http://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2015/06/21.htm#.VYj6f0a2FGESan Francisco-based Pembient reports that it has managed to synthesise fake rhino horn that is virtually indistinguishable from the real thing. It even carries the same genetic fingerprint. The process involves a series of chemical reactions on synthetic keratin, which is mixed with rhino DNA to produce a dried powder used as the "ink" for the 3D printer.
The number of rhinos being killed in Africa has exploded in recent years, due to a combination of soaring demand and the industrial-scale killing methods of organised gangs. Several subspecies have already gone extinct, including the West African black rhino in 2006. The remaining five subspecies on current trends will be extinct or very near extinction as early as 2025-2030.
The illegal wildlife trade, a $20bn black market, is the fourth largest after drug, arms, and human trafficking. Pembient intends to flood China with these fake horns at well below the current market price. This same 3D printing technique could be applied to other illegal animal products like elephant ivory, tiger bones and pangolin scales.
"We can meet the demand for horns at one-eighth the black-market price. We'll make money; the poaching syndicates won't," says the co-founder and CEO of Pembient, Matthew Markus. "We can produce a rhinoceros horn product that is actually more pure than what you can get from a wild animal. There are so many contaminants, pesticides, fallout from Fukushima. Rhino horn in the lab is as pure as that of a rhino of 2,000 years ago."
A prototype is shown in the picture below. Markus will be hosting an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on social media website Reddit, tomorrow from 1pm PT.
A prototype, 3D-printed rhino horn. Pembient will begin shipping these to Beijing later this year.
3D-printed rhino horn could make poaching obsolete
- Thread starter CHL
- Start date
Are you pro-poaching, breh?
This should've been scooped up by the US and used to infiltrate the black market. Imagine taking down a $20bn market with a product that takes 1/8th the price. The income generated could've easily been used to finance other black market operations and help stabilize wildlife populations.
Always wondered why no one did this for elephant tusks as well
You must own a couple tusks?
Insensitive
Superstar
That's an awesome use of technology and I'm genuinely impressed.
I might have to look up what Rhinoceros horns are actually used for though.
I can't figure out why anyone would want to kill these animals for them.
I might have to look up what Rhinoceros horns are actually used for though.
I can't figure out why anyone would want to kill these animals for them.
Domingo Halliburton
Handmade in USA
Vietnam and other Asian countries think they have medicinal purposes.
newworldafro
DeeperThanRapBiggerThanHH
Always wondered why no one did this for elephant tusks as well
Hopefully they will .... 3-D Printers the real King of the Jungle
.......Great story.
But did you notice something at the very end of that article .........................
He said "Fukushima" with regards to impurities in the tusk ............ saying lab grown tusks were safer. That's kinda deep ................................................. this is just a tusk, what about our food and water being exposed to the same thing ...
Already see a point where indoor/skyscraper farm produced food is going to be premium food, cause unfortunately outdoor grown, even organic will be deemed less than suitable ...... so crazy.
