I was studying today's newspaper and this appeared:
How did the metals get there? Metals are used in practically every product we use. Even detergents and shampoos have traces of them. Nanoparticles are used to limit body odour in socks, for instance. A lot of this is absorbed by the body and discarded as waste, which enters the sewage system and treatment plants.
So I could have been a millionaire by now? Since the idea isn’t to sift through individual toilet refuse, no, you would still probably be where you are now. To actually mine the sewage, wastewater is treated through physical, biological, and chemical processes, resulting in treated water and biosolids. The biosolids, says US researchers, may be as good as a gold mine.
Is the usage of could have been correct? If yes, then how does it differ from I could be a millionaire by now?
Please explain this to me.