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UMD Scientists Create 'Smart Underwear' to Measure Human Flatulence (cbmg.umd.edu)
gundmc 1 days 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 1 days ago [-]
> in an unaired segment

checks out

ayashko 18 hours ago [-]
Historically (hysterically?); Joseph Pujol (June 1, 1857 – August 8, 1945), better known by his stage name Le Pétomane, was a French flatulist (professional fartist), comedian and entertainer. He was famous for his remarkable control of the abdominal muscles, which enabled him to seemingly fart at will. His stage name combines the French verb péter, "to fart" with the -mane, "-maniac" suffix, which translates to "fartomaniac". The profession is referred to as "flatulist", "farteur", or "fartiste". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Pétomane
snthpy 13 hours ago [-]
Ofc Freud came to watch lol
evanjrowley 1 days ago [-]
I considered becoming and early adopter but decided my needs would be better served after someone develops an industrial/Mil-Spec variant with wider range of operating temperatures, environmental resistance, and impact rating.
impish9208 1 days 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.
1 days ago [-]
shwaj 1 days ago [-]
I need a pair that can measure pitch and timbre.
jnaina 20 hours ago [-]
Same, but also measure blast radius
SoftTalker 1 days 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 1 days 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.

MrWiffles 1 days 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...

financetechbro 24 hours ago [-]
Calling farts “Quantity of Wind” is peak class. I will adopt this nomenclature
xrd 1 days ago [-]
I do think this has a chance of breaking records for clinical trial participation rates.
tomkarho 1 days ago [-]
Waiting on the legislation demanding that every underwear must have these "safety" features and then someone will insert a meter to those and start taxing us for every single puff.
1 days ago [-]
dzhiurgis 1 days ago [-]
Countries struggle to keep drugs, immigrants or straight up vape shops away. If we fail to keep our most basic laws enforced, how do you imagine stuff like this working. Cheap sarcasm like this has no place on HN.
shermantanktop 1 days ago [-]
When gas hits $5 a gallon at the pump, scientists get creative.
whynotmaybe 1 days ago [-]
mikestew 20 hours ago [-]
I read the plot and noped out on that one, until I read the cast list. Paul Giamatti? Fine, it goes on the list for tonight. If for no other reason than to find out what the hell he’s doing in something like that.
Khaine 16 hours ago [-]
The RedLetterMedia guys watched thunderpants and enjoyed it. If you can't be bothered watching it, you can watch their summary discussion of it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGI-BKctOK8
MrWiffles 19 hours ago [-]
Please, for the good of humanity, and of HN, report back.
mikestew 17 hours ago [-]
I wish I could report success, but I can’t find it streaming. Amazon will sell me the DVD for $6, but I don’t know if I wanted to get that invested. I may have to hoist the sails…
1 days ago [-]
zoklet-enjoyer 1 days 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 1 days 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 1 days ago [-]
Sincerely, TH FART
salad-tycoon 1 days ago [-]
Small annoyance, the team name is missing an E.

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

impure 19 hours ago [-]
32 a day!?! I guess I’m not that abnormal after all then.
1 days ago [-]
nullorempty 1 days ago [-]
Life is stranger than fiction.
portly 1 days ago [-]
I need a smell amplifier
nullorempty 1 days ago [-]
And I just invented a fart-tube to route gasses away from sensors - already assuming farts will be taxed.
1 days ago [-]
nytesky 1 days 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?”

euroderf 1 days 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 1 days ago [-]
As long as you're not achieving Plasma you're probably fine.
1 days ago [-]
fortranfiend 1 days ago [-]
Some things should be left unknown.
bdangubic 1 days ago [-]
Meta should buy this and make people in 3rd world countries watch this in real time
tootie 1 days ago [-]
Was just thinking about the surveillance aspect of this. Nobody would be able to pretend it was someone else who farted.
throwup238 1 days 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.

1 days ago [-]
toenail 1 days ago [-]
I wonder what comes after that, a tax for methane emissions?
Simulacra 1 days ago [-]
You speak in jest but compared to other taxes that have been proposed.. I can't say that you'd be wrong
kotaKat 1 days ago [-]
"This workplace is an Ultra-Low Emissions Zone. Violations will result in a daily standing charge docked from your pay."
paulbjensen 1 days ago [-]
…and the Danes will tax it, just like they tax cow farts.
CalRobert 1 days ago [-]
Well, given that both are destructive to the planet, that makes some sense.

(Also, cow burps are the bigger issue)

nullorempty 1 days ago [-]
Clearly. Seems like the top concern for today's the powers that be.
ramon156 1 days 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 1 days 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 1 days ago [-]
> Stop all the crazy shit they are doing.

But then we would have to accept methane is an excellent fuel and that we have an abundance of it. No one on the fortune 500 likes that idea.

svilen_dobrev 1 days ago [-]
digital Farthings, here they come
MarkusWandel 1 days ago [-]
That sounds like a classig igNobel Prize candidate!
1 days ago [-]
nacozarina 1 days ago [-]
if they are electrified, they can be hacked to be an ignition source
aanet 1 days ago [-]
Hand ‘em the IgNoble prize already
1 days ago [-]
oulipo2 1 days ago [-]
Can we bind it so when I fart it closes the tab?
vivzkestrel 1 days 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 1 days ago [-]
Tired: Kohler's poop camera.

Sleepy: Withings' piss sensor.

Wired: Smart fart panties.

k4rnaj1k 1 days 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 1 days ago [-]
Finally, we might have proof that family member(X) truly is releasing biological weapons grade flatulence at the next holiday get together.
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