UMD Scientists Create 'Smart Underwear' to Measure Human Flatulence (cbmg.umd.edu)

65 points by ohjeez 3 hours ago

MrWiffles an hour ago

I’ll remind us all that the subject of human flatulence has been one of interest for some of history’s greatest minds - and humorists - for several centuries at the very least:

https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-32-02-02...

gundmc an hour ago

Mythbusters made a version of this in an unaired segment of their 2006 episode about passing gas https://youtu.be/RHcDP_Yew-g?si=T7AONGdXPd4d_gM3

elcapitan an hour ago

> in an unaired segment

checks out

SoftTalker 3 hours ago

My first question was: who funded this? Seems like a candidate for a Proxmire Golden Fleece Award.

This research was supported by the University of Maryland, the Maryland Innovation Initiative Phase I and the UM Ventures Medical Device Development Fund.

toraway 33 minutes ago

Or just maybe, it was developed to further a legitimately needed area of medical research with direct human clinical relevance like quantifying differences in the microbiome for colorectal cancer, etc.

The concept of the Golden Fleece awards (and whatever Rand Paul’s version is called) linking a reaction of “sounds stupid to me” by a random layperson with “taxpayers are getting ripped off” is inherently faulty and weaponizing populism to sabotage publicly funded scientific research.

nytesky 2 hours ago

I know this is worthwhile, especially with the rise in colorectal cancer in younger adults, perhaps this will help in early detection.

But I did take a double take and go “Is it April already?”

impish9208 an hour ago

Some PM somewhere is asking when this API will be available in the browser so that their site and its 413 trusted partners can delight their visitors with more relevant ads.

nacozarina 39 minutes ago

if they are electrified, they can be hacked to be an ignition source

shermantanktop 3 hours ago

When gas hits $5 a gallon at the pump, scientists get creative.

whynotmaybe 6 minutes ago

bdangubic 2 hours ago

Meta should buy this and make people in 3rd world countries watch this in real time

tootie 2 hours ago

Was just thinking about the surveillance aspect of this. Nobody would be able to pretend it was someone else who farted.

xrd 2 hours ago

I do think this has a chance of breaking records for clinical trial participation rates.

fortranfiend an hour ago

Some things should be left unknown.

nullorempty 3 hours ago

Life is stranger than fiction.

portly 3 hours ago

I need a smell amplifier

aanet 16 minutes ago

Hand ‘em the IgNoble prize already

zoklet-enjoyer 3 hours ago

Future Ig Nobel candidate?

I signed up for the study. I like to participate in studies at the local college and I track my sleep and stuff daily on my watch. Kind of excited about this. I'll report back with my data if I get picked

Update: dang

Thank you for your interest in the Human Flatus Atlas and for your willingness to participate in our study.

Due to overwhelming demand, we are currently experiencing a temporary pause in onboarding new participants. At this time, we kindly ask that you save the personalized consent form link you received, as it will be required to continue your participation once we are ready to bring you on board.

We will send a notification once we have expanded capacity to accommodate all participants.

We are thrilled by the incredible response to this study and truly appreciate your patience and enthusiasm. We look forward to your participation.

Sincerely, The Human Flatus Atlas Research Team

dguest 2 hours ago

Ig Nobel is doing more for science than Nobel:

- It's fun.

- The prizes are accessible to young scientists who actually need the career boost from the publicity (as opposed to established scientists who are mostly boosting the prestige of the prize)

- They promote awareness of how diverse and awesome science is.

batch12 2 hours ago

Sincerely, TH FART

salad-tycoon 2 hours ago

Small annoyance, the team name is missing an E.

Wish they had gone with The Human Enterologic Flatulence Atlas Research Team.

nullorempty 3 hours ago

And I just invented a fart-tube to route gasses away from sensors - already assuming farts will be taxed.

paulbjensen 3 hours ago

…and the Danes will tax it, just like they tax cow farts.

CalRobert 2 hours ago

Well, given that both are destructive to the planet, that makes some sense.

(Also, cow burps are the bigger issue)

nullorempty 2 hours ago

Clearly. Seems like the top concern for today's the powers that be.

ramon156 2 hours ago

Methane is the most harmful gas right now, but the solution for some reason is more money to the gov. Maybe we should do something about that meat industry

nullorempty 2 hours ago

Methane you say.

May be they should just stop the wars for now. Stop spilling oil into the seas. Stop dropping bombs. Stop all the crazy shit they are doing.

As far as meat is concerned - our bodies need meat and fat to stay healthy.

6510 an hour ago

throwup238 2 hours ago

This reminds me of one of the pinnacles of Canadian culture, Kenny vs Spenny. In one episode titled “Who Can Blow the Biggest Farts?” they used a device that measures flatulence to judge who blew the biggest fart.

I assume with this underwear we all can participate in gamified flatulence with a global leader board.

euroderf an hour ago

These measurements will not be complete if they do not measure the other two states of matter, liquid and solid. I don't know about you, but they've been known to appear.

WaxProlix 33 minutes ago

As long as you're not achieving Plasma you're probably fine.

MarkusWandel 2 hours ago

That sounds like a classig igNobel Prize candidate!

toenail 3 hours ago

I wonder what comes after that, a tax for methane emissions?

Simulacra 3 hours ago

You speak in jest but compared to other taxes that have been proposed.. I can't say that you'd be wrong

kotaKat 3 hours ago

"This workplace is an Ultra-Low Emissions Zone. Violations will result in a daily standing charge docked from your pay."

oulipo2 an hour ago

Can we bind it so when I fart it closes the tab?

vivzkestrel 2 hours ago

- imagine if you had superpowers to do anything

- i would replace everyone s underwear secretly with a bass base to emit a loud noise everytime someone farted

- imagine how many loud bops you would hear at the airport every second

kotaKat 3 hours ago

Tired: Kohler's poop camera.

Sleepy: Withings' piss sensor.

Wired: Smart fart panties.

k4rnaj1k 2 hours ago

This can potenitally help people actually tell if their microbiome is okay. Seems like an actually useful study and will be very helpful for doctors.

salad-tycoon 2 hours ago

Finally, we might have proof that family member(X) truly is releasing biological weapons grade flatulence at the next holiday get together.