already short-listed for the 2027 IgNobel prizes

[twoeleven]

(UPI) University of Maryland researchers designed "Smart Underwear" to track and measure flatulence -- and they are seeking volunteers to wear them.

[...]

"We don't actually know what normal flatus production looks like," [Brantley] Hall[, an assistant professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics] said. "Without that baseline, it's hard to know when someone's gas production is truly excessive."

The team is seeking participants who fall into three categories developed from [Santiago] Botasini's team's research: Zen Digesters, those who consume high fiber diets yet pass gas rarely; Hydrogen Hyperproducers -- "simply put, people who fart a lot;" and Normal People, those who fall between the other two categories.

Comments

[bluepapercup]

I am non-ironically incredibly curious what the distribution of farts per day ends up actually being in the study set!! I am always amazed when someone tells me they "rarely" pass gas...I grew up in a whole-wheat bread and lots of veggies eating family so daily toots seem normal to me.

But also smart underwear, ROFL.