In 2021, 1,000 Swiss volunteers buried 2,000 pairs of underwear; Ontario farmer tested soil health on his 500-acre farm from 2015 to 2025; study finds cotton decomposes fastest in gardens, slowest on lawns

In 2021, 1,000 volunteers across Switzerland buried 2,000 pairs of underwear to study soil health. Meanwhile, Ontario farmer Norm Lamothe tested his 500-acre farm from 2015 to 2025 using the same method. Researchers found cotton decomposed fastest in gardens and slowest on lawns, highlighting how soil management influences microbial activity and soil quality.