---
title: "Underwear experiment reveals land use impacts soil health"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/tech/underwear-experiment-reveals-land-use-impacts-soil-health"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/underwear-experiment-reveals-land-use-impacts-soil-health"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/tech/underwear-experiment-reveals-land-use-impacts-soil-health.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/underwear-experiment-reveals-land-use-impacts-soil-health"
category: "Science & Tech"
published: "2026-08-31T14:05:17.417Z"
source_reported: "2026-08-31T13:34:39.316Z"
updated: "2026-08-31T14:05:17.417Z"
trust_score: 42
critic_score: 61
hype_score: 41
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-08-31T15:15:09.442141+00:00"
---

# Underwear experiment reveals land use impacts soil health

*Swiss citizen science project uses decomposition rates to measure biological activity.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named bodies, with two independent outlets and specific dates/locations cited.
- Craft 61 of 100, higher is better. Reports quote affected parties, explain why the story matters, and separate fact from comment.
- Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines use mild emphasis and lively language, but the body of the text is proportionate.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- Nearly 1,000 volunteers in Switzerland buried over 2,000 pairs of organic cotton underwear at approximately 1,000 locations.
- The decomposition rate of the underwear after 30 and 60 days served as an indicator of soil biological activity.
- Private gardens showed the highest decomposition rates (58% after two months), followed by lawns (around 40%), with agricultural fields and meadows in between.
- Land use was identified as the most significant factor influencing decomposition rates, more so than measured soil properties.

An experiment involving nearly 1,000 volunteers across Switzerland used buried organic cotton underwear to assess soil health. Participants buried over 2,000 pairs of underwear at around 1,000 locations. After 30 and 60 days, the underwear was exhumed, photographed, and sent to researchers along with soil samples. The rate at which the cotton decomposed was used as a measure of biological activity in the soil.

The findings, published in Plants People Planet, indicated that land use was the most critical factor affecting decomposition. Private gardens exhibited the highest decomposition rates, with 58% of the underwear breaking down within two months. Lawns showed lower activity, with approximately 40% decomposition. Agricultural fields and meadows fell between these two extremes. Researchers noted that this suggests how land is managed significantly influences soil life and quality.

## Disagreement on the role of soil properties

While the reports agree that land use was the most significant factor influencing decomposition rates, there is a divergence regarding the influence of measured soil properties. The full report from Vice states that land use was identified as the most significant factor influencing decomposition rates, 'more so than measured soil properties.' However, the full report from Phys.org notes that 'Land use proved to be the most important factor influencing how quickly the underwear decomposed. Whether a site was used as a garden, meadow, cultivated field or lawn explained the differences better than most of the soil properties measured. Chemical soil characteristics, such as nutrient levels, also played a significant role.'

## What the coverage left out

None of the left, centre, or right-rated reports printed below mention the specific soil properties that were measured, beyond general references to nutrient levels or organic matter. The full report from Vice states land use was more significant than 'measured soil properties,' but does not specify what those properties were. Similarly, the full report from Phys.org mentions that 'Chemical soil characteristics, such as nutrient levels, also played a significant role,' but does not detail which characteristics were measured.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 18 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 11% (2)
- Centre: 56% (10)
- Right: 33% (6)

12 of 30 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-31T15:15:09.442141+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 6 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-31T15:45:08.997Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- The left-rated report from Vice led with the unusual nature of the experiment, describing it as 'the best way to test the quality and vitality of the soil' by having 'a bunch of people to bury their underwear in the dirt for two months.' It highlighted that private gardens had the 'liveliest soil' and that the 'underwear index' can be used to determine soil health. The report also noted that extremely rapid decomposition could indicate a nutrient overload and an unbalanced patch of dirt. It concluded by stating that if burying undies is what it takes to gauge soil health, 'let’s all grab a shovel and our least loved cotton underpants and get to digging in the name of science.'

### Centre

- Centre-rated reports focused on the scientific findings and the methodology of the 'Proof by Underpants' project. They highlighted that land use is the key factor influencing soil health, with private gardens showing the most rapid decomposition and lawns the least. Several reports mentioned that the decomposition rate serves as an indicator of soil life and that healthy soil is crucial for fertility and ecosystem services. Some centre-rated outlets also noted that while rapid decomposition is beneficial for agriculture, it can indicate nutrient oversupply in near-natural habitats. The role of citizen science in enabling large-scale research was also a recurring theme.

### Right

- Right-rated reports generally focused on the unusual aspect of the experiment and its findings regarding soil activity. Headlines often posed questions about why underwear was buried, such as in The Economic Times and Gulf News. Several reports mentioned that private gardens displayed the most rapid decomposition rates, indicating active microorganisms. Some digests, like EADaily, used more provocative phrasing such as 'Agrarian Stripping.' The core finding that the experiment aimed to raise awareness about soil ecosystems and generate data on biological activity was present across these reports.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- low: 1
- mixed: 3
- high: 7
- unknown: 12
- veryHigh: 7

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [Science](https://science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adw0030) — Assessing soil health with underpants
- [The Economic Times](https://m.economictimes.com/us/science-tech/why-did-scientists-ask-1000-people-to-bury-their-underwear-what-the-buried-underpants-could-reveal-about-soil-the-unusual-science-of-measuring-soil-health/articleshow/133643130.cms) — Why did scientists ask 1,000 Swiss people to bury their underwear? What the buried 'underpants' could reveal about soil - The unusual science of measuring soil health
- [bluewin.ch](https://bluewin.ch/en/lifestyle/project-measures-soil-quality-using-buried-underwear-li.3576122) — Project Measures Soil Quality Using Buried Underwear
- [Polsat News](https://polsatnews.pl/ciekawostki/2026-08-31/tysiac-osob-zakopalo-majtki-w-ogrodkach-naukowcy-mieli-ku-temu-dobry-powod) — A Thousand People Buried Their Panties in the Ground. They Had a Good Reason.
- [Science Alert](https://sciencealert.com/soil-scientists-buried-2000-pairs-of-underwear-to-prove-a-point) — Soil Scientists Buried 2,000 Pairs of Underwear to Prove a Point
- [Malay Mail](https://malaymail.com/news/life/2026/08/31/did-you-know-your-underwear-can-tell-you-about-soil-health-not-kidding-swiss-scientists-buried-2000-pairs-heres-what-they-found/233351) — Did you know your underwear can tell you about soil health? Not kidding, Swiss scientists buried 2,000 pairs — here’s what they found
- [Vice](https://vice.com/en/article/scientists-buried-2000-pairs-of-underwear-to-test-the-health-of-soil-heres-what-they-learned) — Scientists Buried 2,000 Pairs of Underwear to Test the Health of Soil. Here's What They Learned.
- [EADaily](https://eadaily.com/ru/news/2026/08/31/agrarnyy-striptiz-tysyacha-chelovek-zakopala-trusy-v-shveycarii) — Agranic Stripping: A Thousand People Buried Underpants in Switzerland: EADaily
- [uzh.ch](https://news.uzh.ch/en/articles/media/2026/buried-underwear.html) — Buried Underwear Shows Land Use Is Key to Soil Health
- [Moneycontrol](https://moneycontrol.com/world/why-were-2-000-pairs-of-underwear-buried-across-switzerland-what-scientists-found-underground-article-14018410.html) — Why were 2,000 pairs of underwear buried across Switzerland? What scientists found underground
- [Gulf News](https://gulfnews.com/world/europe/scientists-asked-1000-people-to-bury-their-underwear-what-they-found-surprised-them-1.500656410) — Scientists asked 1,000 people to bury their underwear — what they found surprised them
- [lehighvalleylive](https://lehighvalleylive.com/news/2026/08/underwear-is-being-buried-the-world-over-for-science.html) — People are burying their underwear, and for a good reason
- [La Razón](https://larazon.es/ciencia/que-cientificos-suizos-piden-voluntarios-que-entierren-ropa-interior_202608286a9196d1ae2f3735da1a55d9.html) — Why Do Swiss Scientists Ask Volunteers to Bury Their Underwear?
- [20 Minuten](https://20min.ch/story/forschungsprojekt-diese-unterhosen-zeigen-wie-es-um-unsere-umwelt-steht-103624007) — Project «Beweisstück Unterhose»: What Buried Underpants Reveal About Swiss Floors
- [Unknown](https://techno.nv.ua/ukr/popscience/pidzemni-ekosistemi-gromadyanskiy-proyekt-doslidiv-stan-gruntiv-shveycariji-50636434.html) — Buried the Panties. An Unusual Experiment Was Conducted in Switzerland to Study the Peculiarities of Different Types of Soil
- [Origo](https://origo.hu/tudomany/2026/08/talajvizsgalat-alsonemu-kutatas) — Researchers Came up with a Bizarre Request: They Dug up the Underwear of over a Thousand People
- [omniletters.com](https://omniletters.com/cientistas-enterrem-roupas-intimas) — Scientists Ask 1,000 People to Bury Their Underwear.
- [biggo.com](https://finance.biggo.com/news/983c2ed5-8ea0-49aa-9e43-4aed893ff7f3) — Why 2,000 pairs of underwear were buried in the ground—Swiss researchers' 'soil health map' — BigGo Finance
- [Science Daily](https://sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010501.htm) — Why scientists asked 1,000 people to bury their underwear
- [Discover Magazine](https://discovermagazine.com/2-000-pairs-of-buried-underwear-helped-measure-soil-health-in-this-unusual-experiment-49602) — 2,000 Pairs of Buried Underwear Helped Measure Soil Health in This Unusual Experiment
- [Nautilus](https://nautil.us/this-is-what-happens-when-1000-people-bury-their-underwear-for-science-1284574) — This Is What Happens When 1,000 People Bury Their Underwear for Science
- [TV9 Marathi](https://tv9marathi.com/national/for-that-special-experiment-1000-pairs-of-underwear-were-buried-underground-upon-digging-them-up-two-months-later-scientists-were-left-utterly-shocked-1743258.html) — For that Special Experiment, 1,000 Underwear Were Buried Underground, and After 2 Months of Digging, Scientists Got a Huge shock,...
- [Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/08/why-did-1000-swiss-citizens-bury-their-underpants) — Why did 1,000 Swiss citizens bury their underpants?
- [technewstube.com](https://technewstube.com/ars-technica/1862174/why-1000-swiss-citizens-bury-underpants) — Why did 1,000 Swiss citizens bury their underpants?
- [Moneycab](https://moneycab.com/dossiers/vergrabene-unterhosen-zeigen-landnutzung-entscheidend-fuer-bodenqualitaet) — Burdened Underpants Show: Land Use Is Crucial for Soil Quality
- [studyfinds.com](https://studyfinds.com/what-2000-buried-underpants-revealed-about-where-soil-is-most-alive) — What 2,000 Buried Underpants Revealed About Where Soil is Most Alive
- [Popular Science](https://popsci.com/environment/bury-underwear-soil-health) — 'Proof by Underpants' offers a cheeky way to test soil
- [nachrichten.at](https://nachrichten.at/panorama/weltspiegel/forschungsprojekt-misst-bodenqualitaet-mit-vergrabenen-unterhosen;art17,4205782) — Research Project Measures Soil Quality with Buried Underpants
- [Phys.org](https://phys.org/news/2026-08-underwear-key-soil-health.html) — Buried underwear shows land use is key to soil health
- [BIOENGINEER.ORG](https://bioengineer.org/buried-underwear-reveals-land-use-is-crucial-for-soil-health) — Buried Underwear Reveals Land Use Is Crucial for Soil Health

## Questions

**How did scientists measure soil health?**

Scientists used a citizen science project where nearly 1,000 volunteers buried over 2,000 pairs of organic cotton underwear across Switzerland. After 30 and 60 days, the underwear was dug up. The rate at which the cotton decomposed served as an indicator of the biological activity in the soil.

**What did the buried underwear reveal about soil health?**

The experiment revealed that land use is the most significant factor influencing soil biological activity. Private gardens showed the highest decomposition rates, indicating very active soil, while lawns had lower rates. Agricultural fields and meadows fell in between.

**Why was underwear used in the experiment?**

Organic cotton underwear was used because cotton is primarily cellulose, which soil organisms naturally break down. The faster the underwear decomposed, the more biologically active the soil was considered to be. This method was developed to raise public awareness about soil health.

---

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