The science of poop has yielded some fascinating results , but the latest installment in this beat may be the most astounding yet. After decades of noticing but generally not understanding why reptiles “pee” crystals, researchers finally believe they have the answer.

In a Journal of the American Chemical Society paper published today, a team of organic chemists and herpetologists describes their investigation of pee crystals from more than 20 reptile species. Simply, reptiles package up excess nitrogen into tiny, textured spheres consisting of even smaller microcrystals. These microscopic processes offer an evolutionary advantage for snakes, in addition to hinting at some broader implications for human health, according to the researchers.

The science of urine

The project began

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