- Interesting fact, each
time you "pop a squat"
in a Porta-Potty, your
pee could make its way
to a lab to be studied,
and all for science.
So, could the deposits
we make into our toilets
at home undergo the
same level of scrutiny?
Well, first let's take
a moment to acknowledge
something really important about poop.
60% of it is bacteria by weight and there
is gold in them there poo.
At least in studying and learning from it
and that's what just one
team from MIT is doing.
These dedicated "stool
sleuths" are a collection
of microbiologists, architects,
computational biologists,
geneticists, and electrical
and mechanical engineers.
They gather primo fecal
matter by descending deep
into the bowels of the earth.
Specifically, into sewer systems.
Here, sometimes under the cover of night
they collect sewer sludge
and transport it to
MIT's Senseable City Lab to be examined.
And with all this mystery and intrigue,
you're probably wondering
if this project has
a snazzy name.
Yup, Project "Underworlds".
Cambridge, Massachusetts
is the location for this
pilot program, and while
the "Underworlds" team
collects microbial samples
from the sewer by hand,
the plan is to install robotic
sewage samplers throughout
the sewer system in order to record,
in real time, disease transmission.
That means that influenza outbreaks or
pathogens like E-Coli
could be predicted quickly
with the public health response to match.
Not a bad idea when you
consider the growing
elbow-to-elbow populations in cities.
But, it also means that other substances
like illicit drugs could be detected.
But not to worry my fellow toilet flushers
there's no way to trace back substances
to individual homes, at
least until the future "you"
installs a "smart"
toilet, and your data from
your fancy crapper gets hacked.
In the meantime, we should start viewing
our daily offerings to
the toilet with respect.
All that beneficial
bacteria stewing in the gut
is cornerstone of good health.
We're talking about a primitive lifeform
dwelling inside of us with
serious bragging rights.
After all, bacteria
has been around 225,000
times longer than humans have.
So, it makes complete sense that the folks
at MIT would be mining the
sewers for this microbial gold.
Though, sadly not looking
for a race of mutant
cannibals living under the streets.
"Phase Two" perhaps?
All right, if you like this,
make sure to "like" this video,
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for more great stuff to
stuff into your brain.
