Scientists make mind-blowing medical breakthrough using human waste: 'This can be done easily'

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways

Researchers have developed engineered yeast that converts human waste into medical-grade material for tooth and bone implants, reported Interesting Engineering.

The development tackles two challenges at once. Untreated human waste threatens waterways by flooding them with excess nutrients. At the same time, demand for biocompatible implant materials continues to grow, with the market expected to hit $3.5 billion by 2030.

Scientists at the University of California, Irvine, and partner institutions have engineered "osteoyeast," a modified organism that mimics the cells responsible for building bones naturally. The yeast processes urea, adjusting pH levels to trigger calcium and phosphate collection. These minerals crystallize into hydroxyapatite, the same substance found in human bones and teeth.

The production method yields about one gram of implant material per liter of processed waste. The conversion takes under 24 hours.

This advancement could reshape medical manufacturing worldwide. Traditional production of implant materials requires complex facilities and expensive equipment. The new yeast-based approach works in cool conditions using simple fermentation tanks.

"The fact that it uses yeast as a chassis, which is inexpensive and can be placed in large vats at relatively low temperatures — think about beer that's made via fermentation processes and is well scaled — shows that this can be done easily without major infrastructural needs, and that has the added benefit of making it accessible to developing economies," explained David Kisailus, a UC Irvine professor.

Researchers plan to adapt the system for creating energy storage materials and other advanced products using 3D-printing techniques.

For everyday people, this innovation means access to cheaper dental and bone implants while reducing wastewater treatment costs. Communities gain cleaner water systems as harmful nutrients get converted into valuable products rather than polluting local watersheds.

The research team continues to refine the process to expand production capacity and explore additional materials that could emerge from this waste-to-resource approach.

Would you live in a home made of bacteria?

Absolutely

Depends on the cost

Depends how it looks

No way

Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.