The manure pits on pig farms across the United States have been invaded by a mysterious foam—at Ars Technica, Brandon Keim describes it as "a gelatinous goop that resembles melted brown Nerf". It's probably the byproduct of some kind of biological process, though nobody knows exactly what. The larger problem, though, is that the foam is rather explosive.

  • http://www.aarongilliland.com/ Aaron Gilliland

    Explosive chitlin foam.  It’s Mardi Gras Ought-4 all over again.

  • http://twitter.com/VagabondAstro Robert Little

    Sometimes, the shit really does fly.

  • https://me.yahoo.com/a/1mB7iSk6rvjLbxfSu5D02J7jjabe0.4-#33b8e Kevin

    Probably similar to the ideas in this book. Shows how the Chinese did methane production from animal droppings and plant matter on farms.
    The foam sounds like the uncontrolled processes mentioned.
    http://www.amazon.com/Biogas-Vol-Chinese-Manual/dp/1603220399 

    • http://www.zhrodague.net/ Drew from Zhrodague

       Can you tell us more about the process? I’m sure we’re all too curious to order the book and wait for shipping.

      It’s a wonder that these kinds of wastes aren’t processed into fuels, or just fed into the existing refineries – there’s some very useful chemicals and compounds in anumal-processing waste, waste in general, and even people waste. I don’t understand why we’re not harvesting methane, biodiesel, and other useful compounds from fermented wastes. Hell, recycle the xanax and prozac from the sewers.

  • publicuum

    Easy (non)answer:  farm organic.

  • http://twitter.com/mnsmirnoff Manuel Smirnoff

    We may be looking at the apocalypse–a whole different world will likely result when all of the things suddenly happen that have been predicted to occur only “when pigs fly”!

  • http://www.barelyfitz.com/ BarelyFitz

    MasterBlaster runs Bartertown.

  • wrwetzel

    It’s Santorum in a slightly modified form.

  • Big_Onion

    A single barn exploded and 1,500 hogs died? What kind of barn is that?

    These aren’t pig farms. They’re meat factories. And like any other factory they have their own kind of industrial waste.

    Here’s a link that has some photos of the factory. Concrete walls. Artificial light (save for some windows?). Metal floors with slats to collect manure. And they’re really surprised that shit is literally exploding? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2114572/Scientists-stumped-mysterious-foam-causing-hog-farms-explode.html 

    Probably worth noting that regular farms (the kind where animals are raised outdoors) don’t have this issue.

  • Sam iam

    sounds like fuel to me!!! 

  • Antinous / Moderator

    When you’re sliding into home
    and your pants are full of foam
    Diarrhea! Diarrhea!

  • Petzl

    it’s porcine santorum

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Cheryl-Carter/100000166851469 Cheryl Carter

    I fear it’s what they are feeling the  hogs and the conditions that they force them to live in.  These animals should be allowed to roam free at least until they are slaughtered.