Splash-free urinals for global sustainability and accessibility

(academic.oup.com)

50 points | by u1hcw9nx 42 minutes ago

14 comments

  • danjc 31 minutes ago
    Worth noting that this study was partially funded by the university of Waterloo
    • asdfasvea 9 minutes ago
      Nice domain name too.
    • pfdietz 26 minutes ago
      Nominative determinism.
  • u1hcw9nx 42 minutes ago
    Design through physics and differential equations.

    This paper is Ig® Nobel Physics Prize Winner 2026 https://improbable.com/ig/winners/

  • d-e-r-e-k 3 minutes ago
    Global sustainability and accessibility seems a bit grandiose lol. It’s just a urinal after all. That being said, it’s been 4 years since Waterloo first determined this and it’s still unavailable to purchase. I’ve been patiently waiting for one to install in my shop but it seems like it’s not all that important for the globe if it’s still unavailable 4 years later.
  • danw1979 13 minutes ago
    The recent introduction, in the UK at least, of splash-back reducing urinal … mats (?) has basically solved the problem in my opinion. They’re a disposable (but not single use…) plastic freshening insert with loads of short rubber strands, closely packed.

    You can pee on one of these mats and the stream almost aerates itself on impact and you get basically no splashback, I guess with a similar mechanism to how an aerating tap produces a stream of water that doesn’t splash off whatever it hits.

    • RattlesnakeJake 11 minutes ago
      We've had those in the US for several years now, and they work really well.

      I did encounter an upside-down one yesterday. That was... counterproductive.

  • ahoka 16 minutes ago
    I really like the inverted version, where it's almost guaranteed to splash yourself as a deterrent.
  • masfuerte 19 minutes ago
    Traditional urinals [1] are very effective. As are the steel variants [2]. The latter tend to become very grim over time.

    [1]: https://www.hlwashrooms.co.uk/healey--lord-niagara-urinals--...

    [2]: https://acornthorn.co.uk/urinals-wcs-cubicles/urinals/ur068-...

  • plasma_beam 22 minutes ago
    The secret to splash free male urination is..sitting down.
    • bluebarbet 20 minutes ago
      In a public toilet? Not happening. Back to square one.
      • Ylpertnodi 4 minutes ago
        Always carry wipes?
      • quickthrowman 8 minutes ago
        I fail to understand why anyone is scared to place their bare thighs on a public toilet seat. Do you have open wounds on your legs?
  • y-curious 9 minutes ago
    Direct link to the designs (c and d, with d being practical). Great paper honestly.

    https://academic.oup.com/view-large/figure/512223725/pgaf087...

  • falcor84 14 minutes ago
    > droplets which travel back onto the floor and user

    I suppose this disproves Tufte's "There are only two industries that call their customers 'users': illegal drugs and software."

  • nelox 21 minutes ago
    It’s not much help if the aim is off
    • consp 9 minutes ago
      Install the urin-no next to it to help "improve" the aim.
  • b3lvedere 14 minutes ago
    This reminded me of some scenes in the videogame Dispatch [1]

    [1] : https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/dispatch/images/c/ca/Dispa...

  • shafyy 18 minutes ago
    Somebody tell Larry David about this
    • trwhite 16 minutes ago
      No defecation allowed
  • asdfasvea 9 minutes ago
    Sustainability?

    What resource will we run out of if we continue to piss in traditional urinals?

    Has bullshit marketing terms invaded scientific papers now as well?

    • bobsmooth 4 minutes ago
      Water and chemicals spent on cleaning. Less splash means less cleaning.
  • manarth 24 minutes ago
    TLDR: The "Cornucopia" has the least amount of splashback, however the "Nautilus" is the recommendation of choice, to accommodate ease of cleaning and variations in the height of the user.

    https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/4/4/pgaf087/80987...