More than 2,000 pairs of cotton underpants were buried in Switzerland as part of an innovative scientific project called the "Underpants Test." This approach, although humorous, serves as a method to assess soil health. The idea is based on the fact that soil microorganisms decompose cotton, so the more the clothing degrades, the healthier and more active the soil is.
The project was launched in 2021 by a team from the University of Zurich (UZH), in collaboration with Agroscope, Switzerland's federal agricultural research center. Approximately 1,000 citizen scientists voluntarily participated in the initiative, burying and later unearthing the underpants for analysis.
The method demonstrates that there is no need for advanced sensor technology or sophisticated tools to assess soil quality. A pair of cotton underpants and a shovel are enough to obtain valuable information about underground biological activity.
This initiative represents an example of nationwide citizen science, showing how simple and accessible projects can contribute to the scientific understanding of the environment, involving the general population in a collective research effort.
