Matter synthesis

A Matter Synthesizer creates four Sargun hats.

Lieutenant, have you ever studied the history of money? . . . It became obsolete with the invention of matter synthesis.— Kelly Grayson to John LaMarr

Matter synthesis, or rarely replication, was the dematerialization of matter via synthesizers and rematerialization as something else. Matter synthesis had two major branches, generic matter synthesis and food synthesis, each exploited by different devices: Matter Synthesizers and Food Synthesizers.

Matter synthesis was an older technology in the Planetary Union, as food synthesis dated at least to the year 2320.

Matter Synthesizer

A Matter Synthesizer was a device that dematerializes inorganic matter via magnets and rematerialized it as goods. Matter Synthesizers reproduced nearly any inorganic item requested. Instructions had to be programmed into the Synthesizer's computer. Matter Synthesizers were ubiquitous across Planetary Union spacecraft.

USS Orville

On board the USS Orville, Matter Synthesizers could be found throughout the ship in general public spaces, including one in the Mess Hall and five in an unnamed room designed to fabricate household items such as furniture and clothing. The Synthesizer was controlled through the Computer.

Food Synthesizer

Klyden orders rocky road ice cream from the Food Synthesizer in his quarters.

A Food Synthesizer was a specialized device that dematerialized organic matter called foodstock via magnets and rematerialized it as consumable food. As a matter of technology, food synthesis was a specific kind of matter synthesis, used throughout the Planetary Union and by the Calivon.

Food Synthesizers reproduced any food or beverage requested—including the dish it was traditionally served in. Recipes had to be programmed into the Synthesizer's computer. Cubes of organic material called foodstock were deconstructed by powerful magnets and reassembled.

When a recipe was preset, the Food Synthesizer could generate the item without using the ship's Computer.

Food Synthesizers were ubiquitous across the Planetary Union, found in residences, spacecraft, and shuttlecraft. For example, Ed Mercer and Kelly Grayson noted they had a Food Synthesizer back in their New York apartment.

BCV Burton

The BCV Burton, an old battleship from the early 24th century, maintained at least two numbered Food Synthesizers in its Mess Hall.

USS Orville

Aboard the Orville, every crewmember's quarters came equipped with a Food Synthesizer, and several public-use synthesizers were found throughout the ship: at least one in the Mess Hall and another in a hallway leading to the Bridge. The Synthesizer was controlled through the Computer. It was implied that some Union ships did not carry Food Synthesizers in every living quarters.

Significant upgrades to the ship in 2422 included improvements to its Food Synthesizers, enabling them to create food with "submolecular resolution." Prior to the upgrade, synthesized food tended to be slightly inferior to the genuine article. "[S]ynthetic meats tended to be a little tough, pasta could not be prepared al dente, and certain leafy, raw vegetables were rarely crisp."

History

A virus causes the synthesizer to produce only a black slop.

At some point prior to the 25th century, matter synthesis was developed as a method to fashion any desired good, ushering in the end of resource-scarcity and the dawn of the post-economy. Synthesizers are ubiquitous across Planetary Union spacecraft, including its shuttlecraft.

The Synthesizer's ability to recreate any food and goods with virtually no cost was partly responsible for ending resource scarcity and ushering Earth into a post-economic age. Despite food synthesis supplanting the need for soil-grown food, grown (or "real") food and cooking with grown ingredients continue to be enjoyed in the early 25th century alongside synthesized food. Very few people could tell the difference between "real" food and that which was synthesized and very few people still knew how to bake.

However, it is understood though never explicitly stated that dysonium, a fuel source for quantum engines, is generally not synthesized as it would entail energy loss overall.

Like Earth, the people of Alibar stopped using money and turned to matter synthesis by 2320. After the Alibar left the Union in 2401, they were unable to maintain synthesizer technology and resources became scarce again - though one Alibaran in 2421 speculated that food synthesizers were still used by the wealthy.

The invention of matter synthesis is generally considered a game-changer for any society as, when shared freely among the populace, it completely eliminated the traditional system of working for a living as was common in most cultures. This concept was that which newcomers to the Planetary Union had the hardest time adjusting to.

Alternate timeline

The Planetary Union maintains a listening post on Sarin 4 with a Food Synthesizer in storage in an alternate timeline, and possibly in the original timeline as well.

Production

The idea for matter synthesis derived from Gene Roddenberry, inspirator of Star Trek, who imagined a post-scarcity universe thanks to replicators. "It was important to take a cue from Gene Roddenberry that somehow we’ve gotten past money," creator Seth MacFarlane recalled shortly before the The Orville premiered. "Money can’t be a factor. It’s too primitive. I really love that, in 'Star Trek,' reputation becomes the main form of currency in the absence of money." He has also said that matter synthesis is one of the most important elements of utopian science fiction because it allows the "philosophy of that show to exist."

Matter Synthesizer

The name matter synthesizer is not used in the show (although Commander Grayson does refer to "matter synthesis"), but is revealed as the term used by the show's creators in the book The World of the Orville.

Trivia

• Though Food Synthesizers are located throughout the Orville, the vessel's Mess Hall has an active bartender.
• According to production designer Stephen J. Lineweaver, Food Synthesizers are in all quarters on the Orville.
• Matter synthesis is referred to only as "synthesis" in The World of the Orville.
• It is unclear whether the Krill possess matter synthesis. Despite being indicated as being technologically on-par with the Planetary Union, their society nevertheless maintains a culture with a bedrock of commerce and beggars can be seen on the streets of their home planet. It is possible, however, that only those within the upper echelons have access to such technology. Alternatively, given the society's worship of the tenets of the Anhkana, it is possible that their religion forbids the use of such technology.

Appearances

Matter synthesis

• Episode 1x11: New Dimensions (mentioned only)

Matter Synthesis room

• Episode 1x03: About a Girl
• Episode 1x07: Majority Rule
• Episode 2x01: Ja'loja

Matter Synthesizer

• Episode 1x03: About a Girl
• Episode 1x07: Majority Rule
• Episode 1x11: New Dimensions (mentioned only)
• Episode 1x12: Mad Idolatry
• Episode 2x01: Ja'loja

Food Synthesizer

• Episode 1x02: Command Performance
• Episode 1x04: If the Stars Should Appear
• Episode 1x06: Krill
• Episode 1x09: Cupid's Dagger (mentioned only)
• Episode 1x10: Firestorm (mentioned only)
• Episode 1x12: Mad Idolatry (mentioned only)
• Episode 2x01: Ja'loja
• Episode 2x02: Primal Urges
• Episode 2x10: Blood of Patriots
• Episode 2x14: The Road Not Taken