Here's Why Scientists Are Going To Check Out Surfers' Butts

Our oceans are polluted with a bunch of gross things like human sewage, which can potentially introduce harmful antibiotic-resistant bacteria to coastal waters, according to BBC News.

We're not really sure how all of this pollution effects our health. But University of Exeter Medical School researchers hope to find out in a "cheeky" project called — wait for it — "Beach Bums."

Now, this is a project that you can REALLY get behind.

None other than taking swabs from the rectums of surfers, of course. Here's the thing: Surfers spend way more time in seawater than any normal beachgoer (duh).

In a press release, lead researcher Anne Leonard said that surfers swallow around 10 times more seawater than the average swimmer each time they hit the waves. That can be a real pain in the ass, but this also means they're consuming all that bacteria, which may actually change their gut flora.

Scientists are hoping to compare surfer samples with regular people to see if there's any noticeable differences with their intestinal bacteria. This means that anybody can participate in the project (even if you're not a surfer).

The bad news? Since the project is U.K. based, you'd have to live in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, you can't be a newb surfer either. You'd have to surf (or bodyboard) at least three times a month.

If you're interested in participating you can email david@sas.org.uk.