Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Scientific Study Reveals Formula For 'World's Funniest Fart'

Scientific Study Reveals Formula For 'World's Funniest Fart'
Scientist Dr. Helen Pilcher reveals the mathematical formula for the world's funniest fart (David Parry/PA)

The “world's funniest fart" has been revealed by scientists in a specially commissioned study.


The Flatulence Report, for The Beano, has worked out a mathematical formula that was tested for 176 different noises ranging from low to high pitch, short to long, dry to wet and from loud to squeaking.

Components in the formula included a fart's intensity, length, social embarrassment and the number of children present divided by the age and gender of whoever hears it.

The funniest fart came out on top in a public vote with a mean score of 8.27 out of 10 – also being described as “unfortunate" and “potentially messy."

Scientist Dr. Helen Pilcher led the research with the help of “Beano boffins" and sound specialists Bose Professional.

She said: “The funniest fart is long, loud and ever so slightly wet. This gives it the potential to cause major social embarrassment.

Fart formulaDr. Pilcher's formula for the funniness of a fart (Taylor Herring/PA)

“The research and our formula show how funny farts are. It's as simple as that.

“Anyone who says they've never farted or found a fart funny has pants that are probably on fire."

Young people in recording studioKatie Downey, 10, and Matti Kolirin, 11, undertake research as voice actor Grant Leat records the world's scientifically funniest fart sound (David Parry/PA)

The study found farts are likely to be found 5% funnier by men than women, with children also finding them 23% funnier than adults.

Young adults in the 18-24 age group were the least amused.

Mike Stirling, editorial director of Beano Studios, said: “We hired some genuine boffins to prove it, by helping us release the funniest fart of all time – you know, for science."

Suuuuuure.

Giphy

More from News/science

Screenshot of Gavin Newsom; Donald Trump
CNN; Scott Olson/Getty Images

Gavin Newsom Shames Trump For 'Politicizing' Los Angeles Fires In Powerful Clip

After President-elect Donald Trump spread lies about the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires, blaming California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom for the destruction, Newsom addressed the matter on CNN, telling Anderson Cooper that Trump "wanted to politicize" the disaster even as people flee and lose their lives.

Deadly wildfires in Los Angeles County remain largely uncontained, with officials reporting at least five confirmed fatalities so far. However, on Thursday, authorities admitted, “frankly, we don’t know” the true extent of the death toll. Evacuation orders are currently affecting nearly 180,000 residents, as thousands of homes and buildings have been destroyed.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Michelle Siemienowski after getting hit in the head by a football
@NFLonFOX/X

Dallas Cowboys Kicker Pens Sweet Apology Note After Football Nailed Cheerleader In The Head

Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Michelle Siemienowski was knocked down after getting walloped in the head when kicker Brandon Aubrey kicked the ball out of bounds toward where she cheered on the sidelines.

The incident happened at Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders after a second-quarter kickoff.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mike Johnson
Win McNamee/Getty Images

Mike Johnson Slammed After Boasting About Fast Election Certification Without A Hint Of Irony

House Speaker Mike Johnson was slammed after bragging to reporters about how Congress certified the 2024 election "without a hitch" in what he described as "record" time—and was quickly called out on social media.

During a press conference following Monday's certification, Johnson—without a hint of irony—said:

Keep ReadingShow less
Doug Ford; Donald Trump
Vince Talotta/Toronto Star via Getty Images; Scott Olson/Getty Images

Canadian Leader Trolls Trump's Statehood Offer With A Brilliant 'Counteroffer' Of His Own

Ontario Premier Doug Ford shut down President-elect Donald Trump's bizarre threat to make Canada part of the United States before jokingly making a "counteroffer" to buy a few states instead.

Ford's response is the latest development since Trump made headlines for jabbing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with remarks about Canadian statehood.

Keep ReadingShow less
silhouette photo of man riding unicycle
Noel Nichols on Unsplash

People Confess Which Things They're Unreasonably Good At

There's an ice breaker exercise that asks participants to share their secret superpower. Individuals would share the unusual skills and hidden talents they had that might surprise others.

This question reminds me of that exercise. What sometimes useless skill does a person have that they excel at.

Keep ReadingShow less