Posted on 02/01/2021 5:05:11 PM PST by Candor7
An international team of scientists have been able to replicate how a wombat produces square poo—and it could change the way geometric products are manufactured in future.
Research published today in the Royal Society of Chemistry's journal Soft Matter, expands on the discovery that wombat poo forms its distinctive shape within the wombat's intestines, not at the point of exit as previously thought.
They have now discovered that the slow passage of the feces and differing stiffness within the last 17 percent of the intestines produces the square shape—before exiting via its round anus.
This discovery is not only applicable to wombats—for example, cancer increases the tension in different regions of the colon and can produce different shaped feces—but the technique can help scientists and engineers develop new ways of manufacturing soft materials, such as plastics in geometrical shapes.
These learnings could also be applied to other fields such as clinical pathology and digestive health in other species, including humans.
University of Tasmania wildlife ecologist Dr. Scott Carver made the accidental discovery while dissecting a wombat cadaver as part of his primary research into treating mange disease in wombats.
The cubed poo study focuses on bare-nosed (common) wombats, which are predominantly found across south-eastern Australia.
"Bare-nosed wombats are renowned for producing distinctive, cube-shaped poos. This ability to form relatively uniform, clean cut feces is unique in the animal kingdom," Dr. Carver said.
"They place these feces at prominent points in their home range, such as around a rock or a log, to communicate with each other. Our research found that these cubes are formed within the last sections of the intestine—and finally proves that you really can fit a square peg through a round hole.".................( More at link)
The Royal Society of Chemistry’s journal Soft Matter.
I bet working there is a cushy job
“I bet working there is a cushy job”
Don’t you mean tushy job?
I thought in passing that maybe the Wombats just ate too many apples (grin).
ROFLMAO
Our Family Approves of this post.
If you did not know why not just ask us ——
still ROFLMAO
Blessings
It’s getting a square peg out of a round hole that’s the trick. The reverse is probably harder.
They want to splice the gene into chickens so they can lay cube-shaped eggs.
Well, I can rest easy tonight now that this mystery has been resolved.
” This ability to form relatively uniform, clean cut feces is unique in the animal kingdom,” Dr. Carver said.”
So it’s possible to pick up Wombat poo by the clean end?
Was the game of “craps” was invented by a man who owned a wombat farm.
Sphincter control happens. Must be something they eat.
Best our dogs can do is small clumps of milk-dud like stuff.
Sphincter control happens. Must be something they eat.
Best our dogs can do is small clumps of milk-dud like stuff.
zit’s not impossible. I knew a person who was in the bathroom at work on day when a large steel panel from a nearby tower blew off, and pierced the roof not far from where he was perched.
He claimed he had a turd with a square end. too.
Well...so what’s the trick?
They probably like to munch on these...
There is no trick, though I had to ask the family if they wanted to give out the real secret they just stacked up on the idea and blocked me from saying anything that would expose the truth of the Sacred Tomb Builders of the Farteast.
Youngest has no sense of humour hehehe
Blessings
Oh my word! Who chooses to study poo? I don’t think I am going to listen much to those that choose to study poo. The closest I get to studying poo is keeping a sharp lookout for it so I don’t step in it.
A woman took her child to the zoo close to Christmas Time. They got to the monkey exhibit where the zookeepers had put nuts in bowls for a Christmas treat. The woman was grossed out by one monkey who would take a nut from the bowl, stick it up his rectum, remove it and then eat it. A nearby zookeeper recognized the woman’s reaction from the look on her face. He told her, “well ma’am, it actually makes some sense. A few weeks back a visitor tossed him a peach. He ate it whole and couldn’t pass the pit. Now he tries everything on for size.”
Your post made me think of this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfaSTO-2aIE
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