New article published in Frontiers for Young Minds. This article is specifically written to connect curious minds to the experts and information that will motivate them to ask informed and critical questions about real science throughout their lives.
So, let's dive into a fascinating world where something you might not expect is actually a valuable treasure. We're talking about... poo! Yes, you read that right – human poo is full of precious nutrients, and scientists have come up with amazing ways to put those nutrients to good use!
Imagine this: every time you flush the toilet, all those nutrients go down the drain, right? But what if we told you that those nutrients could actually help the environment and make the world a better place? Let's find out how!
When wastewater, which includes poo and pee, gets into rivers, lakes, or the ocean, it can be harmful. It messes up the oxygen levels and can even harm fish and other creatures living in the water. But guess what? Scientists have a solution that involves tiny, water-dwelling plants called microalgae.
Microalgae are like superheroes of the water world. They can actually "eat" the nutrients from wastewater, cleaning it up and making it safe for the environment. Clean water is super important for everyone – it means healthier oceans and happier aquatic life.
But that's not all! When microalgae munch on the nutrients, they grow and multiply. And you know what that means? It means we can use them as natural fertilizers for farms. That's right – these little plants can help make our food grow better!
And here's the really cool part: microalgae aren't just good for water and farms. They can also be turned into all sorts of useful things. Like what, you ask? Well, how about fuels that power our cars and even plastics that we use every day? It's like turning waste into wonder!
So, why is this important for you, young explorers? Because you're the future! The world needs bright minds like yours to come up with new and better ways to take care of our planet. And who knows, maybe one day you could be a scientist working on awesome solutions like microalgae to make our world cleaner and healthier.
Remember, our small actions can have big impacts. Even something like flushing the toilet can be part of a bigger solution. So, the next time you hear about microalgae and their amazing superpowers, you'll know that science is at work, turning poo into a sustainable solution for a brighter tomorrow!
Citation
Kilbane II J, Roubik H, Kovacs A, Keshinro T, Patel M and Feijter J (2023) Poo is Precious. Front. Young Minds. 11:996462. doi: 10.3389/frym.2023.996462
Available here.
Frontiers for Young Minds believes that the best way to make cutting-edge science discoveries available to younger audiences is to enable young people and scientists to work together to create articles that are both top quality and exciting.
Distinguished scientists are invited to write about their discoveries in a language that is accessible to young readers, and it is then up to the kids themselves – with the help of a science mentor – to provide feedback and explain to the authors how to best improve the articles before publication.
This unique process produces a collection of freely available scientific articles by leading scientists, shaped for younger audiences by the input of their own young peers.