Story perspectives

Study Reveals Fast Pooping Secrets for Astronaut Diapers

3/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

Georgia Institute of Technology researchers studied defecation physics across 34 mammalian species and found larger animals defecate faster because of a thin, slippery mucus layer in intestines.
The mucus layer enables feces to move quickly, regardless of volume.
The study notes copromancy, linking feces analysis to health diagnostics across history.
Their findings informed the design of a specialized diaper for astronauts that became a semifinalist in NASA's Space Poop Challenge.

1 of 1

Story summary

Georgia Institute of Technology researchers studied defecation physics across 34 mammalian species and found larger animals defecate faster because of a thin, slippery mucus layer in intestines.
The mucus layer enables feces to move quickly, regardless of volume.
The study notes copromancy, linking feces analysis to health diagnostics across history.
Their findings informed the design of a specialized diaper for astronauts that became a semifinalist in NASA's Space Poop Challenge.