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• A Chicago middle schooler brought some goose droppings to science club --- and landed in the middle of a biomedical breakthrough.
The club is supervised by researchers from the University of Illinois as part of an initiative to "involve young learners in the search for new antibiotics," reports ScienceAlert.
Students were instructed to "explore their neighborhood for new bioactive compounds." Hence, goose poop from a local park.
With the help of the pros, the student safely isolated a bacterium from the droppings that showed antibiotic activity --- an incredibly rare and important feat, say the experts.
Not only that, but the bacterium also produced a never-before-seen natural compound which, in lab tests, slowed the growth of certain cancer cells.
The student is now listed as a co-author of the peer-reviewed paper on the discoveries.