"The sh*t heard around the world"

[highland145]

This is a cool idea.

Environmentalists are going gaga for a street lamp in Cambridge, Mass., that is powered by dog poop.

The lamp, a shining example of how humans can make use of an underutilized and perpetually renewable energy source -- feces -- is the brainchild of Matthew Mazzotta, a conceptual artist who studied at the nearby Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who wanted to give back to the community.

The lamp is located at a dog park and uses a device known as a methane digester. Folks whose dogs do their business there simply collect the poop in a plastic bag and put it in the device and turn a crank to help the methane in the tank rise up to the top so it can be piped to the gas-burning lamppost that is attached.

Mazzotta says the Fido-powered flames are "eternal" and will "burn until someone or a group of people propose an idea to use the heat and light of the constantly burning flame and make a public project."

http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/a...ethane-from-dog-poop/19643188?test=latestnews

 

[irishScott]

So in the future all street lights in parks could just have a doggie toilet for supplementary power. Sweet.

 

[Gibson486]

I live in Cambridge and I have never seen this....I might go exploring tonight.

I have to ask, though...what happens if I person takes a dump in it?

 

[highland145]

I live in Cambridge and I have never seen this....I might go exploring tonight.

I have to ask, though...what happens if I person takes a dump in it?

You'll ruin the guys experiment and have your dna spliced with a Pomeranian's.

 

[zinfamous]

this is awesome

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

A lot of landfills out in California and the west do this.

Spread out organic/degradable garbage into tiers.

Then let in break down into methane, etc.

Pipe the methane into a collection system and in turn generate electricity.

 

[highland145]

A lot of landfills out in California and the west do this.

Spread out organic/degradable garbage into tiers.

Then let in break down into methane, etc.

Pipe the methane into a collection system and in turn generate electricity.

Had forgotten but a local Kimberly Clark plant runs completely off this type setup.

 

[Jeff7]

The thread right below this one: "Colonic Irrigation."

 

[amdhunter]

I have to ask, though...what happens if I person takes a dump in it?

The surrounding area turns into Iraq.

 

[Squisher]

Now, we need to power a car with this, although if it ever got into an accident and the feces tank ruptured it might get a little messy.

 

[Wyndru]

For instance, in the next few weeks, Mazzotta will be gathering ideas on how to best use the flame. According to Wired.com, some of the suggestion already include a shadow-projection box, a popcorn stand and a tea house.

I hope this is a joke.

 

[highland145]

I hope this is a joke.

Sir, may I brew your tea with my flatulence?

 

[Sentrosi2121]

Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Of the starship Enterprise): "Computer. Tea. Earl Grey. Brewed with a Cleveland Steamer. Hot."