Cool Ways Science Uses Human Waste

An Australian company created sawdust-based, portable toilets to replace plastic ones at large events.Natural EventThe company designed these toilets for music festivals and similar events. These toilets turn human waste into compost, which grows food. They are smaller and easier to move than portapotties, which cuts down on bathroom lines. People get shorter waits and their waste goes to the local farm.Use this for music festivals.These toilets turn human waste into compost that grows food. They are smaller and easier to transport than portapotties, which helps reduce bathroom lines. This means shorter waits and your waste goes to the local farm.

A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a battery that uses organic matter for power. Researchers first used rotting apples or leaves to develop these MFCs, but some scientists now see that urine makes better fuel than plant matter.Better fuel.The batteries work by letting bacteria grow inside them. As the bacteria eat the waste, they make electricity. The battery then uses that electricity.

This is like the urine-powered battery, but it comes in sock form. The researchers who made this technology wanted people to generate electricity just by walking.wanted people to be able to create electricity just by walking.Walking moves urine through small microbial fuel cells in the socks. Bacteria make electricity from the nutrients. This electricity charges a phone, for example, so you don't run out of power while out. You wear the socks, and pee comes with them.

Human feces naturally releases methane, or biogas, when it breaks down. People can burn this biogas for cooking fuel or use it to heat water. In Kenya, two charities made a solution for the city's lack of sanitation.a solutionThey built toilet facilities that collect methane from waste. They then sell this methane back to residents for cooking and hot showers.

Methane from human waste powers generators that make electricity. This energy is cleaner than burning coal to make electricity. The UN looks at this approach in developing countries.Developing countries benefit., because they solve sanitation and power problems at once.

Biogas, or methane, upgrades to biomethane, or renewable natural gas (RNG). RNG powers anything using natural gas. A Colorado wastewater treatment plant became the first U.S. facility to make biomethane and powerCity vehicles., like garbage trucks, street sweepers, and buses. The city estimates this reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent.

Hydrogen-powered vehicles use human waste for power. Human waste converts to hydrogen, which works perfectly in hydrogen fuel cells in cars. The University of California started a project in 2014.ProjectThe project used waste from the Southern California sewage system to supply fuel pumps for hydrogen powered cars that make zero exhaust.

Charcoal, used for cooking and heating water in developing nations, burns wood. This process cuts down many trees, causing deforestation.Briquettes.Briquettes made from human feces work better than charcoal. Solar concentrators kill bacteria and dry the waste, making it safe and easy to use.

Chinese researchers figured out how to take cells from urine and turn them intoThis process could treat neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.This process could treat neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Astronauts use urine for drinking water. They say it tastes good, but the purification system needs much energy. Filtering removes things, and they discard them. NASA now develops a new system.The new system converts leftover urea into ammonia, which generates electricity. This new system should power itself.The new system converts leftover urea into ammonia, which generates electricity. This new system should power itself.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation built a processor that turns human feces into safe drinking water.The processor turns human feces into safe drinking water.The waste heats to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit to evaporate water. The water gets further cleaning. Remaining fecal matter generates enough electricity to run the machine, with some left over. They plan to use this tech to boost sanitation in developing nations.

Plastic can actually be made.Plastic can be produced naturally.Bacteria produce plastic. A California company recently started feeding human waste to these bacteria, encouraging them to make usable plastic.A California company recently started feeding human waste to these bacteria, encouraging them to make usable plastic.A California company recently started feeding human waste to these bacteria, encouraging them to make usable plastic.

Last year, the University of Denmark published a study. Researchers suggest they could stop global epidemics by studying airplane waste.Researchers study airplane waste.Studying airplane waste shows which diseases are common in different world areas. If scientists find deadly, contagious bacteria in a flight sample, they might stop the disease spread.

Students and staff at the University of the West of England built a urinal.The urinal produces electricity from pee. The electricity makes power just like batteries and socks do.The new idea uses urinals to create power for lights in refugee camps. These camps have many sexual assaults because of no nighttime lighting.

Japanese scientists found a way to make steak.Japanese scientists figured out how to make steak.Japanese researchers took just the proteins from fecal matter. Sewage mud has lots of protein because it has many bacteria. They extracted the proteins and used science to turn it into steak. People ate it; they said it tasted like beef. This offers a better way to make meat because livestock have a huge carbon footprint.