Did you wake up today and wonder why your pee is yellow? Neither do I, but the answer was revealed in a study published in early January.

Since the dawn of modern history (about 12,000 years ago, because great archeology has made it seem like nothing really happened before then) humans have wondered why, oh, why is our pee yellow? I've been thinking about it. (do not have). Dear reader, this is very worrying, but fear not. After 150 years of research, it seems we have found the answer.

the study published On January 3rd, the journal Nature Microbiology identified bilirubin (BilR) as the reason why healthy pee is golden in color. BilR is a byproduct of old red blood cells that are broken down by processes in the body. according to Go to Cleveland Clinic.

Currently available: Elucidating the enzyme encoded by intestinal bacteria that reduces bilirubin to urobilinogen@jiang_bioinfo https://t.co/UvrWVe0eYG

— Nature Microbiology (@NatureMicrobiol) January 4, 2024

When these blood cells are broken down and passed through the liver, they mix with other waste products to produce bile. This process takes about six months, says researcher Brantley Hall, because “gut bacteria encode the enzyme bilirubin reductase, which converts bilirubin into a colorless byproduct called urobilinogen.” Said Maryland today.

“The urobilinogen is then naturally broken down into a molecule called urobilin, which is responsible for the yellow color we are familiar with.” (Related: Apparently it's easier to get bladder surgery and Botox than to pee on a long drive to the Hamptons)

Thank you to researchers at the University of Maryland and the National Institutes of Health who have finally found the answer to a question that has perplexed humanity forever. With this information in your pocket, you'll be able to sleep easier. Can you find a way to fix the food supply chain and then find a way to cure cancer? That would be cool.