burgerbrain's comment here has a very valid point. I'm involved in the project, working on the 3d math behind generating these printable shells, and the public

burgerbrain's comment here has a very valid point. I'm involved in the project, working on the 3d math behind generating these printable shells, and the public reaction is quite surprising to me. TeamTeamUSA has been working on this project for over a year, and the MakerBot people simply chose to help with some funding and support. So they issued a press release on their own. That is their choice. Everyone assuming so much, and coming to their extreme opinions is ridiculous. You'd think this was BP and Dick Cheney making the announcement. For the record, the shells being printed now are prototypes, yes in plastic. The final material is not selected, but will be environmentally friendly. A biodegradable plastic made from corn and sugarcane is a likely candidate. The prototypes are being 'trial tested' with hermit crabs to insure they will adopt the artificial shells, they're not too heavy and so on. And the final goal is not to print shells willy-nilly and scatter them on beaches. The final process of distribution will be designed, guided and overseen by marine biologists who are already active and engaged in the project. Everyone involved is a concerned, educated individual. The comments to Makerbot's PR post and it's repeats across the web are pure Internet mob stupidity.