All that glitters is sewage (sometimes)

All that glitters could be sewage, according to one surprising new study.

While gold, platinum and other precious metals are normally sourced by investors through brokers and exchange markets, research from Arizona State University suggests one could theoretically find a wealthy horde just by looking down the U-bend.

The average city with a population of one million people flushes £8.5 million of precious metals away every year, found scientists. The metals can be found in electronics and jewellery, but also through mining and electroplating wastewater.

The study was conducted by analysing samples of dried sewage from 94 different wastewater plans across the USA, finding that the average ton of sludge contained £185 of precious metals.