In a unique scientific endeavor, Franz Bender, a Swiss soil ecologist, gathered a group of 1,000 citizen scientists in 2021 to participate in a project involving burying and later excavating underwear across Switzerland. This unconventional study aimed to enhance understanding of soil and soil health. The initiative gained recognition when it received an Ig Nobel Prize, an annual award honoring research that elicits laughter and critical thinking.
Unveiling their buried garments, participants were astonished to find their underwear significantly decomposed by subterranean microbes. Bender, based at the Agroscope agricultural research center in Zurich, highlighted the eye-opening experience for individuals as they realized the vibrancy of soil life typically overlooked.
Initially inspired by a similar initiative in Canada, where the Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario pioneered burying underwear in fields, the concept evolved into a national campaign named “Soil Your Undies” in 2017. The project aimed to promote awareness of soil health and recognize soil as a living ecosystem vital for environmental well-being.
The Swiss study, published in Plants People Planet in August 2026, attracted over 1,400 applications from volunteers eager to participate. Geographically diverse citizen scientists received organic cotton underwear, along with detailed instructions and comparison teabags, to bury in designated locations. A dedicated smartphone app allowed participants to share additional data and images related to the experiment.
The results unveiled the varying degrees of underwear decomposition across different soil types, with private gardens exhibiting the highest microbial activity, while lawns showed minimal degradation. Bender emphasized the importance of understanding soil health, particularly amidst human activities impacting soil ecosystems.
Experts like Asim Biswas from the University of Guelph and Joann Whalen from McGill University praised the study’s ability to raise awareness about soil health in an engaging manner. They highlighted the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of the underwear method as a visual indicator of soil biological activity, offering insights into soil quality without extensive lab testing.
Furthermore, the Soil Conservation Council of Canada endorsed the initiative and provided guidance for those interested in conducting similar experiments. Bender’s team even collaborated with a fashion designer to repurpose the excavated underwear into unique clothing items, emphasizing the innovative and multifaceted approach of the study.
