



Fart Experiment Listen to Karl talk about Fart Experiment

(You will need Real Audio which you can download for free) From our friends in science and potty-humour, Luke Tennent and colleagues.



On the morning show some months ago Dr Karl spoke of contaminated aerosols from flushing toilets landing on toothbrushes. A caller then asked about the possibility of ingesting (and becoming infected with) enteric bacteria from a nearby fart. Working in a microbiology lab Luke Tennent and colleagues had the unique opportunity to put this to the test.



Up close and personal - an eight year old's fart. +Copyright Luke Tennent, 2001.

A colleague took a blood agar plate (bacterial growth medium) home and had her eight year old son fart on the plate, pants down, from a distance of five centimetres. Upon overnight incubation the plate showed growth of mixed skin and enteric bacteria. Most notable is the concentration of enteric bacteria in the "initial blast zone" at the centre of the plate, surrounded by the mixed skin and enteric bacteria located in the "splatter ring" around the "initial blast zone". Conclusion, don't situate an unprotected face within five centimetres of an unsheathed flatulent anus.



Furthermore, we are willing to conduct extended investigation should we find a willing corporate sponsor. We propose a series of tests involving farting onto agar plates from varying distances (5 to 30cm) after the ingestion of specific foods and beverages. In addition to this, we hope to utilise a peak flow meter to test the power of the fart, and how this corresponds to culture results.



From our friends in science and potty-humour, Luke Tennent and colleagues. © Karl S. Kruszelnicki Pty Ltd 2008. More Homework . Home © 2020 ABC | Privacy Policy