The Scientists Who Studied Pee, Poop, and Won Prizes

The Scientists Who Studied Pee, Poop, and Won Prizes

From Wildly Curious by Katy Reiss & Laura Fawks Lapole

December 30, 2025 · 17 min · Season 13 · Episode 6

About this episode

This episode highlights two researchers studying the peculiarities of animal waste and fluid dynamics.

Send us Fan Mail Subscribe and prepare to learn something you will never un-know. In this Niche Scientists minisode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole spotlight two researchers whose work sounds ridiculous… until you realize it’s brilliant. Meet Dr. David Hu and Dr. Patricia Yang, engineers who study fluid dynamics by asking the questions no one else would: Why do almost all mammals pee in the same amount of time?Why is wombat poop shaped like a cube?And how can studying ani...

People in this episode

Hosts: Katy Reiss, Laura Fawks Lapole

Guests: Dr. David Hu, Dr. Patricia Yang

Topics covered

  • fluid dynamics
  • animal behavior
  • scientific research
  • niche science
  • urination
  • defecation

Keywords

  • pee
  • poop
  • fluid dynamics
  • mammals
  • wombat
  • research
  • science

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