Yes, You Really Can Make Food From Thin Air—And We Tried It

Every second of every day, plants on earth do something miraculous:
they take the carbon dioxide from air and turn it into food. With
very few exceptions, everything we eat starts out that way. But
what if we wanted to cut out the middlemen, re-wild all those
fields full of wheat and corn, and manufacture dinner directly from
the atmosphere ourselves? Scientists began dreaming of turning air
into food back into the 1800s, but it's only recently that dream
has become a reality—with results that, depending on where you
live, you can already taste for yourself. In this episode, we’re
exploring the history and science that made this particular sci-fi
future real: from a space-age vodka and military-grade yogurt-like
substance to surprisingly delicious gas-based butter and bonbons.
Join us this episode as we explore the weird science and
fascinating history behind this futuristic food, and discover how
it might help us save this planet *and* survive on new ones. Learn
more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices