Replicators....

[Los]

Its not creating matter. Its simply combining existing matter (atoms) to make molecules to make what we see today.

[webtaz99]

Don't forget what replicate means...

You get a great chef to cook a meal, then "beam it up" into the replicator database. Since it's just data, it can copied and shared just like movies and songs are now.

[asandhu2001]

The replicators don't create matter, htey convert it. Whydo you think they keep big containers of stuff in the cargo bay? It's just elements and compounds, which the computer transports into the specific location the people have programmed into it. But really, judging by the way the characters talk about how common andeasy it is to program it, I would think even a fifth grade student could program one to produce a Playboy.... [/list]

[Captain CB]

Look its simple

at sometime someone stores a food program by placing the food in the replicater and pushing a few buttons

the replicator then scans the food or object and dematerializes it, rearanges its molecular structure and then rematerializes it in the matter store for the replicator (the replicator can even just scan it so you can keep the food/object)

later someone orders that food/object, lets say chicken soup, the replicator searches for the formula for chicken soup, reads the chicken soup formula, takes the required amount of matter from the replicator matter store, rearranges its molecular structure and materializes it in the replicator where the person can take it

it can even warn them if its is too hot to touch

IT DOES NOT CREATE OR DESTROY MATTER IT TAKES OR STORES IT IN THE MATTER STORE

(you can also download programs from other computers in starbases or other starships etc)

SEE ITS SO SIMPLE

[Starfleet #327]