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Self contained ignition

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Pattree

Pattree

Full Member
Jul 19, 2023
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At the back of my weekly New Scientist magazine is a whimsical section called “Last Word”. It’s where’s the science based cartoons and odd discoveries appear.
Another feature consists of questions asked by readers to which answers are provided by other readers. I have occasionally answered one of these questions and even more occasionally my answer has been published.

I shall not attempt this week’s question but shall be interested in the answer:

1722791742930.jpeg

Is it feasible to start a fire with a fart and a static spark from human hair?
 
I feel an experiment coming one. But how would one generate the static? Assuming the hair would be erm.... closely embedded near the fart....
 
Van-Wild said:
I feel an experiment coming one. But how would one generate the static? Assuming the hair would be erm.... closely embedded near the fart....
Click to expand...
when you feel a fart brewing you rub your head vigorously with a towel then extract a hair and correctly place it. For guaranteed combustion the flow of gas must be regulated. If you blow too hard it will extinguish the flame x
 
Pattree said:
At the back of my weekly New Scientist magazine is a whimsical section called “Last Word”. It’s where’s the science based cartoons and odd discoveries appear.
Another feature consists of questions asked by readers to which answers are provided by other readers. I have occasionally answered one of these questions and even more occasionally my answer has been published.

I shall not attempt this week’s question but shall be interested in the answer:

View attachment 89440

Is it feasible to start a fire with a fart and a static spark from human hai
Click to expand...
so we have to wait a week to find out the answer. I will have forgot about it by then. can you pm please with it next week and thank you for the important work you are engaging us in. x
 
Sorry Dale,
It won’t be next week. It takes several weeks between submission of an answer to publication of useful (checked) answers. It may be whimsical but it’s accurate. They published one of mine but only after agreeing a correction. Apparently I can’t tell a femto from a pico (which is a thousand times bigger. Ho, as they say, hum.)

I’m impressed @demented dale. It will be very interesting if the specialists say it can’t be done :)

Edited to add:
I won’t be answering this one. If I don’t know the answer then I don’t attempt it.
 
Last edited:
Pattree said:
Sorry Dale,
It won’t be next week. It takes several weeks between submission of an answer to publication of useful (checked) answers. It may be whimsical but it’s accurate. They published one of mine but only after agreeing a correction. Apparently I can’t tell a femto from a pico (which is a thousand times bigger. Ho, as they say, hum.)

I’m impressed @demented dale. It will be very interesting if the specialists say it can’t be done :)

Edited to add:
I won’t be answering this one. If I don’t know the answer then I don’t attempt it.
Click to expand...
Well if Dale sends you a video proving it to be true….
 
Wildgoose said:
Well if Dale sends you a video proving it to be true….
Click to expand...

I don’t doubt Dale for a minute.
I question the expertise of any scientists that write in with an answer. I bet THEY don’t have research evidence.

I’d be intrigued to hear an AI answer this question.


TeeDee said:
I Immac and bleach that area so don't look at me to be a guinea pig.

#pristine.
Click to expand...
If you are all shiny then you may have reversed the polarity and rubbing a cat there should produce a spark. I’m pretty sure that there wouldn’t be a microbe in sight if you were successful.

As you stove experts know well: An NRV (non return valve) is essential ppe for this experiment!
 
ChatGPT's response

Conclusion​

While theoretically possible under very controlled conditions with high concentrations of flammable gases and a sufficiently strong spark, in practice, it's highly unlikely that a static spark from human hair would ignite a fart and start a fire.

chatgpt.com

ChatGPT

A conversational AI system that listens, learns, and challenges
chatgpt.com chatgpt.com

;)
 
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Thanks for that @Jared . That is the first time I’ve ever knowingly seen an AI response.

Well I think we know that it’s highly unlikely given the number of incidences reported

I think we know that it is theoretically possible because the internal combustion engine works.

What we needed was experience and citation.
 
Asked follow up questions

chatgpt.com

ChatGPT

A conversational AI system that listens, learns, and challenges
chatgpt.com chatgpt.com

Closest incidents have been in medical settings which involved electrocautery or lasers.

​

 
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Pattree said:
At the back of my weekly New Scientist magazine is a whimsical section called “Last Word”. It’s where’s the science based cartoons and odd discoveries appear.
Another feature consists of questions asked by readers to which answers are provided by other readers. I have occasionally answered one of these questions and even more occasionally my answer has been published.

I shall not attempt this week’s question but shall be interested in the answer:

View attachment 89440

Is it feasible to start a fire with a fart and a static spark from human hair?
Click to expand...
it works with a ferro rod. ive just done it. :)
 
Bloody hell Dale! Be careful mate; that’s 3000C sparks shooting around your nethers quite apart from ignition (and take off).
 
The apocryphal tale of the squaddie stretchered backside upwards into an army ward and a plummy voiced Matron is heard saying, "Oh God ! they've been lighting their farts again, haven't they ?"

All well and good until there's a vacuum effect, or reverse chimney :rolleyes:

Truthfully, I cannot see a bushcraft application for this.
Dried sh1t yes, it burns like 'prairie coals' apparently, but raw gas is just feeding the greenhouse emissions.
 
@Toddy
I don’t think the NS questioner was envisaging a heating system; just a fire starter.

Edited to add:
Toddy: if it’s coming it’s coming. The difference that fire makes is that it reduces the % of methane and increases the % of CO2. On balance I think that’s an improvement.

@demented dale
Quite right mate. No one said that the hair and the fart had to belong to the same person.
 
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