[Applause] where will the toilet of the future come
where will the toilet of the future come
where will the toilet of the future come from when will it arrive and what is it
from when will it arrive and what is it
from when will it arrive and what is it going to look like for an answer to this
going to look like for an answer to this
going to look like for an answer to this question I looked at the Earth’s
question I looked at the Earth’s
question I looked at the Earth’s writer’s minds people working in
writer’s minds people working in
writer’s minds people working in exploration of Antarctica space and Mars
exploration of Antarctica space and Mars
exploration of Antarctica space and Mars first Antarctica as you can imagine it’s
first Antarctica as you can imagine it’s
first Antarctica as you can imagine it’s very cold there and there are about 60
very cold there and there are about 60
very cold there and there are about 60 research stations from all over the
research stations from all over the
research stations from all over the world working in doing research in
world working in doing research in
world working in doing research in Antarctica and I ask the obvious
Antarctica and I ask the obvious
Antarctica and I ask the obvious question how do they go to the bathroom
so first to get water they dig a deep
so first to get water they dig a deep well from which they melt water and then
well from which they melt water and then
well from which they melt water and then once they have well big enough they get
once they have well big enough they get
once they have well big enough they get all the waste water including poop and
all the waste water including poop and
all the waste water including poop and they discharge in this ice pits in
they discharge in this ice pits in
they discharge in this ice pits in Antarctica so not much to learn there
how about in space nASA has a 23 point 4
how about in space nASA has a 23 point 4 million dollar toilet it separately
million dollar toilet it separately
million dollar toilet it separately collects urine and faeces the urine gets
collects urine and faeces the urine gets
collects urine and faeces the urine gets recycled along with astronauts tears and
recycled along with astronauts tears and
recycled along with astronauts tears and sweat and they get to drink all that so
sweat and they get to drink all that so
sweat and they get to drink all that so I thought that was promising how about
I thought that was promising how about
I thought that was promising how about astronaut poop
astronaut poop
astronaut poop what happens to it well it gets
what happens to it well it gets
what happens to it well it gets dehydrated and compacted and stuffed
dehydrated and compacted and stuffed
dehydrated and compacted and stuffed into a space trash can it’s called
into a space trash can it’s called
into a space trash can it’s called progress and the Russians built it
progress and the Russians built it
progress and the Russians built it so once progress is full of trash and
so once progress is full of trash and
so once progress is full of trash and astronaut poop it’s fired towards Earth
astronaut poop it’s fired towards Earth
astronaut poop it’s fired towards Earth and as it enters our atmosphere it
and as it enters our atmosphere it
and as it enters our atmosphere it catches fire and it burns like a
catches fire and it burns like a
catches fire and it burns like a shooting star
that’s progress so next time we see a
that’s progress so next time we see a shooting star let’s all make a wish for
shooting star let’s all make a wish for
shooting star let’s all make a wish for a better space toilet and how about Mars
a better space toilet and how about Mars
a better space toilet and how about Mars back in September I got to ask
back in September I got to ask
back in September I got to ask Elon Musk one of the main forces behind
Elon Musk one of the main forces behind
Elon Musk one of the main forces behind Mars exploration if his company is
Mars exploration if his company is
Mars exploration if his company is working on a toilet for Mars CNN called
working on a toilet for Mars CNN called
working on a toilet for Mars CNN called my question bizarre and a lot of people
my question bizarre and a lot of people
my question bizarre and a lot of people called me stupid
called me stupid
called me stupid I mean who asks Elon Musk if he’s
I mean who asks Elon Musk if he’s
I mean who asks Elon Musk if he’s working on a toilet the same person who
working on a toilet the same person who
working on a toilet the same person who read the NASA technology roadmaps
read the NASA technology roadmaps
read the NASA technology roadmaps technology area number six section 1.3.1
technology area number six section 1.3.1
technology area number six section 1.3.1 which says that NASA is looking for a
which says that NASA is looking for a
which says that NASA is looking for a better space toilet and to get to Mars
better space toilet and to get to Mars
better space toilet and to get to Mars we’re going to have to develop one by
we’re going to have to develop one by
we’re going to have to develop one by 2021 and if we’re going to be
2021 and if we’re going to be
2021 and if we’re going to be self-sustaining in Mars we’re going to
self-sustaining in Mars we’re going to
self-sustaining in Mars we’re going to have to figure out a better toilet but
have to figure out a better toilet but
have to figure out a better toilet but what’s wrong with our toilets why can’t
what’s wrong with our toilets why can’t
what’s wrong with our toilets why can’t we just bring our toilets from earth to
we just bring our toilets from earth to
we just bring our toilets from earth to space the fact is that it’s not only
space the fact is that it’s not only
space the fact is that it’s not only space toilets that need to be improved
space toilets that need to be improved
space toilets that need to be improved it’s the toilet that you and I use today
it’s the toilet that you and I use today
it’s the toilet that you and I use today including in this very same building to
including in this very same building to
including in this very same building to learn a little bit more about the
learn a little bit more about the
learn a little bit more about the shortcomings of our toilet I wanted to
shortcomings of our toilet I wanted to
shortcomings of our toilet I wanted to share with you four experiences that
share with you four experiences that
share with you four experiences that happened to me this summer the first is
happened to me this summer the first is
happened to me this summer the first is the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro
the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro
the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and I’m not sure if you guys remember
and I’m not sure if you guys remember
and I’m not sure if you guys remember but the whole world found out that the
but the whole world found out that the
but the whole world found out that the waters of Guanabara Bay was contaminated
waters of Guanabara Bay was contaminated
waters of Guanabara Bay was contaminated with sewage and that any athlete that
with sewage and that any athlete that
with sewage and that any athlete that swimming there risked getting sick I
swimming there risked getting sick I
swimming there risked getting sick I wonder how many of you know about a
wonder how many of you know about a
wonder how many of you know about a triathlon that happened in Washington DC
triathlon that happened in Washington DC
triathlon that happened in Washington DC shortly after that there’s a river
shortly after that there’s a river
shortly after that there’s a river called Potomac River in the nation’s
called Potomac River in the nation’s
called Potomac River in the nation’s capital right by the White House and
capital right by the White House and
capital right by the White House and this triathlon competition swimming
this triathlon competition swimming
this triathlon competition swimming portion was canceled
portion was canceled
portion was canceled for the same reasons as rio de janeiro
for the same reasons as rio de janeiro
for the same reasons as rio de janeiro that is too much fecal matter in the
that is too much fecal matter in the
that is too much fecal matter in the river after that I was in Miami and for
river after that I was in Miami and for
river after that I was in Miami and for a weekend and there was a health warning
a weekend and there was a health warning
a weekend and there was a health warning advisory against swimming in the waters
advisory against swimming in the waters
advisory against swimming in the waters of South Beach for the same reasons too
of South Beach for the same reasons too
of South Beach for the same reasons too much sewage in the beach and earlier
much sewage in the beach and earlier
much sewage in the beach and earlier this summer I was here in Cancun and I
this summer I was here in Cancun and I
this summer I was here in Cancun and I swam from cocoon to Isla Mujeres and
swam from cocoon to Isla Mujeres and
swam from cocoon to Isla Mujeres and even though I was in the water for hours
even though I was in the water for hours
even though I was in the water for hours I saw no major wildlife or coral life so
I saw no major wildlife or coral life so
I saw no major wildlife or coral life so why is there so much sewage in all of
why is there so much sewage in all of
why is there so much sewage in all of our waters no matter where you are rich
our waters no matter where you are rich
our waters no matter where you are rich or poor countries to learn a little bit
or poor countries to learn a little bit
or poor countries to learn a little bit about that we need to understand where
about that we need to understand where
about that we need to understand where our modern sanitation system came from
our modern sanitation system came from
our modern sanitation system came from and it all we have to thank London and
and it all we have to thank London and
and it all we have to thank London and Industrial Revolution because that’s
Industrial Revolution because that’s
Industrial Revolution because that’s when a lot of people moved in from the
when a lot of people moved in from the
when a lot of people moved in from the countryside into the city of London and
countryside into the city of London and
countryside into the city of London and back then in the 1850s there were a lot
back then in the 1850s there were a lot
back then in the 1850s there were a lot of cholera typhoid dysentery and
of cholera typhoid dysentery and
of cholera typhoid dysentery and hepatitis outbreaks because when the
hepatitis outbreaks because when the
hepatitis outbreaks because when the washcloths came together people didn’t
washcloths came together people didn’t
washcloths came together people didn’t know what to do with all the waste water
know what to do with all the waste water
know what to do with all the waste water so they just did septic tanks but then
so they just did septic tanks but then
so they just did septic tanks but then since a lot of people start getting sick
since a lot of people start getting sick
since a lot of people start getting sick the city leaders had the brilliant and
the city leaders had the brilliant and
the city leaders had the brilliant and expeditious idea of channeling all the
expeditious idea of channeling all the
expeditious idea of channeling all the waste water into the Thames River and
waste water into the Thames River and
waste water into the Thames River and that’s how our modern sanitation system
that’s how our modern sanitation system
that’s how our modern sanitation system was born in fact sewage comes from C
was born in fact sewage comes from C
was born in fact sewage comes from C ward or towards the sea so the fact that
ward or towards the sea so the fact that
ward or towards the sea so the fact that today in most cities around the world
today in most cities around the world
today in most cities around the world we have sewage in our rivers is no
we have sewage in our rivers is no
we have sewage in our rivers is no accident it’s by design but one of the
accident it’s by design but one of the
accident it’s by design but one of the most harmful shortcomings of our modern
most harmful shortcomings of our modern
most harmful shortcomings of our modern sanitation system is that it wastes a
sanitation system is that it wastes a
sanitation system is that it wastes a lot of water the bathroom in your house
lot of water the bathroom in your house
lot of water the bathroom in your house is a single largest user of water in
is a single largest user of water in
is a single largest user of water in your household as much as 30 percent
your household as much as 30 percent
your household as much as 30 percent since the 1850s we haven’t really
since the 1850s we haven’t really
since the 1850s we haven’t really improved
improved
improved intention we have lacked innovation in
intention we have lacked innovation in
intention we have lacked innovation in this area because we stopped thinking
this area because we stopped thinking
this area because we stopped thinking about it and I think the worst side
about it and I think the worst side
about it and I think the worst side effect of our lack of innovation in this
effect of our lack of innovation in this
effect of our lack of innovation in this area is the fact that one third of the
area is the fact that one third of the
area is the fact that one third of the world’s population lacks access to
world’s population lacks access to
world’s population lacks access to sanitation three billion people just
sanitation three billion people just
sanitation three billion people just look at the two people next to you and
look at the two people next to you and
look at the two people next to you and you are the one without a toilet how
you are the one without a toilet how
you are the one without a toilet how would you go about your day and I was
would you go about your day and I was
would you go about your day and I was very unsatisfied with this modern
very unsatisfied with this modern
very unsatisfied with this modern sanitation system because I want
sanitation system because I want
sanitation system because I want everyone in the whole world to have a
everyone in the whole world to have a
everyone in the whole world to have a toilet and a water flushing toilet
toilet and a water flushing toilet
toilet and a water flushing toilet cannot be the answer to this question so
cannot be the answer to this question so
cannot be the answer to this question so I wanted to see what happened before
I wanted to see what happened before
I wanted to see what happened before 1850 how did we manage sanitation before
1850 how did we manage sanitation before
1850 how did we manage sanitation before then could we learn from history and I
then could we learn from history and I
then could we learn from history and I was very happy to find two great
was very happy to find two great
was very happy to find two great examples one right here in Mexico if you
examples one right here in Mexico if you
examples one right here in Mexico if you recognize that is the valley of central
recognize that is the valley of central
recognize that is the valley of central Mexico during the 16th century that’s
Mexico during the 16th century that’s
Mexico during the 16th century that’s Mexico Tenochtitlan and when the Aztecs
Mexico Tenochtitlan and when the Aztecs
Mexico Tenochtitlan and when the Aztecs first came to the valley they had to
first came to the valley they had to
first came to the valley they had to constantly fight water first because it
constantly fight water first because it
constantly fight water first because it was always flooding their land and
was always flooding their land and
was always flooding their land and second because brackish water was mixing
second because brackish water was mixing
second because brackish water was mixing with fresh water so the Aztecs built
with fresh water so the Aztecs built
with fresh water so the Aztecs built this aqueduct which also worked as dikes
this aqueduct which also worked as dikes
this aqueduct which also worked as dikes and their cosway’s if you look in the
and their cosway’s if you look in the
and their cosway’s if you look in the middle of the of the picture that’s
middle of the of the picture that’s
middle of the of the picture that’s magical to know chitlin but in the
magical to know chitlin but in the
magical to know chitlin but in the beginning it was just a couple of little
beginning it was just a couple of little
beginning it was just a couple of little islands in this shallow Lakes and so the
islands in this shallow Lakes and so the
islands in this shallow Lakes and so the Aztecs had the engineers idea of
Aztecs had the engineers idea of
Aztecs had the engineers idea of building chinampas which was a
building chinampas which was a
building chinampas which was a technology in which they staked out
technology in which they staked out
technology in which they staked out piles into the light shallow lake bed
piles into the light shallow lake bed
piles into the light shallow lake bed and they would backfill it with mud and
and they would backfill it with mud and
and they would backfill it with mud and aquatic plants and that’s how they
aquatic plants and that’s how they
aquatic plants and that’s how they raised themselves above the water level
raised themselves above the water level
raised themselves above the water level when the Europeans arrived they were
when the Europeans arrived they were
when the Europeans arrived they were mesmerised at 10:08 land and how clean
mesmerised at 10:08 land and how clean
mesmerised at 10:08 land and how clean it was and how further the land was and
it was and how further the land was and
it was and how further the land was and the two numbers were also do you
the two numbers were also do you
the two numbers were also do you for plantations in such miracle they are
for plantations in such miracle they are
for plantations in such miracle they are there to this day
there to this day
there to this day and so what did the bathrooms of the
and so what did the bathrooms of the
and so what did the bathrooms of the Aztecs look like first they were very
Aztecs look like first they were very
Aztecs look like first they were very clean they had Thomas callus and steam
clean they had Thomas callus and steam
clean they had Thomas callus and steam baths twice a day but they didn’t have
baths twice a day but they didn’t have
baths twice a day but they didn’t have private bathrooms there were instead
private bathrooms there were instead
private bathrooms there were instead community restrooms in each of the
community restrooms in each of the
community restrooms in each of the canals and what they would do they would
canals and what they would do they would
canals and what they would do they would separately collect urine and faeces just
separately collect urine and faeces just
separately collect urine and faeces just like in the space station the urine had
like in the space station the urine had
like in the space station the urine had many uses like tanning hides the
many uses like tanning hides the
many uses like tanning hides the Thiessen’s were collected also in
Thiessen’s were collected also in
Thiessen’s were collected also in pottery and mixed with limestone or
pottery and mixed with limestone or
pottery and mixed with limestone or firewood ash once the pots were filled
firewood ash once the pots were filled
firewood ash once the pots were filled they would then be taken by canoes to
they would then be taken by canoes to
they would then be taken by canoes to the farmlands where they would be used
the farmlands where they would be used
the farmlands where they would be used as manure that’s right
as manure that’s right
as manure that’s right the Aztecs used human manure to
the Aztecs used human manure to
the Aztecs used human manure to fertilize their fields but they weren’t
fertilize their fields but they weren’t
fertilize their fields but they weren’t the only ones if you look throughout
the only ones if you look throughout
the only ones if you look throughout history the Romans have done it in
history the Romans have done it in
history the Romans have done it in through the cloaca Maxima and in Asia
through the cloaca Maxima and in Asia
through the cloaca Maxima and in Asia the Chinese have also done it through
the Chinese have also done it through
the Chinese have also done it through night soil what the Essex knew and what
night soil what the Essex knew and what
night soil what the Essex knew and what we have forgotten is that there is this
we have forgotten is that there is this
we have forgotten is that there is this thing called the nutrient cycle in
thing called the nutrient cycle in
thing called the nutrient cycle in nature there is no such thing as waste
nature there is no such thing as waste
nature there is no such thing as waste every time that we harvest plants from
every time that we harvest plants from
every time that we harvest plants from the soil we’re removing precious
the soil we’re removing precious
the soil we’re removing precious nutrients and the only way to restore
nutrients and the only way to restore
nutrients and the only way to restore fertility is through manure the Aztecs
fertility is through manure the Aztecs
fertility is through manure the Aztecs didn’t have any cows so they just use
didn’t have any cows so they just use
didn’t have any cows so they just use human manure and the reason that they
human manure and the reason that they
human manure and the reason that they have been able to do that and we can
have been able to do that and we can
have been able to do that and we can also still do that today is because
also still do that today is because
also still do that today is because human manure is a precious ingredient if
human manure is a precious ingredient if
human manure is a precious ingredient if we look at it from a first principles
we look at it from a first principles
we look at it from a first principles perspective from a scientific point of
perspective from a scientific point of
perspective from a scientific point of view we’re going to realize that urine
view we’re going to realize that urine
view we’re going to realize that urine is 95% water urine also has ammonia from
is 95% water urine also has ammonia from
is 95% water urine also has ammonia from which we can get nitrogen
which we can get nitrogen
which we can get nitrogen it also has potassium and phosphate
it also has potassium and phosphate
it also has potassium and phosphate human manure the solids also has 75%
human manure the solids also has 75%
human manure the solids also has 75% water and then nitrogen potassium and
water and then nitrogen potassium and
water and then nitrogen potassium and phosphate
phosphate
phosphate that those are very incredibly rich
that those are very incredibly rich
that those are very incredibly rich nutrients and if you go into the local
nutrients and if you go into the local
nutrients and if you go into the local hardware store
hardware store
hardware store you’re going to buy fertilizer that has
you’re going to buy fertilizer that has
you’re going to buy fertilizer that has exactly those same ingredients
exactly those same ingredients
exactly those same ingredients another example that I found was from my
another example that I found was from my
another example that I found was from my home country Brazil and there were also
home country Brazil and there were also
home country Brazil and there were also many successfully civilizations in the
many successfully civilizations in the
many successfully civilizations in the Amazons back before Europeans arrived
Amazons back before Europeans arrived
Amazons back before Europeans arrived with hundreds of thousands of members
with hundreds of thousands of members
with hundreds of thousands of members and the way that they managed all the
and the way that they managed all the
and the way that they managed all the waste including organic animal and
waste including organic animal and
waste including organic animal and vegetable waste was through this
vegetable waste was through this
vegetable waste was through this practice called biological charcoal or
practice called biological charcoal or
practice called biological charcoal or biochar you can produce biochar through
biochar you can produce biochar through
biochar you can produce biochar through these mounds or also you can do a
these mounds or also you can do a
these mounds or also you can do a barbacoa style cooking under the earth
barbacoa style cooking under the earth
barbacoa style cooking under the earth and biochar is produced like this you
and biochar is produced like this you
and biochar is produced like this you get all the wastes and then you put in
get all the wastes and then you put in
get all the wastes and then you put in these stoves and the secret is to have
these stoves and the secret is to have
these stoves and the secret is to have an oxygen starved environment at which
an oxygen starved environment at which
an oxygen starved environment at which point you have a pyrolysis pyrolysis
point you have a pyrolysis pyrolysis
point you have a pyrolysis pyrolysis means that when you’re cooking an
means that when you’re cooking an
means that when you’re cooking an organic matter you have an evaporation
organic matter you have an evaporation
organic matter you have an evaporation of gases and what remains is this
of gases and what remains is this
of gases and what remains is this charcoal like substance which is full
charcoal like substance which is full
charcoal like substance which is full which is rich in carbon so given the
which is rich in carbon so given the
which is rich in carbon so given the physical and the chemical
physical and the chemical
physical and the chemical characteristics of the charcoal when you
characteristics of the charcoal when you
characteristics of the charcoal when you mix it with the soil you then get water
mix it with the soil you then get water
mix it with the soil you then get water retention nutrient retention and also
retention nutrient retention and also
retention nutrient retention and also the bacteria that are inherently in the
the bacteria that are inherently in the
the bacteria that are inherently in the soil they congregate near the biochar
soil they congregate near the biochar
soil they congregate near the biochar and then they help the plants obtain all
and then they help the plants obtain all
and then they help the plants obtain all the nutrients from the soil kind of like
the nutrients from the soil kind of like
the nutrients from the soil kind of like the bacteria in our stomachs also help
the bacteria in our stomachs also help
the bacteria in our stomachs also help us obtain nutrients from our foods so
us obtain nutrients from our foods so
us obtain nutrients from our foods so back then we knew all of this we were
back then we knew all of this we were
back then we knew all of this we were sustainable we had no other choice this
sustainable we had no other choice this
sustainable we had no other choice this is dr. von Herzen from the climate
is dr. von Herzen from the climate
is dr. von Herzen from the climate foundation he has done a biochar reactor
foundation he has done a biochar reactor
foundation he has done a biochar reactor that we can use
that we can use
that we can use – produced biochar from human manure I
– produced biochar from human manure I
– produced biochar from human manure I used his paper to present a toilet
used his paper to present a toilet
used his paper to present a toilet prototype for Mars and my paper was one
prototype for Mars and my paper was one
prototype for Mars and my paper was one of 25 selected around the world and if
of 25 selected around the world and if
of 25 selected around the world and if Ellen musk is listening I’d like to
Ellen musk is listening I’d like to
Ellen musk is listening I’d like to propose that we’re going to give you
propose that we’re going to give you
propose that we’re going to give you this free of charge the good thing about
this free of charge the good thing about
this free of charge the good thing about using biochar for Mars is that we can
using biochar for Mars is that we can
using biochar for Mars is that we can use the same design here on earth for
use the same design here on earth for
use the same design here on earth for the three billion people who today don’t
the three billion people who today don’t
the three billion people who today don’t have sanitation or a toilet one of the
have sanitation or a toilet one of the
have sanitation or a toilet one of the things that makes me really sad about
things that makes me really sad about
things that makes me really sad about sanitation is that 1.2 million children
sanitation is that 1.2 million children
sanitation is that 1.2 million children under the age of 5 die every year
under the age of 5 die every year
under the age of 5 die every year needlessly just because they don’t have
needlessly just because they don’t have
needlessly just because they don’t have access to sanitation and it’s not their
access to sanitation and it’s not their
access to sanitation and it’s not their fault it’s not like they have to be
fault it’s not like they have to be
fault it’s not like they have to be developed and civilized like us so that
developed and civilized like us so that
developed and civilized like us so that one day they can also poop in their
one day they can also poop in their
one day they can also poop in their waters it’s up to us to change the
waters it’s up to us to change the
waters it’s up to us to change the concept of sanitation
so with all they said what will the
so with all they said what will the toilet of the future look like first of
toilet of the future look like first of
toilet of the future look like first of all it’s going to be waterless water is
all it’s going to be waterless water is
all it’s going to be waterless water is two pressures of a resource for us to
two pressures of a resource for us to
two pressures of a resource for us to contaminate just to transport human
contaminate just to transport human
contaminate just to transport human waste instead we’re going to use vacuum
waste instead we’re going to use vacuum
waste instead we’re going to use vacuum suction the total of the future won’t be
suction the total of the future won’t be
suction the total of the future won’t be thought of as a disposal device instead
thought of as a disposal device instead
thought of as a disposal device instead it’s going to be used to collect
it’s going to be used to collect
it’s going to be used to collect precious nutrients we won’t treat human
precious nutrients we won’t treat human
precious nutrients we won’t treat human waste instead we’re going to enrich
waste instead we’re going to enrich
waste instead we’re going to enrich human manure the toilet of the future
human manure the toilet of the future
human manure the toilet of the future won’t be exclusive so that only a couple
won’t be exclusive so that only a couple
won’t be exclusive so that only a couple of us can use it instead it’s going to
of us can use it instead it’s going to
of us can use it instead it’s going to be universal the toilet of the future is
be universal the toilet of the future is
be universal the toilet of the future is not going to be polluting or wasteful
not going to be polluting or wasteful
not going to be polluting or wasteful it’s going to be sustainable but what
it’s going to be sustainable but what
it’s going to be sustainable but what makes me the happiest about the toilet
makes me the happiest about the toilet
makes me the happiest about the toilet of the future is that we don’t have to
of the future is that we don’t have to
of the future is that we don’t have to wish upon a shooting star
we don’t have to wait for a
we don’t have to wait for a technological miracle from NASA because
technological miracle from NASA because
technological miracle from NASA because if we learn the lessons of our ancestors
if we learn the lessons of our ancestors
if we learn the lessons of our ancestors and if we combine them with current
and if we combine them with current
and if we combine them with current technology then the toilet of the future
technology then the toilet of the future
technology then the toilet of the future already exists thank you
already exists thank you
already exists thank you [Applause]
”
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