Skip to content
  • Happy Health
  • Happy Mindset
  • Animal Wonders
  • About Us
    • Team
  • Subscribe
Menu
  • Happy Health
  • Happy Mindset
  • Animal Wonders
  • About Us
    • Team
  • Subscribe
Happy News

This MUSHROOM-Powered Toilet Changes Everything

Researchers at the University of British Columbia have created a mushroom-powered waterless toilet that turns human waste into compost using mycelia, the root network of mushrooms, in what users are calling a beautiful experience comparable to a Scandinavian sauna. The MycoToilet, housed in a small cedar-sided building dropped among the trees at UBC’s Botanical Garden for a six-week test, separates liquids from solids and uses a mycelium-lined compartment that lab tests show absorbs 90 percent of odor-causing compounds. The innovative design produces around 600 liters of soil and 2,000 liters of liquid fertilizer annually while requiring only four maintenance visits per year, completely eliminating the smell typically associated with composting toilets. Researchers discovered that the breathable mycelium liner reduces odor while removing residual moisture, limiting anaerobic conditions and creating favorable environments for aerobic decomposition, mimicking how tree roots use certain fungi to absorb nutrients and protect against pathogens.

Professor Joseph Dahmen, the project lead, explained they wanted to recontextualize an activity people take for granted and prove that waste-separating toilets don’t have to be a sacrifice to use but can connect us to natural ecologies through beautiful design. The structure features prefabricated timber panels, a skylight above, a green roof supporting local plants, and a low-power fan for air circulation, creating an experience so pleasant that one user compared it to visiting a Scandinavian sauna. Professor Steven Hallam emphasized that everyone using the toilet engages in citizen science as researchers evaluate the mushroom liner’s performance using analytical and DNA barcoding methods to understand pathogen loading and circulation patterns. The team hopes the entire liner can eventually be converted to usable compost supporting local plant life, while also addressing the global sanitation crisis where 3.4 billion people still lack safely managed sanitation, with plans to deploy these toilets in lower-income countries to meet critical needs.

PrevPreviousThe Wedding Photographer Turned Landmine Remover
NextWhat This Great-Grandmother Did At 90 Proves It’s Never Too LateNext

Recent Articles

Happy News

Bill Nye Will Receive His Well Deserved Lifetime Achievement Award

February 8, 2026

Bill Nye the Science Guy is about to receive one of the highest honors in children’s television when the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presents him with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 4th Annual Children’s and Family Emmy Awards on March 1 at Jazz at Lincoln Center

Read More
Happy News

Taylor Swift’s Kitchen Skills Were Unexpected

February 8, 2026

Taylor Swift has become a beloved member of the Kelce family not just through her relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce but also through her impressive skills in the kitchen, particularly her baking abilities that have won over the entire clan including Chiefs teammates. On her podcast Not Gonna Lie,

Read More
Happy News

Will and Jada Smith Support Their Son During Fashion Week Debut

February 8, 2026

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith proudly supported their son Jaden at his debut appearance as Christian Louboutin’s first men’s creative director during Paris Fashion Week, and they reportedly looked to be in great spirits despite living separately since 2016. The couple’s outing marked the first time they had been

Read More
« Previous Next »
  • Privacy Notice
  • Accessibility Notice
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Unsubscribe
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Notice
  • Accessibility Notice
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Unsubscribe
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2026 HappyNews.