A scientist, Yukio Hirose of Kanazawa University, observed this non-phenomenon and set out to determine why. Was it the severe visage of Yamato that frightened the birds? Or it some kind of oriental magic? Professor Hirose looked instead into natural causes. For example, could it be something in the statue's substance that made it unattractive for birds to roost and poop there?
A minute chemical analysis of the statue yielded that it was bronze, but laced with arsenic! Could this be the culprit? Professor Hirose did an experiment. He prepared sheets of bronze with the same amount of arsenic in it, and they too became bird-repellant!
Yukio Hirose saw an interesting fact, and went beyond it into looking why this didn't happen. Sometimes discoveries come to people who have the good sense to ask why!
For his discovery, he was awarded the Ig Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2004.
And, who knows? Maybe we will one day see an equestrian statue of President Trump or President Clinton on the Washington Mall, completely unsullied with bird poop! Some people will call that a miracle! Can they ride horsies?
19 comments:
This is weird!
Perhaps the scientist shouldn't have released his findings. Perhaps he should have just gone into business and offered poopless statues.
I'll bet there is be a following that believes in the power of Yamato.
How do the birds sense the arsenic? Do they smell it?
Another interesting story for the "Did you know...?" file!
Thanks, Angel. Have a grand week, my young friend!
An interesting scientific experiment!
Love this reporting, Angel!
AND I adore horsies
When we were in Prague, we noticed there was netting draped over many of the statuary to keep the birds off.
A clever idea. I wonder what other substances wold work. And what would attract birds too. It could be quite a business in either direction!
The birds were just huge fans...
Use be or not use be, that shouldn't even be a question. (see my comment above)
I don't believe this. Why would birds be discouraged from shitting on something coated with arsenic? It sounds like a big hoax to me!
Let's just cut to the chase and feed the arsenic to some politicians before the statues become necessary.
So... maybe if I use arsenic the birds will leave my blueberry bushes alone?
That is so interesting! I never heard of such a thing. And winning a Nobel prize too? Wowsa. very cool.
Michele at Angels Bark
POOP!
I came here for the BOTB.
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
An equestrian statue of President Trump, completely unsullied with bird poop... That's food for thought. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna dream about this frightening image.
P.S. Where are you in this picture: CLICK!
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