24 Toilets
Even though wombats have round anuses, their poo is cubical. In 2018 scientists found out that the varied elasticity of the Wombats intestines might be responsible for the 2 cm large cubical poo. This discovery could lead to a new manufacturing process for cubes as currently only two methods are known: moulding or cutting. For this discovery, the research group of P. Yang was awarded with the Ig Nobel Prize. A prize given to “research that makes people first laugh and then think”.
Even though wombats have round anuses, their poo is cubical. In 2018 scientists found out that the varied elasticity of the Wombats intestines might be responsible for the 2 cm large cubical poo. This discovery could lead to a new manufacturing process for cubes as currently only two methods are known: moulding or cutting. For this discovery, the research group of P. Yang was awarded with the Ig Nobel Prize. A prize given to “research that makes people first laugh and then think”.
Humans are able to digest the corn except for its outer coating. For the corns survival this waxy coating is essential as it protects the seed and thus its genetic material against outer hazards like for example the weather. This outer layer is primarily made of cellulose. These long chain molecules come together to build highly tearproof fibres that are not digestible by humans or friendly microbes living in our gut.
Humans are able to digest the corn except for its outer coating. For the corns survival this waxy coating is essential as it protects the seed and thus its genetic material against outer hazards like for example the weather. This outer layer is primarily made of cellulose. These long chain molecules come together to build highly tearproof fibres that are not digestible by humans or friendly microbes living in our gut.
The Apollo was designed to lift off from the moon at a certain weight. However, the astronauts loaded lots of moon rocks on to the rocket to analyse back on earth. Therefore, the astronauts needed to leave behind some weight, which included among other things: 2 golf balls, 12 cameras, 12 pairs of boots, 1 gold-plated telescope and 96 bags of human waste!
The Apollo was designed to lift off from the moon at a certain weight. However, the astronauts loaded lots of moon rocks on to the rocket to analyse back on earth. Therefore, the astronauts needed to leave behind some weight, which included among other things: 2 golf balls, 12 cameras, 12 pairs of boots, 1 gold-plated telescope and 96 bags of human waste!
Due to peristalsis your digestive system still works when you are floating around in space or standing on your head or hanging upside down. Peristalsis is the contraction of muscles, propagating down a tube in waves. This contraction enables us to move food forward in our digestive tract: through the esophagus, the stomach, further down the small intestine and into the large intestine. Also, the human lymphatic system and sperm ejaculation work due to peristalsis. And interestingly, earthworms use that same mechanism to move forward.
Due to peristalsis your digestive system still works when you are floating around in space or standing on your head or hanging upside down. Peristalsis is the contraction of muscles, propagating down a tube in waves. This contraction enables us to move food forward in our digestive tract: through the esophagus, the stomach, further down the small intestine and into the large intestine. Also, the human lymphatic system and sperm ejaculation work due to peristalsis. And interestingly, earthworms use that same mechanism to move forward.
The beaded lacewings larvae live in termites’ nests as mean predators, attacking their prey from behind – their behind. By expelling gases, larvae paralyse the termites to then eat them easily. However even if not eaten, the termites would die after 3 hours. Interestingly termites themselves also fart A LOT. Their farts contribute to roughly 4% of all methane emissions in the world.
The beaded lacewings larvae live in termites’ nests as mean predators, attacking their prey from behind – their behind. By expelling gases, larvae paralyse the termites to then eat them easily. However even if not eaten, the termites would die after 3 hours. Interestingly termites themselves also fart A LOT. Their farts contribute to roughly 4% of all methane emissions in the world.
The gases that we expel are caused by swallowed air and produced as a by-product by friendly microbes living in our gut, digesting our food. A smelly fart contains mostly nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, methane and oxygen. Only 1% are stinking molecules, those being hydrogen sulphide, methanethiol and dimethyl sulfide. All these smelly molecules would be toxic in large amounts, which explains why our brain indicates that they smell bad. Decomposing the odour, hydrogen sulphide smells like rotting eggs, methanethiol like garlic and dimethyl sulphide a bit sweet and cabbage-like.
The gases that we expel are caused by swallowed air and produced as a by-product by friendly microbes living in our gut, digesting our food. A smelly fart contains mostly nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, methane and oxygen. Only 1% are stinking molecules, those being hydrogen sulphide, methanethiol and dimethyl sulfide. All these smelly molecules would be toxic in large amounts, which explains why our brain indicates that they smell bad. Decomposing the odour, hydrogen sulphide smells like rotting eggs, methanethiol like garlic and dimethyl sulphide a bit sweet and cabbage-like.
This platform is also called observation deck or examination shelf. The idea is to examine your poo before you flush it down the toilet as the colour, shape and consistency of your excrements give a lot information about your health.
This platform is also called observation deck or examination shelf. The idea is to examine your poo before you flush it down the toilet as the colour, shape and consistency of your excrements give a lot information about your health.
By eating algae that grow on coral, parrot fish swallow the corals as well. The indigestible calcium carbonate of the carol skeleton is grinded up in their guts and then excreted as sand.
By eating algae that grow on coral, parrot fish swallow the corals as well. The indigestible calcium carbonate of the carol skeleton is grinded up in their guts and then excreted as sand.
Manatees do not possess a swim bladder like most sea creatures, but still manage to effortlessly rise or sink in water. Manatees store and release gas to regulate their buoyancy. Thus, manatees rely on farts to float in water.
Manatees do not possess a swim bladder like most sea creatures, but still manage to effortlessly rise or sink in water. Manatees store and release gas to regulate their buoyancy. Thus, manatees rely on farts to float in water.
This quiz was written by the Luxembourg Science Center in Differdange. Visit the Centre to learn more about toilets and other scientific topics!
This quiz was written by the Luxembourg Science Center in Differdange. Visit the Centre to learn more about toilets and other scientific topics!
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Images copyrights :
1 commons.wikimedia.org
2 commons.wikimedia.org
3 commons.wikimedia.org
4 Luxembourg Science Center
5 commons.wikimedia.org
6 commons.wikimedia.org
7 pickpic.com
8 commons.wikimedia.org
9 commons.wikimedia.org
10 commons.wikimedia.org
11 Luxembourg Science Center
12 Luxembourg Science Center
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15 pixnio.com
