When I found this uber-realistic representation of THE FUTURE OF NUTRITION, naturally my mind turned to that other space food. No no, not this kind of space food. I mean that kind. The Star Trek kind. Quivering blue cubes. Extremely colorful, non-food-looking food.

Except that sometimes, even on Google Images, you strike out. “Space food”? Too general. “Star Trek food”? The USS Enterprise made of various cured meat products. Also some waffles. “Star Trek space food”? More of the same. “Star Trek scary space food” — SURELY THAT MUST DO THE TRICK. But alas. (However, Spock says hi.)

So instead, you get this. You’re welcome.

Addendum: Even with the refined, precise search term “star trek tos scary space food”, I came up with a lot of TOS stills (none with food, scary or otherwise), someone’s bruised foot, and an animated cartoon of a cat eating a cookie. Bravo, Intarwebs, bravo.

Space food image (top) courtesy of x-ray delta one.

Cosmic Diary is part of the International Year of Astronomy; astronomers from all over the globe are talking about their jobs, their thoughts, and trying to share the day-to-day life of astronomy, as well as the science. I read a lovely article there yesterday on astronomy and journalism by Brother Guy Consolmagno, the American-born curator of meteorites at the Vatican Observatory. Definitely give the site a read; there’s astronomers aplenty reaching out to the public!