Reading the global warming discussion got me thinking. (this is not a joke) When we fart we release methane gases right? Gases which are harmful. Now, if he 'hold in' a fart...where does that methane go? Is it broken down inside the body? Release really slowly? Compounded for a future fart?
Methane and You?
I think it comes out, one way or another. Apparently, if you try to hold it, it'll either come out in another fart, or leak out gradually 
Of course, I learned that on the internet, so... it could be false.
BTW, don't worry about your farts contributing to global warming. It's true that methane is a major greenhouse gas. In fact, it's a much stronger greenhouse gas than CO2, but it is present in much much lower atmospheric concentrations. It's also important to keep in mind that farting is one of those things that's been happening for millions of years, so you can think of it as 'built in' to the stable system. The only issue with farting is cow farting. Because of their digestive systems, cows fart a lot and their digestion is fairly inefficient. So they release a lot of methane that might not normally be released by, say, a field full of mice. In that way agriculture has an effect on greenhouse gas accumulation.
The rates of turnover of CO2 and other greenhouse gasses due to respiration (and, yes, farting) are huge. In fact, they dwarf the anthropogenic greenhouse gas production. However, things like breathing and farting have been historically offset by equally huge carbon sinks, such as plant uptake of CO2 and buildup of organic compounds in the soil. The recent CO2 production by humans is not offset by such processes. In fact, it involves a release of carbon that had previously been safely stored in the Earth's crust. That is why the atmospheric CO2 concentrations are increasing and the climate is changing.
Of course, I learned that on the internet, so... it could be false.
BTW, don't worry about your farts contributing to global warming. It's true that methane is a major greenhouse gas. In fact, it's a much stronger greenhouse gas than CO2, but it is present in much much lower atmospheric concentrations. It's also important to keep in mind that farting is one of those things that's been happening for millions of years, so you can think of it as 'built in' to the stable system. The only issue with farting is cow farting. Because of their digestive systems, cows fart a lot and their digestion is fairly inefficient. So they release a lot of methane that might not normally be released by, say, a field full of mice. In that way agriculture has an effect on greenhouse gas accumulation.
The rates of turnover of CO2 and other greenhouse gasses due to respiration (and, yes, farting) are huge. In fact, they dwarf the anthropogenic greenhouse gas production. However, things like breathing and farting have been historically offset by equally huge carbon sinks, such as plant uptake of CO2 and buildup of organic compounds in the soil. The recent CO2 production by humans is not offset by such processes. In fact, it involves a release of carbon that had previously been safely stored in the Earth's crust. That is why the atmospheric CO2 concentrations are increasing and the climate is changing.
I made a joke once about Jesus farting being a small cause of global warming ... nobody laughed
I have seen people fart in there sleep but never burp
Is it methane hydrates trapped in the oceans floor and soon to be/could be released due to the earths change in ocean flows as the polar regions melt ?
I have seen people fart in there sleep but never burp
Is it methane hydrates trapped in the oceans floor and soon to be/could be released due to the earths change in ocean flows as the polar regions melt ?
I've heard that bovine and termite flatulence are responsible for global warming.
I used to worry about the same thing! Years ago, I tried to hold in farts to reduce my climate impact. Then I turned 16 and got a car (because that's what you're "supposed" to do) and drove enough miles in the next 10 years to make any climate impact of my farts seem like...a fart in a hurricane? As Gagnar pointed out, methane from human farts contributes so little to overall greenhouse gas levels that you don't need to worry about them. But if you insist on worrying about them, then maybe try adjusting your diet so that you don't fart...I *think* that farts come from food that you couldn't digest, so that organisms in your gut have a party on the undigested food, digest it themselves, and create methane as a byproduct, which of course has to get out of you. If I understand that correctly, then switching to a paleodiet or to whatever diet works best for you should reduce the amount of undigested food in your system and thus reduce your farts.
Gagnar pointed out that agriculture has added methane to greenhouse gas levels via cows. Apparently, recent research suggests that early agricultural rice paddies increased methane output thousands of years ago, because farmers flooded areas of land causing anaerobic decomposition and thus methane. That impact may have kept the earth's climate from shifting out of the warm holocene into another ice age.
Scrub
Gagnar pointed out that agriculture has added methane to greenhouse gas levels via cows. Apparently, recent research suggests that early agricultural rice paddies increased methane output thousands of years ago, because farmers flooded areas of land causing anaerobic decomposition and thus methane. That impact may have kept the earth's climate from shifting out of the warm holocene into another ice age.
Scrub
You can't hold it in, it gets released no matter how hard you try.
When I was younger, my dream was to strike it rich with my new invention, the Farteulator.
A hose running from the carburator of your car's engine to the driver's seat, with a little button to push opening a valve when you feel the urge. You would try holding it back until a power boost was needed, as when going up a hill. Or it could have a little reserve tank to store the methane until needed. It would come with a bumper sticker saying "FART POWERED".
When I was younger, my dream was to strike it rich with my new invention, the Farteulator.
A hose running from the carburator of your car's engine to the driver's seat, with a little button to push opening a valve when you feel the urge. You would try holding it back until a power boost was needed, as when going up a hill. Or it could have a little reserve tank to store the methane until needed. It would come with a bumper sticker saying "FART POWERED".
^*laughs*
Nice idea, but there are easier ways to get methane.
Nice idea, but there are easier ways to get methane.
I have been making fart converters for years.
It's like a catalytic converter for your colon.
It's very popular with enlightened environmental activists.
And with it's converging-diverging inside diameter it also functions as a muffler.
It's mainly worn at night in bed, or when in the company of like minded people.
Available in a super grip texture for Brazilian waxes,
or in a special smooth version for Wookies.
Reusable!
But, thorough cleaning is recommended when sharing.
$29.95 + S/H with the convenience of paypal.
Save the planet.
Order yours today!
Your friends will envy you when you are more eco-friendly then they are.
It's like a catalytic converter for your colon.
It's very popular with enlightened environmental activists.
And with it's converging-diverging inside diameter it also functions as a muffler.
It's mainly worn at night in bed, or when in the company of like minded people.
Available in a super grip texture for Brazilian waxes,
or in a special smooth version for Wookies.
Reusable!
But, thorough cleaning is recommended when sharing.
$29.95 + S/H with the convenience of paypal.
Save the planet.
Order yours today!
Your friends will envy you when you are more eco-friendly then they are.
Unfortunately, the long term storage of methane in dark places (such as those in your colon) cause chemical reactions which convert methane into even more hazardous chemicals. Namely, bowel cancerium.
| coeus wrote: |
| Reading the global warming discussion got me thinking. (this is not a joke) When we fart we release methane gases right? Gases which are harmful. Now, if he 'hold in' a fart...where does that methane go? Is it broken down inside the body? Release really slowly? Compounded for a future fart? |
Methane gas doesn't cause global warming (as far as I know), but if it's combusted then the 2 products are CO2 and water. CO2 is responsible for the greenhouse effect and hence the global warming.
i have no nowlege what happens to farts inside your body if you hold in, but I would guess if it was produced it wont dissapear, otherwise it wouldnt be produced in the first place.
take care.
As far as I know, human farts are a largely insignificant part of global warming, and as was said before, has been built into the established system for millions of years.
The most significant farters on our planet, according to a Discovery Magazine article from about 5 years ago, are deep sea microbes. According to that article, if we found an economical way to tap that methane, it could be the next big energy source. I can't quote my exact source as I'm away from home for a few days but I have the magazine at home in my office. Really intriguing article--in the same issue as the article about the scientist who injects plastic into the capillary system of cadavers to make revealing sculptures of the human body.
I've heard that bovine and termite flatulence each produces the most methane on the planet. There is also a theory that many Bermuda Triangle phenomena can be explained by the sudden release of large quantities of methane from the ocean floor.
I think cows and sheep are much worse about this.
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