The Hidden Science of Flatulence

Flatulence is one of the body's most universal and least discussed functions. But behind every burst of gas lies a complex ecosystem of trillions of microbes working around the clock inside your digestive tract. In this episode, we explore why flatulence happens, why it smells, and how new "smart underwear" may help researchers better understand digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome.

We'll unpack:

• How and why the body converts food into flatulence. 

• The surprising history of flatulence in art and entertainment. 

• Why scientists study intestinal gas alongside other digestive signals.

• What “smart underwear” is and how it works.

Guest: Brantley Hall, microbiologist at the University of Maryland and leader of the Human Flatus Atlas project.

Additional resources: https://join1440.com/t/gut-microbiome

Credits: A production of Rhyme Media for 1440 Media Host: Dina Fine Maron Producer: Nicolo Majnoni Editor: Dan Bobkoff Fact-Checker: Alice Jones Sound Designer: Jay Cowit Executive Producers (1440): Sony Kassam and Drew Steigerwald Executive Producer (Rhyme): Dan Bobkoff

About 1440: 1440 is a community for the knowledge-obsessed that helps curious people stay informed and inspired every day. We live in an age of limitless information but limited understanding. Algorithms decide what we see. Misinformation spreads faster than truth. And the tools meant to expand knowledge now distort it.