Kathleen Smith of the US Geological Survey is conducting a new research program to determine the feasibility of mining gold and other precious metals from human sewage. A recent study indicated that each person in the US excretes roughly $13 of such material every year — or around $4 billion for the entire population of the country.
Somehow I doubt this will prove profitable to anyone besides the people who get the research grants, but it could certainly lead to some interesting new euphemisms for going to the bathroom. Although I don’t think there will ever be a dearth of those as long as we have a good supply of 11 year old boys — and middle aged bloggers.
Now if you will excuse me I have to go prospecting…