University of Maryland researchers develop smart underwear to track flatulence

Researchers have developed a first-of-its-kind smart underwear designed to non-invasively track human flatulence. The wearable device features a small disc that snaps into the underwear, utilizing tiny electrochemical sensors to detect hydrogen released by the gut microbiome.

Led by Brantley Hall of the University of Maryland, the project aims to provide more accurate data than traditional self-reporting or uncomfortable rectal tubes. By monitoring gas production, scientists hope to gain insights into human metabolism, digestive health, and how different diets affect the gut. The data collected contributes to the ‘Human Flatus Atlas,’ a global research project.

A study involving nearly 60 participants, published in the journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics, found that healthy adults produced an average of 32 gas events per day, significantly higher than the 14 daily events typically cited in medical literature. While not currently a medical device, the technology could eventually help identify triggers for digestive conditions such as food intolerance and irritable bowel syndrome.