Russia’s potential in science and technology has always admired and frightened foreigners. It’s still true today, with a new invention gripping the world’s headlines.

No, it’s not a new continental ballistic missile capable of reaching any part of the world in under 3 seconds and not some new W-bomb. It’s much more disgusting.

It’s also disgusting that it was the British media who first broke the news. The credit for the scoop goes to the Guardian which grabbed the imagination of the whole planet.

In his column on Improbable Research, Marc Abrahams (whose names somewhat reminds us of the M1 Abrams tank) leaked a story that he said was sent to him directly.

Mr Abrahams showed the best of discretion to report something that was too dirty for anyone to handle.

“A patent has been granted for an invention by which soldiers sealed inside vehicles during combat can dispose of their biological waste by firing it at the enemy.”

The tank poop invention by scientist Alexander Semyonov from St. Petersburg had an explosive effect, with thousands of comments spurting out on the web.

Here’re just some of the puns international media and ordinary readers have come up with in their replies:

• The Arms Race Gets Dirty (http://www.rferl.org)

• War is a messy business.
• The First Shot of WWIII Will Be Fired by Russia’s Mighty Poop Tank (http://dvice.com http://gizmodo.com)
• crap cannon (http://thedailywhat.cheezburger.com)
• the world's first high-explosive porta-potty (http://thedailywhat.cheezburger.com)
• Our greatest geopolitical foe, ladies and gentlemen (http://wordforge.net)
• Fucking Russkies. What will they think of next? (http://wordforge.net)
• Certainly gives the phrase "Sh*t Happens" a new meaning (http://www.fieldandstream.com)

Many have discarded the news as an Onion-styled hoax, but reports on the Russian TV seem to prove the story is real, just like the scientist.

One of the comments suggested it could qualify for “alternative energy”. And, indeed, hopefully this scientist can think of a non-lethal application to solid waste, something like this story.

Anyway, as another commentator wrote, no matter what they invent next, we sure hope the Russians will warn us before.