What is the world's oldest recorded joke, and what is it about?

Researchers have discovered that the oldest recorded example of humor is a 3,900-year-old Sumerian proverb. The punchline revolves around a flatulent bride sitting on her husband's lap, proving that bathroom humor has entertained humans for millennia.

How many times does the average person actually pass gas in a day?

While traditional estimates based on self-reporting claimed people only pass gas about 14 times a day, modern research shows the true average is closer to 32. Using clip-on wearable sensors that measure hydrogen levels in real time, University of Maryland scientists found daily rates among healthy adults ranged anywhere from 4 to 59 times.

What is the purpose of the University of Maryland's 'Human Flatus Atlas'?

Led by Assistant Professor Brantley Hall, the Human Flatus Atlas aims to establish a scientific medical baseline for normal gas production. By mapping hydrogen output alongside individual diets and gut microbiomes, researchers hope to better understand and diagnose gastrointestinal disorders.

Why did the UK Royal Navy mistake a whale for a Russian submarine?

Naval operators monitoring waters near a UK nuclear submarine base detected mysterious acoustic pings traveling along the coast, leading officials to suspect they were tracking stealth Russian drones. A thorough investigation later confirmed the suspicious underwater acoustics were actually coming from a migrating, flatulent whale.

What is the historical story behind Seattle's Bootlegger's Ball?

The Bootlegger's Ball is an immersive 1920s speakeasy event hosted at Seattle's historic Odd Fellows Hall. It brings to life the Prohibition-era history documented by author Brad Holden, exploring the real network of rum runners, gamblers, and corrupt city officials that once operated in the Queen City.

Scientists Invented Smart Underwear to Track Farts

History is messy, wild, and frequently unhinged—and on this rollicking mini-episode of *Rainy Day Rabbit Holes*, hosts Shay and Jodie prove that even the most undignified bodily functions boast a rich, surprisingly profound scientific and historical pedigree.

The journey down this week’s rabbit hole begins nearly four thousand years ago in ancient Mesopotamia. Long before modern comedy specials, the world’s oldest recorded joke—a 3,900-year-old Sumerian proverb—centered around the timeless humor of flatulent brides. But human fascination with gastrointestinal gas doesn't stop in the ancient cradle of civilization. Shay and Jodie dive into cutting-edge modern science, examining research from the University of Maryland where Assistant Professor Brantley Hall and his team outfitted test subjects with sensor-equipped "smart underwear." By measuring real-time hydrogen emissions produced by gut microbes fermenting dietary fiber, the researchers debunked the long-standing, polite medical myth that humans average only 14 passing moments of gas a day. Instead, the baseline clocked in at a robust 32—with some participants reaching up to 59—all in pursuit of building the ambitious "Human Flatus Atlas" to better map the human microbiome.

From high-tech laboratory wear, the hosts pivot to an international maritime mystery worthy of a Cold War espionage thriller. Listeners are transported to the strategic waters off the United Kingdom, near the secretive home base of the nation’s nuclear doomsday submarines. Tensions flared when sonar operators picked up suspicious, rhythmic acoustic pings tracking past the Skye Bridge toward the open sea. Fears immediately mounted that British waters were under covert surveillance by Russian drones or Vladimir Putin’s underwater fleet, evoking dramatic scenes straight out of *The Hunt for Red October*. However, after intensive tactical investigation, the Royal Navy discovered that the clandestine culprit wasn’t a stealth foreign vessel at all—it was the resonant, shameless biological emissions of a rogue, gassy whale.

Along the way, the episode touches down in the Pacific Northwest with teasers for local deep dives, including the raucous legacy of Klondike Kate and her ties to Tacoma’s historic Pantages Theater, as well as Seattle’s underground 1920s Prohibition scene. Blending bizarre geopolitical mix-ups, gut science, and ancient comedy, this episode is a delightfully weird reminder that truth is always stranger—and funnier—than fiction. Grab your headphones and prepare to laugh out loud as *Rainy Day Rabbit Holes* uncovers the absurd truths floating beneath history’s surface.

What If We've Been Counting Farts Wrong Our Entire Lives?

For years, scientists believed the average person passes gas about 14 times per day. It turns out that number may have been dramatically underestimated.

In this bonus episode, Shea dives into a wonderfully bizarre study where researchers developed wearable "smart underwear" capable of detecting intestinal gas. The device allowed scientists to measure real-world gas production more accurately than ever before, and the findings were both surprising and hilarious.

But that's only half the story.

Once we're done discussing wearable fart technology, we head to the ocean where a whale's gas reportedly created sounds that were mistaken for a possible underwater security threat. Because apparently even military intelligence isn't immune to the power of a well-timed toot.

In This Episode

The surprising reason the "14 farts per day" estimate may be wrong
How researchers built wearable gas-detecting underwear
Why self-reporting isn't always reliable science
The Human Flatus Atlas project and what researchers hope to learn
The medical importance of understanding normal gas production
The whale fart that allegedly sounded suspiciously like a military threat
Why some of the funniest scientific studies can still produce valuable discoveries

Fact, Folklore, or Speculation?

Fact: Researchers developed wearable technology to measure intestinal gas production in real-world settings and found people may pass gas far more often than previously estimated.

Fact: Scientists are using this data to better understand digestion, microbiomes, and gastrointestinal health.

Reported Incident: Unusual underwater sounds investigated as a potential security concern were later attributed to a whale.

Universal Truth: Farts have apparently been funny for thousands of years.

Coming Soon: Klondike Kate Live!

🎙️ Join us for our upcoming Klondike Kate live show!

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes is heading to the stage to explore the fascinating history, colorful characters, and larger-than-life legends surrounding the iconic Klondike Kate. Expect laughs, fascinating stories, audience interaction, and plenty of unexpected rabbit holes along the way.

For show details, updates, tickets, and upcoming events, visit:

https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com

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