2026-02-16 12:06:08

Scientists have created “smart underwear” to track how often we pass wind – all in the name of gut health.

Brantley Hall, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland, and his team have built a wearable device designed to detect and record flatulence, offering an unusually high-tech way to study one of the body’s most normal – yet least discussed – functions.

As reported by Scientific American, Hall said in a statement: “We don’t actually know what normal flatus production looks like.

“Without that baseline, it’s hard to know when someone’s gas production is truly excessive,”

The average person is thought to fart between 10 and 20 times a day. But until now, most data has relied on self-reporting, which researchers admit can be unreliable.

To get around this, scientists developed sensor-equipped underwear capable of detecting gases released during flatulence.

The device can identify when a fart happens and measure certain characteristics, helping researchers build a clearer picture of digestive health.

While it may sound like a joke invention, the goal is serious, as passing gas is closely linked to diet, gut bacteria and overall digestive function.

Changes in frequency or composition can sometimes signal underlying health issues, including food intolerances or gastrointestinal disorders.

By gathering more accurate data, researchers hope to better understand what’s normal, what’s not, and how lifestyle factors influence gut activity.

The technology could one day help doctors monitor patients with digestive conditions in a discreet, non-invasive way.

The work also highlights how much remains unknown about everyday bodily processes.

Despite being universal, flatulence is still surprisingly understudied in clinical settings, and experts say the findings could help remove some of the stigma around discussing gut health.

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