@hascat@startrek I always thought replicators worked like transporters, turning energy into various types of matter. That’s what makes them a key to post-scarcity — it appears the Federation has plenty of energy.
In an episode of DS9, Quark refers to gold as “worthless,” so probably not. There are a handful of things that can’t be replicated; antimatter, dilithium, and latinum seem to be on the list. Everything else seems to be fair game.
I assume the replicator still requires raw materials. Rare metals are likely still rare in the future
@hascat @startrek I always thought replicators worked like transporters, turning energy into various types of matter. That’s what makes them a key to post-scarcity — it appears the Federation has plenty of energy.
In an episode of DS9, Quark refers to gold as “worthless,” so probably not. There are a handful of things that can’t be replicated; antimatter, dilithium, and latinum seem to be on the list. Everything else seems to be fair game.