POOP

Where Does Astronaut Poop End Up?

It burns up in the atmosphere like a fecal shooting star.

King Henry with Cardinal Wolsey, circa 1528.

A 16th-Century Guide to Pooping at King Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace

Discover how King Henry VIII and other members of the Tudor nobility handled going to the bathroom in the mid-1500s. (Spoiler: There was velvet involved, but it still wasn’t pretty.)

These majestic creatures keep the ocean under control in many ways.

Whale Pee Is Good for the Ocean, Study Finds

A new study reveals that baleen whales, including humpbacks and gray whales, enrich oceans when they take a whizz.

In space, it isn’t just number one and done.

To Boldly Go: The Science Behind Pooping in Space

Coming up with a practical way of replicating the earthbound poop experience took many years, many engineers, and a whole lot of ingenuity.

How Do Octopuses Poop?

The funnel they use to get around serves a dual purpose.

Why Doctors Warn Against Spending Too Much Time on the Toilet

Here’s another reason to rethink bringing your phone into the bathroom with you.

Why You Feel the Urge to Poop When You’re Shopping, According to a Doctor

If a trip to Target inevitably ends with you making a pit stop at the restroom, you're not alone.

When it comes to eating poop, it's definitely ok to yuck your dog's yum.

How to Stop Your Dog From Eating Poop

There could be several reasons why your dog is eating poop—and several steps you can take to nip the behavior in the bud.

A semi-accurate rendering of a crocodile.

10 Historical First Impressions of Animals and Plants

From the “dark politicks” of cuttlefish to the “prodigious bigness” of snakes, here are 10 accounts of the first times explorers encountered new animals, foods, and more.

Bathroom Hand Dryers Might Be Blasting Us With Poo Particles

The wall-mounted dryers could be dirtier than a toilet seat.

Prunes are a constipated person’s friend.

Why Do Prunes Make You Poop?

Prunes—the shiny, sweet dried fruits—are both exploited and ridiculed for their laxative properties. But do they really make you poop?

Why Won’t My Cat Use the Litter Box?

A certified cat trainer suggests reasons why a cat won’t use its litter box—and offers some possible solutions.

Cleaning a porta potty is no walk in the park.

How Are Porta Potties Cleaned?

To keep porta potties (relatively) clean, sanitation workers require special equipment and a strong stomach.

'Hello? I'd like to talk to you about your home warranty.'

The Best Time to Use the Bathroom On an Airplane, According to a Flight Attendant

The correct answer is “never,” but if you have to, you’d better time it right.

Why Do Marathon Runners Poop Their Pants?

Some athletes call it runner’s trots. Others refer to it as the Gingerbread Man. Here's why marathoners sometimes get off to a runny start.

Not an actual Philadelphia restroom sign, but give it time.

‘Wee the People’: Philly Residents Offer Name Suggestions for the City’s New Public Bathrooms

If you guessed someone would suggest ‘Gritty Sitty,’ you are absolutely right.

Consumers could go through bags of Frito-Lay's fat-free chips. Then the bag would go right through them.

May Cause Anal Leakage: The Olestra Fat-Free Snack Controversy of the 1990s

After decades of development and $200 million spent, Procter & Gamble thought they had the perfect snack food additive with olestra. Too bad it caused “rectal urgency.”

Big Poo-Tential: Researchers in Japan Built a House Using Old Diapers

Civil engineer Siswanti Zuraida built a concrete structure using diapers that would otherwise sit in a landfill for decades, making for a literal brick sh-t house.

Finnish Company Debuts 'World's First' Flushable Wooden Toilet

Made from 80 percent wood chips, the composite toilet from Woodio is waterproof and splinter-free.

Woolly mammoths may have existed alongside humans for millennia, according to one study.

How Mammoth Poop Is Changing What We Know About Their Extinction

When did woolly mammoths go extinct? Their fossilized bones say one thing, but their poop paints a messier picture.

Not the crappiest way to earn a few extra bucks.

Looking To Make Some Extra Cash? You Could Earn Up to $1500 per Month for Donating Your Poop

Through the GoodNature Program, you could earn extra money by donating your poop—and help people in the process.

Tenoch Huerta in 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' (2022).

One VFX Artist On 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' Was Mainly There For Fish Poop

Accuracy was important to the filmmakers behind the 'Black Panther' sequel—so much so that one visual effects artist was tasked with making sure the fish poop looked realistic.

Shining a light on what comes up when you flush

Mount Poo-suvius: Watch What Happens When You Flush a Toilet Without a Lid

Scientists have finally visualized what happens when poo particles go airborne.

8 Fascinating Facts About Toilets

Half of the world’s population—nearly 4 billion people—lack safe and sanitary toilet facilities. Here are a few facts to make you appreciate our lovely loos.