A Poop-Based Blade Experiment: Scientist Attempts to Forge a Knife from Feces

A career in science is often marked by the excitement of discovery, as one gains deeper insight into the world. This noble pursuit, however, can sometimes lead to peculiar endeavors—such as fashioning a knife from frozen feces.

In a study shared by Sapiens, researchers from Kent State University recently explored the authenticity of an old, possibly fabricated story about an Inuit man. The tale speaks of a man whose family wanted him to relocate with them to a new settlement. Rejecting the idea of joining them, he chose to remain alone on the ice. In retaliation, his family took his tools. Undeterred, the man allegedly used his own excrement to create a knife, which he used to kill a dog for its rib cage and hide—materials he repurposed as a sled—before disappearing into the wilderness. Scientists sought to determine whether it was truly possible to create a functional blade from waste.

The research, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, reveals its conclusion in the title: 'Experimental Replication Shows Knives Manufactured from Frozen Feces Do Not Work.' Metin Eren, the lead author and director of archaeology at Kent State, threw himself into the challenge by following an Inuit-inspired diet high in protein for eight days and preserving his own waste. 'The collection of raw material didn’t commence until day four,' he writes, though it’s uncertain whether this delay was due to needing to distance himself from modern dietary remnants or simply because he was constipated.

The waste was shaped into two distinct blades—one manually crafted and the other molded with a knife form—then frozen at a chilling -20°C. Just before use, they were exposed to dry ice at a temperature of -50°C to ensure they retained their firmness. A metal file was then employed to refine the cutting edge.

Equipped with his weaponized feces, Eren attempted to replicate how the Inuit might have used such a tool by trying to cut through animal hide—in this case, pig skin. Without the resilience of steel, the waste simply turned to mush when applied to the hide. Even when Eren used a colleague’s fecal matter, which came from someone consuming a more traditional Western diet, the results were no different. (A regrettably unreported discussion followed this exchange.) The knife only managed to penetrate the most pliable layers of the pig's subcutaneous fat before becoming dull.

“…Our findings indicate that knives made from frozen human feces are not viable,” Eren states, adding, “We gave our knives every possible advantage, and they still failed to function.”

While the practical value of a tool made from feces seems negligible, the tale may still hold symbolic significance: experts familiar with the story suggest it could represent a figurative expression of the Inuit's ingenuity and resourcefulness.