A South Korean scientist invents a toilet that converts waste into electricity and pays crypto
The introduction of so-called ‘meme coins’ has proven to be one of the funniest developments in the cryptocurrency sector to date.
Cho Jae-weon, a professor of urban and environmental engineering at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea, designed an eco-friendly toilet. However, it is not the only factor. The toilet at Cho’s residence is connected to a lab that turns human waste into biogas and fertiliser.
Notably, the Science Walden project and the double entendre titled ‘white paper’ were first unveiled to the crypto world in July 2021, much to their delight. Also released at the same time was the BeeVi toilet, which transformed human waste into methane gas and paid “depositors” with Ggool, digital money.
How a toilet operates
The toilet’s suction function whisks waste away into an underground tank, so eliminating the need for buckets of water. Microorganisms that have been purposely placed into the tank decompose and transform the excrement into methane.
The methane is then transformed into an energy source for the building. It has been utilised so far to power a gas stove, heat water, and a solid oxide fuel cell.
Professor Cho also created the Ggool (which translates to “honey”) coin. Everyone who defecates in the special restroom for 10 Ggool will get the prize.
Already, the Ggool may be used to buy a variety of products. On campus, students at the college have access to coffee shops, noodle eateries, and bookshops, among other shopping alternatives.
Wallets