Nautilus

The Curious Case of the Exploding Pig Farms

This pig farm was devastated by an explosion due to foaming. Ross Muhlbauer, Iowa State University

At first, the manure was just harmlessly foaming. Only later on did things get lethal. 

Hog farms in the Midwest are great big barns sitting on top of great big pits filled with a great deal of awful-smelling manure. The pigs walk about on a slatted floor that lets manure fall

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