Scientists in Japan have figured how how to make gasoline from cow dung. You might not mind putting cow dung in your gas tank, but how do you feel about wearing it as perfume? Read on:
In a separate experiment revealing another unusual business potential for cow dung, another group of researchers has successfully extracted an aromatic ingredient of vanilla from cattle dung, said Miki Tsuruta, a Sekisui Chemical Co. spokeswoman. The extracted ingredient, vanillin, can be used as fragrance in shampoo and candles, she said. (via Washington Post, link to article no longer working, sorry!)
Ha! That's nothing! How about *cooking* with dog poop? Huh? Huh? Slate recently featured an article, read it here: http://www.slate.com/id/2136702/
Wow. What I actually found most interesting is that dog poop makes up almost as much waste as diapers. Who'd have thought?
Now I ask you – is there such a lack of extracts in the world that we need the Japanese to start “examining their options?”
LOL — you have to wonder!