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Biologists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created a genetically modified version of a common bacteria found in the gut that can sense the environment there and fight disease. And when this designer bacteria works, the proof is in the poop - glowing poop. (In this case, mouse poop.)

Why do we smell different when we're sick? Why does cheese smell like feet? Why don't vultures get sick from eating rotting meat? Science is filled with stories: some of them are beautiful and some of them are gross. Really gross. Gross Science, a YouTube series hosted by Anna Rothschild, tells bizarre stories from the slimy, smelly, creepy world of science. In this collection, you'll find original short-form videos and DIY experiments from Gross Science, which is produced by NOVA and PBS Digital Studios. Learn about amphibians that eat their mother's skin, strange uses for bacon, how poop can be used to cure an infection, and more gross science topics.

For this third episode of our video series with Vox's Future Perfect team, we went to North Carolina, a state that's been battling the public health and environmental impact of hog lagoons for decades. The issue is especially grave in this state due to the vulnerable populations who bear the brunt of this pollution, and because hog facilities are so concentrated in such a small area.

If the holy grail of medieval alchemists was turning lead into gold, how much more magical would it be to draw gold from, well, poop? It turns out that a ton of sludge, the goo left behind when treating sewage, could contain several hundred dollars' worth of metals-potentially enough to generate millions of dollars worth of gold, silver, and other minerals each year for a city of a million people.

Behind every fart (and poop) is an army of gut bacteria undergoing some crazy (and crazy useful) biochemistry. Learn what they have in common with beer brewing, and why we'd want to know about this science anyway...

This interrupted case study tells the story of Miles, a freshman in college, who volunteers to help with the composting program on campus. Miles is excited about composting but his mother is hesitant to try it at home. Miles learns about the key ingredients for successful composting and his mother eventually begins to see its value. This case is presented in four parts, and can be used with or without the PowerPoint presentation and associated clicker questions (see Supplemental Materials). First, students are asked to analyze waste that they generate at home and identify any material that is compostable. Next, students explore the science of composting. Finally, students explore the topic of human manure to consider composting to the extreme. The case was designed for an environmental science course for non-majors; no prerequisite knowledge is assumed.