Researchers utilized 1,000 pairs of buried underpants to measure soil health. The project earned recognition with a 2026 Ig Nobel prize, awarded on September 4, 2026.
The unusual method involved burying cotton underpants and assessing their decomposition rate as an indicator of soil biological activity. This provides a simple, low-cost way to gauge the health of the soil.
The Ig Nobel prizes also recognized a new definition of kissing. The Nature podcast covered these awards in its September 4, 2026 episode.
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