From Newsgroup: alt.tv.star-trek.tos   
   From Address: davidjhughes.tx@netzero.com   
   Subject: Re: necessity is the mother of invention   
      
   On 9/12/2011 5:45 PM, RichD wrote:   
   > So I was watching an old Star Trek, Kirk is marooned   
   > in a desert (looks like New Mexico), battling a gnarly   
   > alien.  He jerry rigs a howitzer, then gathers up   
   > minerals, and mixes them to manufacture   
   > gunpowder.  Of course. he flattens the alien on   
   > his first shot, and the galaxy is saved.   
   >   
   > Anyhoo, is that plausible, could one make   
   > gunpowder in a survival situation like that?   
   > With no chem lab equipment?   
   >   
   > --   
   > Rich   
      
     Like Kirk did it, no.  Total fantasy situation.   
      
   With access to a sulfur spring, an old midden pile (where they toss the    
   old, nasty hay that the horses/cattle have pissed on), hardwood twigs    
   and a cast iron dutch oven, sure, no problem.   
   Would take a few days with just that, but that's how it was made for    
   centuries.   
      
   Of course, you also need to know HOW to do it.   
      
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