As part of Vice’s ongoing commitment to service journalism, they’ve published an interview with a proctologist to discuss what, exactly “makes a fart.” Considering our own fascination with the nuances of the gastrointestinal system, this obviously got our attention.
The interview covers some territory that, thanks to internet access in junior high, we already know: The smell is determined by what you eat, noise is determined by amount of gas and the speed/force with which it’s expelled, etc. But then the interview gets a bit more — technical? — and I personally learned something new, which I wanted to share it with you all!
Often times my farts feel physically hot. What causes that sensation?
The sensation of heat is when the internal sphincter opens a little to sample what’s in the rectum. That is a normal response. If there isn’t a great deal of gas, the body will expel it slower, allowing you to feel the fart’s heat. If there is a lot of gas, the gas comes out too quickly for the body to feel the heat.
Is the temperature of the slow, hot farts actually higher than the quick, cool ones?
The temperature should be the same. Again, it is a product of the amount and speed in which one expels gas.
Knowledge is power, people.
What Makes A Fart [Vice]
Related: Plugged Up: Meet the Man With a Constipation Fetish
The Reader’s Treasury of Constipation Cures
[Image via Worth1000]
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