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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsThe age old question: Can farts spread disease?
I know we've all wondered about this, especially in the age off COVID-19. Now, after centuries of study, scientists have finally found the answer.
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/620533/can-farts-spread-disease
"Short answer: If youre wearing pants, you should be fine."
"Back in 2001, a nurse asked Australian science author, educator, and commentator Karl "Dr. Karl" Kruszelnicki the same question. She wanted to know if she was contaminating the operating room she worked in by silently farting throughout procedures, Discover reports.
To get to the bottom of the matter, Kruszelnicki contacted Canberra microbiologist Luke Tennent. Tennent asked one of his colleagues to fart directly into two Petri dishes from a distance of five centimetersfirst while wearing pants, and then a second time au naturel. While the first Petri dish stayed clean, the second one sprouted bacteria overnight, which seemed to suggest that clothing acts as a barrier between whatever bacteria might be expelled by a fart (not all of which would be contained within the gas itself). Dr. Karl reported the findings in 2014 in the satirical holiday issue of the scientific journal BMJ, noting:
"Our deduction is that the enteric zone in the second Petri dish was caused by the flatus itself, and the splatter ring around that was caused by the sheer velocity of the fart, which blew skin bacteria from the cheeks and blasted it onto the dish. It seems, therefore, that flatus can cause infection if the emitter is naked, but not if he or she is clothed. But the results of the experiment should not be considered alarming, because neither type of bacterium is harmful. In fact, they're similar to the friendly bacteria found in yogurt."
There's much more information at the link for those who are interested in the science of flatulence. I ran across this by accident. Really. I'm not consumed with flatulence, so stop saying that! (All apologies to Bob Boudelang).
global1
(25,219 posts)The anti-maskers better not hear about this. They might stop wearing pants. Don't want to infringe on their rights now - do we?
Wicked Blue
(5,813 posts)No pants under those yellow kilts
demosincebirth
(12,529 posts)Midnightwalk
(3,131 posts)I learned that yogurt is made of fart bacteria. Can I have a cookie?
Throckmorton
(3,579 posts)Well, at least they are baked.
DBoon
(22,338 posts)Someone else can do the work verifying this
JustFiveMoreMinutes
(2,133 posts)... was supposed to helpful with the immune system.
(Sorry, just memory, no link).
Harker
(13,957 posts)Naturally, on those extremely rare occasions when I squeak one out, the world is coming to an end.
lillypaddle
(9,580 posts)the shit you can learn on DU.
Arne
(1,994 posts)Had to add my $2.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,315 posts)... usually.
Worried2020
(444 posts).
.
My bed-sheets but be frikken TOXIC!
W
NotASurfer
(2,146 posts)That was a worthy study for the Nobel of this variety
MicaelS
(8,747 posts)For others. As for me, I love to fart.