Researchers create Dune-like pee-pants for the next generation of astronauts and maybe even wealthy, overly 'dedicated' gamers

HardwareResearchers create Dune-like pee-pants for the next generation of astronauts and maybe even wealthy, overly ‘dedicated’ gamersWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: NASA)

NASA astronaut and Expedition 68 Flight Engineer Woody Hoburg riding the Canadarm2 robotic arm while maneuvering a roll-out solar array toward the International Space Station’s truss structure 257 miles above the Pacific Ocean

Spacewalks, orextravehicular activities(EVAs) as they’re more correctly termed, are extremely challenging affairs. The spacesuits that the astronauts must wear not only have to combat the dangers of micrometeorites and extremes in temperatures, but they also need to sustain a person working non-stop for eight hours or more.

Toilet breaks aren’t feasible, as it takes many hours to get in or out of a spacesuit. So adult-sized diapers, calledMaximum Absorbency Garments(MAGs), are used to collect any waste generated during the EVA.

A team of researchers atWeill Cornell Medicine and Cornell Universityin the US (via theGuardian) have developed a system that looks infinitely better the diapers and also immediately sets offDunevibes. Rather than a bulky absorbent material that stores urine and faeces around your nethers, the new design comprises a pair of snug-fitting pants fitted with a vacuum catheter for urine collection.

That liquid is then run through a battery-powered forward-and-reverse osmosis system to filter it into potable water, which can then be pumped around to the astronaut for consumption. The research paper suggests that “flavored electrolyte powder” can be added to provide vital salts and carbohydrates and make the water more palatable. I can just picture executives at Red Bull and Gatorade already dreaming up potential marketing projects for this.

Even though astronauts can eat low-residue diets before EVAs, poops still happen and the ‘stillsuit’ pants can’t recycle them, so absorbent diapers are still required. However, the garment does look considerably more comfortable to wear, so that’s got to be a huge plus.

Some of the downsides are that the energy required to drive the filtering would require spacesuits to be fitted to larger batteries, and the current design weighs in at 8 kg (17.6 lbs), making the suit’s backpack more cumbersome. That’s not too much of an issue for orbital or in-flight spacewalks but on, say, the surface of the Moon, extra mass puts additional stress on the astronauts.

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

The research team argues that the “improved performance and sufficient water in case of a contingency scenario” is a worthy trade for the increase in mass and battery requirements. There’s also potential for the technology to be used outside of the space industry, too, and there are plenty of medical applications for something that’s far more hygienic and less bulky than an adult diaper.

If I’m permitted to be somewhat silly (or nausea-inducing), I can imagine there will be a few ‘dedicated’ gamers interested in this, as I genuinely know a few people who wear garments to ensure that they can play games non-stop, for hours on end, without any toilet breaks.

I wish I was but I’m honestly not joking.

Best gaming PC: The top pre-built machines.Best gaming laptop: Great devices for mobile gaming.

Best gaming PCBest gaming laptop

Best gaming PC: The top pre-built machines.Best gaming laptop: Great devices for mobile gaming.

More about hardwareIf you’re trying to convince me your ‘companionship’ robot is ‘lifelike’, maybe don’t rip her face off in the demo videoIs the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.

More about hardware

If you’re trying to convince me your ‘companionship’ robot is ‘lifelike’, maybe don’t rip her face off in the demo videoIs the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.

A robot having its face pulled off

If you’re trying to convince me your ‘companionship’ robot is ‘lifelike’, maybe don’t rip her face off in the demo video

Nvidia RTX 5070 graphics card

Is the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.

Latest

Masked Counter-Terrorist in helmet in forefront with sunglasses and beret-wearing CT in background touching headset

See more latest►

Most Popular

Civilization 7 has been Steam Deck Verified ahead of its launch next month

23-year-old D&D RPG Neverwinter Nights just got a new update thanks to the ‘unpaid software engineers’ of its unkillable community

My Summer Car, the absurdly detailed Finnish life sim about vehicle maintenance and drinking in your underpants, smashes into 1.0 after nearly a decade in Steam early access

Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes a run at improving parkour, as Ubisoft strives to make the system less ‘like a gas pedal’

Today’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11

The Last of Us season 2 trailer is a brief look at a story you should probably just play yourself in April

Lords of the Fallen publisher embraces fear of the DEI boogeyman, says it will not include ‘any social or political agendas’ in its games

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney says tech leaders are ‘pretending to be Republicans’ to gain favor with Trump, skirt antitrust laws, and ultimately ‘rip off consumers and crush competitors’

If you’re trying to convince me your ‘companionship’ robot is ‘lifelike’, maybe don’t rip her face off in the demo video

Square Enix launches new anti-harassment policy to protect its employees and partners from abusive fans

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

A bunch of the best Steam Deck accessories on a blue background.

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review

Thank Goodness You’re Here review

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review

Thank Goodness You’re Here! review

2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review

3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

4Ikea Utespelare desk review

Ikea Utespelare desk review

5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals