The ocean is polluted from all kinds of gross things you can imagine. Human sewage, plastic bags, bacteria and more. It can potentially introduce harmful antibiotic-resistant bacteria to coastal waters. That's why, researchers from the University of Exeter Medical School are hoping to figure out how this affects us all by analyzing surfers' butts.

The project is called "Beach Bums."


It involves taking swabs from the rectums of surfers, since, they spend a lot more time in the water than any of us.


Surfers also swallow 10 times more seawater than the average swimmer, which means, they could be consuming more bacteria too. Scientists will then compare surfer samples with regular people to see if there's any difference in their intestinal bacteria.


Who would have thought that a surfer's butt could have so much research material?


Here's checking out Anastasia Ashley, one of the hottest surfers around, in her element: