world.
  43. In case of a housing market slump by thodelu · · Score: 1

    you at least have something to eat.

  44. I dunno about houses... by RobertM1968 · · Score: 1

    ...but I've pitched quite a few tents with my meat... ;-)

  45. Safety by XSpud · · Score: 1

    If it's made of muscle fibre I'm not sure I'd want to be in it when the electrical wiring develops a fault.

    1. Re:Safety by Jarik+C-Bol · · Score: 1

      "oh hey what happened to bob?" "his wife dropped the blow dryer in the tub and his house crushed him."

      --
      I've decided to Diversify my Holdings. I've divided my cash between my left and right pockets, instead of all in one.
  46. South Park did this... by TeethWhitener · · Score: 1

    ...and now I'm waiting for my Shakey's Pizza clone.

  47. Re:This idea stinks! by maxwell+demon · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If you put a nail in the wall, will it bleed? Will the house feel pain?

    --
    The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
  48. Monster House DVD by Drakkenmensch · · Score: 1

    Watch it.

  49. Zerg! by Fantastic+Lad · · Score: 1

    Somebody already made the joke in the article's comment section which I will paste here. . .

    This is great! Now I can start building that Zerg colony I always wanted! Prepare to get zergling rushed, n00bz!

    -FL

  50. Moya by nurb432 · · Score: 1

    Hey, it worked on farscape..

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  51. They're made out of meat? by karlandtanya · · Score: 1
    --
    "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, it doesn't go away." - Philip K. Dick
  52. Re:This idea stinks! by Dekker3D · · Score: 1

    no nerve cells and no brain cells for any would-be nerve cells to connect to. it's grown purely from meat cells, and cells don't usually revert back to stem cells without some odd treatment or so. Not sure how oxygen and such would get transported without veins though... IANAB.

  53. predators by roman_mir · · Score: 1

    I dare you to live in something that's meat in an environment that still has any predators like bears, wolves, tigers, alligators or crocodiles, lions etc.

    1. Re:predators by marika · · Score: 1

      That house will make it easy for the wolf to take care of... it might save the pig though.

      --
      This is totally insecure, but very convenient.
    2. Re:predators by nu1x · · Score: 1

      > bears, wolves, tigers, alligators or crocodiles, lions

      Or a common dog.

      --
      I have nothing to lose but my bindings.
  54. Finally! by Fieryphoenix · · Score: 2, Funny

    A house can be condemned because it does not meat building code.

  55. Oh yeah... by migdiaz · · Score: 1

    ...Meat trees. I wonder what's the vegan stance on this...

  56. Wraith by masshuu · · Score: 1

    So we start building our homes and spacechips like the Wraith in Stargate Atlantis.
    And then when your stranded in the middle of space, you can just eat your ship

    --
    O.o
    1. Re:Wraith by gustavojuri · · Score: 1

      Just thinking about that. It's either Wriath or Zerg. you choose.

  57. Tract homes? by kindbud · · Score: 1

    We can't imagine that these residences are going be replacing suburban tract homes anytime soon, but it sure is a provocative idea!

    But what about digestive tract homes?

    --
    Edith Keeler Must Die
  58. Re:This idea stinks! by orangesquid · · Score: 1

    If someone falls asleep at the wheel and drives into the side of your house, can they be charged with assault?
    How about brats with spray paint? Battery?
    If they spray-painted 'idiot', that's like putting a sign on someone's back, and they're mocking a living being that is publicly known to have no cerebrum by making a public display on the defenseless body of that being. Now we have a potential hate-crime.

    I think law school enrollment just shot through the roof.

    --
    --TheOrangeSquid Is it any wonder things seem so awry? We swim in a sea of confusion and don't have to think to survive
  59. Re:Prior Art by Dolphinzilla · · Score: 1

    are you classified as human ? ummm no, I am a meat Popsicle

  60. Vacation by SlothDead · · Score: 1

    When I go on vacation, will I have to ask the neighbor to feed the house for me?

    And will the house live longer than myself or will I end up living in a stinking house corpse?

  61. Hrmmm hrmm hrhrmmmhm by nu1x · · Score: 1

    The dogs.

    That is all.

    --
    I have nothing to lose but my bindings.
  62. Not all that it seems by 3john · · Score: 1

    Listen to me people, I've got to tell you, Meat House is JERKY! [ref Heather Smith in Winter issue of Meatpaper, via Harpers, May 2010].

  63. Order Please by Have+Brain+Will+Rent · · Score: 1

    My dog says he would like to place an order for one of these!

    --
    The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny - Aesop
  64. Life imitates Kingdom of Loathing by sco08y · · Score: 1

    Now I want to paste a bitchin' meat car together.

  65. Re:This idea stinks! by Dekker3D · · Score: 1

    that's a pretty evil idea. of course, which court would give a brainless, spineless being the same rights as ordinary humans? ... don't answer that.

  66. A serious note by Yvanhoe · · Score: 1

    The title and most of the commentaries so far are humorous but I think it fails to acknowledge how much a good idea this is. Obviously, anyone with basic marketing commonsense will not call it a "meat house" but something like "organic house". I don't see the interest of using meat cells, but I would love to GM trees growing to become rooms, hallways, stairs...

    That would be far more easy to sell and make accept.

    --
    The Wise adapts himself to the world. The Fool adapts the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the Fool.
  67. Dig into your steakhouse now! by freaker_TuC · · Score: 1

    I know people would love to live with their daily steak but this is really going over the edge .. living inside your steak!

    Redefines a bbq speciale for sure!

    --
    --- I am known for the ones who want to find me on the net. Is that a privacy risk or a privilege? One might wonder..
  68. Sterling's Schismatrix by sphere · · Score: 1

    See the latter part of Schismatrix for interesting and, uh, creative applications of fleshly living quarters....

    --
    Deep in the ocean are treasures beyond compare; but if you seek safety, it is on the shore.