Everyone does it. Call it breaking wind, cutting the cheese, or sounding the trumpet — farting is just part of being human. But when does “normal” turn into “too much”?
That’s exactly what researchers at the University of Maryland are trying to figure out — and they’re doing it with something called “Smart Underwear.”
Yes, It’s Exactly What It Sounds Like
Led by Brantley Hall, an assistant professor in the university’s Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, the nationwide study aims to finally answer a question doctors hear all the time: How much gas is excessive?
According to Hall, gastroenterologists are flooded with patients complaining about excess intestinal gas — and there’s surprisingly little solid data to guide them.
“It’s expensive, it’s time consuming, but there’s really no answer,” Hall said of current diagnostic efforts.
So he built one.
About five years ago, Hall and his research team developed a wearable device — roughly the size of a quarter — that clips onto underwear. Using electrochemical sensors, the device tracks how often someone passes gas throughout the day.
Science has officially entered the chat.
The Early Results Might Surprise You
In a small “proof of concept” study published in December involving 19 adults, researchers found that participants passed gas an average of 32 times per day — more than double the amount commonly cited in medical literature.
But here’s where it gets interesting: the numbers varied wildly.
Two participants who reported eating the same diet passed gas 175 times and five times, respectively, in a single day.
That kind of gap is exactly what Hall wants to understand.
The Human Flatulence Study Is Blowing Up
In mid-February, the team launched the full-scale “Human Flatulence Study,” originally hoping to recruit 800 participants.
Hall admits he would have been thrilled if even 10 people signed up in the first week.
Instead? More than 3,000 volunteers from nearly all 50 states have already enrolled.
“It turns out people are extremely interested and want to know whether they’re farting a normal amount,” Hall said.
Participants have been surprisingly open, sharing personal — and sometimes embarrassing — stories about untimely gas incidents. According to Hall, that openness may be the biggest surprise of all.
What Happens Next?
Researchers will track participants’ food intake and aim to standardize diets as much as possible. They’re also collecting detailed demographic information to help pinpoint why some people are more… musically inclined than others.
Preliminary results are expected within about a year.
The study is limited to U.S. participants, so it won’t represent the entire world. But with thousands of volunteers, Hall believes they’ll capture a wide range of data across the population.
So if you’ve ever wondered whether your daily gas output is normal — science may soon have an answer.
Until then, you can blame it on research.
Frank
Image Credit: Scott Harris
