Charles Darwins work on the humble Earthworn,we can blame them for aching limbs!

[PHIL YNYSBOETH]

Darwin’s work on worms during his latter years also reflected his interest in processes that, acting slowly and gradually over time, have a huge impact. The habits of earthworms do just this. As Darwin wrote ‘worms have played a more important part in the history of the world than most persons would at first suppose’.

Darwin measured how much material they would ingest (eat), and how much they egested (pooped). He estimated how many worms there were on average in a given amount of soil, showing that all the soil in Britain ‘has passed many times through and will again pass many times through, the intestinal canals of worms’.

The rate at which worms process the soil can explain how ancient ruins are buried: Darwin calculated that worms push up eight tonnes of earth through the casts at the entrances of their burrows. He even carried out experiments to show this could happen within a human lifetime, he laid a stone in his garden, which was not to be disturbed, and measured the rate at which the earth was raised around it.Darwin showed for the first time that worms increase the fertility of soils by aerating and mixing rotting material, this allows better root growth and water retention. By doing so he revolutionised compost heaps everywhere!

[waltonbasinman]

Nice Phil, i love little snippets like this.

[DATA311(Alan)]

So in reality every time you go pottering about in the garden and delving your hands into the soil? you are in fact delving your hands into worm poo ughhhhhhh.......

[Richy]

Worm poo is good for your complexion............try it 

Richy.

[16.5DD (richard)]

the problem in wales we got fatter worms here so the finds are burried deeper!!!!
eat more sh@t more. .
blame the worm not the detector..