poop

Archaeologists Figured Out How to Tell if One of These Roman Pots Was Used For Poop

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Earthenware vessels can often be windows to the activities of long lost cultures. Traces of their contents can be clues to what we once snacked on, how we fed our children, and even how we cursed our enemies.   For decades, a number of conical vessels unearthed near Roman latrines were presumed to be recently … Read more

Hundreds of Strange, Tiny Fossils Found Inside Fish Cranium From 9 Million Years Ago

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In a first for paleontology, scientists have found hundreds of tiny, fossilized fecal pellets crammed inside a fish braincase dating to about 9 million years ago. The wee fossil poops, also known as coprolites, were deposited by scavengers – probably worms – that devoured the fish’s decaying head, including its brain.   As they munched the flesh … Read more

Hippos Will Aggressively Spray Poop at The Mere Sound of a Stranger’s Wheeze Honk

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The hippopotamus is a surprisingly mysterious beast. Although it’s the third largest land mammal, can run a spritely 30 km/h (19 mph) over short distances, and is far more dangerous to humans than a grizzly bear, we know relatively little about its social communication.   A new study working to rectify this lack of knowledge … Read more

Ancient Toilet Reveals Dangerous Parasites Once Plagued Jerusalem’s Elite

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A 2,700-year-old drop toilet, found at an ancient royal estate in southern Jerusalem, still shows traces of what could have been an epidemic of parasitic infection long ago. The findings suggest even the wealthiest inhabitants of ancient Jerusalem, elite enough to use an outhouse, commonly suffered from intestinal worms.   While latrines and toilets are … Read more