Scientists create smart underwear that tracks how often you fart

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Researchers have created special underwear that can measure how often a person passes gas. This innovative technology, a first of its kind, could significantly change the way scientists study digestive health.

This small device, worn like underwear, constantly tracks gas in the digestive system by measuring hydrogen released when someone passes gas. Scientists believe this is the first reliable and comfortable method for monitoring this process throughout the day.

Researchers at the University of Maryland, led by Brantley Hall, conducted a study with almost 60 healthy people. The results were published in the journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics.

Most research on gas has depended on people simply writing down how much they pass, which isn’t very accurate because memories can be faulty and counting isn’t easy. While scientists have directly measured gas using tubes inserted into the rectum, these methods were uncomfortable and difficult to use for extended periods.

Smart underwear tracks hydrogen from gut microbes

This new device measures hydrogen, a key gas released when someone passes gas. While farts usually contain hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen, some people also produce methane. Scientists believe measuring hydrogen is particularly useful because it’s created only by bacteria in the gut, giving a clear indication of how much fermentation is happening in the digestive system.

According to Hall, using objective measurements will help make research in this area more scientifically sound, as it’s historically been a challenging topic to study.

Researchers tested the comfort and reliability of smart underwear by having nineteen people wear it during their everyday routines for a week. Participants comfortably wore the device for over 11 hours each day, and consistently used it as instructed.

An additional 38 people participated in a study where they ate a specific diet to see if the device could accurately measure changes in their digestion based on what they consumed.

Okay, so I was reading about this study, and apparently, healthy adults fart way more than anyone realizes! The researchers found the average person lets one rip about 32 times a day. That’s more than twice the number – 14 times – you usually hear doctors talk about. It really varied though, some people were only at 4 times a day, while others were up to 59! It’s kinda wild to think about, honestly.

“Think of it like a continuous glucose monitor, but for intestinal gas,” Hall compared.

Unlike things like blood sugar or cholesterol, doctors haven’t established a standard for what’s considered a normal amount of gas. Researchers point out we currently lack a baseline for measuring typical flatulence levels.

We don’t have a clear idea of how much gas is considered normal. Without knowing that starting point, it’s difficult to determine when someone is passing gas too much,” the researcher explained.

The team is launching a bigger study, called the Human Flatus Atlas, to learn more about farting. They’ll be tracking gas patterns in many people and seeing how they relate to what people eat and the bacteria in their guts.

We now know a lot about the types of microbes that live in our digestive systems, but we still have a limited understanding of what they’re doing in real-time, explains Hall. The Human Flatus Atlas aims to create a standard reference point for how these gut microbes break down food, which is a crucial first step for understanding how changes to diet or the use of probiotics or prebiotics affect gut health.

Interestingly, this news follows a recent study suggesting that smelling your own gas might actually protect against Alzheimer’s disease.

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2026-02-16 20:49