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Scientists Are Making Concrete With Human Poop – And It Gets 42% Stronger
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Chris Remington beehaw.org remington@beehaw.org
Joined: 2022-01-28
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46   Original
QuentinCallaghan sopuli.xyz QuentinCallaghan@sopuli.xyz
Joined: 2021-02-01
#2 · Quote Reply

So if you add carrots into concrete with poop, it will become even more stronger?

https://www.dezeen.com/2018/08/09/carrots-concrete-stronger-lancaster-university-technology/

Concrete mixtures could be strengthened by adding nanoparticles extracted from carrots and other root vegetables, research currently underway at England's Lancaster University suggests.

Preliminary tests by the university's engineers found that "nano platelets" sourced from the fibres of these vegetables "significantly improved" the strength of concrete — and at a low cost.

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csolisr hub.azkware.net csolisr@hub.azkware.net
Joined: 2026-02-16
#3 · Quote Reply

A shame they missed the IgNobels by this much, maybe next year

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naeap sopuli.xyz naeap@sopuli.xyz
Joined: 2023-06-03
#4 · Quote Reply

So if you add carrots into concrete with poop, it will become even more stronger? https://www.dezeen.com/2018/08/09/carrots-concrete-stronger-lancaster-university-technology/ Concrete mixtures could be strengthened by adding nanoparticles extracted from carrots and other root vegetables, research currently underway at England's Lancaster University suggests. Preliminary tests by the university'...

And wasn't rice the secret ingredient in the concrete of the great wall?

Maybe we can't add too much stuff, because we actually also need the cement and stuff...

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ruuster13 lemmy.zip ruuster13@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-07-09
#5 · Quote Reply

A whole generation of contractors will be slapping buildings and saying "stuff's strong as shit."

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HubertManne piefed.social HubertManne@piefed.social
Joined: 2025-03-13
#6 · Quote Reply

really biochar that can be sourced from human waste.

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jay2 beehaw.org jay2@beehaw.org
Joined: 2023-06-10
#7 · Quote Reply

As a refractory designer, this is something I can really sink my teeth into.
Thanks!

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nocturne slrpnk.net nocturne@slrpnk.net
Joined: 2025-06-13
#8 · Quote Reply

As a refractory designer, this is something I can really sink my teeth into. Thanks!

I would rather not...

3
Delilah lemmy.blahaj.zone Delilah@lemmy.blahaj.zone
Joined: 2025-01-05
#9 · Quote Reply

'Burned' human poop.

They are adding biochar, not fresh, steaming shit.

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Che Banana beehaw.org The_Che_Banana@beehaw.org
Joined: 2024-03-01
#10 · Quote Reply

'Burned' human poop. They are adding biochar, not fresh, steaming shit.

......awwwwwwwwwww

Mannnnnnnnn.....you hadda go and spoil it.....

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gastroglizzy piefed.social gastroglizzy@piefed.social
Joined: 2026-08-26
#11 · Quote Reply

If you make a pillar out of this stuff, then put it in the ground, is that a shit post?

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Aussiemandeus aussie.zone Aussiemandeus@aussie.zone
Joined: 2023-07-31
#12 · Quote Reply

Finally can shit bricks

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chicken lemmy.dbzer0.com chicken@lemmy.dbzer0.com
Joined: 2023-06-30
#13 · Quote Reply

The beginning of the article mentions the environmental impact of cement manufacture and the importance of replacing it, but later mentions that the research found they can only replace 5-10% of a cement mixture with poop based biochar before it's strength becomes worse rather than better. Still some difference though I guess.

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rhythmisaprancer quokk.au rhythmisaprancer@quokk.au
Joined: 2026-05-11
#14 · Quote Reply

The beginning of the article mentions the environmental impact of cement manufacture and the importance of replacing it, but later mentions that the research found they can only replace 5-10% of a cement mixture with poop based biochar before it's strength becomes worse rather than better. Still some difference though I guess.

I also wonder how the processing into biochar, and necessary electricity (I assume) to do that, factors into the overall offset of environmental impact. Maybe hard to quantify since it would lest human waste to dispose of otherwise.

Nice to see the concern of heavy metals, and should probably consider pharmaceuticals (will they survive pyrolysis?), but I believe concrete is very recyclable so maybe those things will stay in suspension.

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NigelFrobisher aussie.zone NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone
Joined: 2023-08-07
#15 · Quote Reply

They should try weetabix if they think that’s tough.

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soyslurper2 lemmy.dbzer0.com soyslurper2@lemmy.dbzer0.com
Joined: 2026-08-29
#16 · Quote Reply

If we combine all the alternatives that can replace 10% each then we have concrete mix with 0% concrete.

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wyldrstallyns lemmy.dbzer0.com wyldrstallyns@lemmy.dbzer0.com
Joined: 2026-05-16
#17 · Quote Reply

Sounds like they've discovered an abhorrent secret from the ruins of Poopei.

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