Australia, your country needs you. Or more specifically, your flatulence.
That venerable body the CSIRO is recruiting citizen scientists to ‘chart your farts’ as part of their research into gut health.
And there’s no holding back. The scientists want to know all the ways you let fluffy off the chain.
Participants will track the quantity and quality of their outputs, including attributes such as stench, loudness, duration, linger and detectability.
Details count when it comes to your bottom burps, basically.
By sharing their fluffs, people will help to create a chart of what ‘normal’ wind may look like in different groups of Australians.
There’s an app for that
Participants must be aged 14 or older and track their flatulence for at least three days in total, using the free ‘Chart Your Fart’ phone app. Is there nothing technology can’t help with?
And this is not even the first time the CSIRO has wanted to know how you let one rip. A 2021 CSIRO gut health study found over 60 per cent of Australians reported experiencing what they identified as excessive flatulence, with up to 43 per cent reporting experiencing it most days.
CSIRO research dietitian, Megan Rebuli, said that while some can find farts embarrassing and uncomfortable, healthy bodies are meant to let them go.
“Passing wind is a natural occurrence and a sign that our digestive system is working as it should, to expel excess gas that is produced from breaking down and processing the food we eat,” Ms Rebuli said.
“Talking about diet often leads into discussion about the other end of eating.
“Different foods, medical conditions, or even the way we chew, or swallow can have an impact on how our body processes the excess gas, leading to different smells, frequency or even volume.”
A study for all Australians
Project lead and CSIRO behavioural scientist Dr Emily Brindal said when it comes to health and wellbeing, the community bring personal – very personal – experience and observations that can better inform research.
“Research is only as good as the data we have, and we want to work with as much of our diverse Australian community as we can to drive innovation in health and wellbeing research and deliver meaningful outcomes,” Dr Brindal said.
“We want to showcase the potential of public-led research and ask the community to come on board with shaping our future health and wellbeing science.
“We rely on the public to share their experience with us for so much of our health and wellbeing research, but we also want to hear what research the community wants us to do – it is about keeping it real and relevant, but why not have some fun too?”
If you want your back draft to go down in history you can register and find out where to download the app here.
Would you be interested in taking part? Why not share your opinion in the comments section below?
Also read: How to prevent and reduce bloating
As the odorous flatulence is a product of the gut bacteria that we got at birth from our mother, that connection should find them less objectionable whilst the stranger in the house, the father, will produce more unpleasant odours.
There is an old joke about why farts smell. But that’s for you to find the punchline.