# Exploding bed caused by flatulence and static electricity. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 28, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-bed-caused-by-flatulence-and-static-electricity/679987 "2014-01-28T22:31:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![millen85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@millen85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/millen85)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-bed-caused-by-flatulence-and-static-electricity/679987/1 "2014-01-28T22:31:06Z")
On several occasions I have noticed, when wearing pajamas in bed, If I roll around under the sheets, static electricity builds up and can cause very small electrical discharges (sparks). This got me thinking about if by chance one were to pass gas under the sheets and then toss and turn in bed. Is it possible that any sparks could ignite the methane trapped under the sheets?? I’m not even sure if the proper mixture of methane and oxygen could be produced in this situation. Additionally, would the sparks be sufficient enough to cause any ignition?? ---
**Author:** ![Dan\_ch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a4c791/32.png) [@Dan\_ch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_ch)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-bed-caused-by-flatulence-and-static-electricity/679987/2 "2014-01-28T23:11:35Z")
It looks like is possible to get the right mixture ignited by static electricity, as a bunch of German cows proved this week: [German cows cause methane blast in Rasdorf - BBC News](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25922514) > [@](#): > > Methane gas released by dairy cows has caused an explosion in a cow shed in Germany, police said. > The roof was damaged and one of the cows was injured in the blast in the central German town of Rasdorf. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-bed-caused-by-flatulence-and-static-electricity/679987/3 "2014-01-28T23:15:38Z")
Farts don’t contain nearly as much flammable gas as most folks think. Even if it did ignite, you’d get something about the size of a candle flame, for a fraction of a second. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-bed-caused-by-flatulence-and-static-electricity/679987/4 "2014-01-28T23:26:07Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Farts don’t contain nearly as much flammable gas as most folks think. Even if it did ignite, you’d get something about the size of a candle flame, for a fraction of a second. And you know this _how_? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![millen85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@millen85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/millen85)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-bed-caused-by-flatulence-and-static-electricity/679987/5 "2014-01-29T00:00:03Z")
Interesting article Dan! Looks like one of my questions is answered. As for the amount of methane produced by a human. I wonder if it depends on the type of food you eat. Also, I’m sure a larger fart would produce more flammable gas. I guess my question now is "if the gas trapped under the sheets were to ignite, might the resulting “explosion”: (1) produce enough force to remove any sheets from the bed (2) light any bedding on fire (3) burn the occupant of the bed. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-bed-caused-by-flatulence-and-static-electricity/679987/6 "2014-01-29T01:16:25Z")
Nope, not everyone farts methane. Seems maybe half of people do. Those that do have at least one of a type of methane producing bacteria in their gut called [methanogens](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanogen). For some reason, [anorexics tend to have more of them and produce higher quantities of methane in their flatus. Obese people tend to have few or no methanogens and more non-methane producing bacteria in the lactobacillus group.](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19774074) So, are you fat? Then your farts probably aren’t flammable. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-bed-caused-by-flatulence-and-static-electricity/679987/7 "2014-01-29T01:22:05Z")
> [@Dan\_ch](#): > > It looks like is possible to get the right mixture ignited by static electricity, as a bunch of German cows proved this week: [German cows cause methane blast in Rasdorf - BBC News](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25922514) > > > [@](#): > > > > Methane gas released by dairy cows has caused an explosion in a cow shed in Germany, police said. > > The roof was damaged and one of the cows was injured in the blast in the central German town of Rasdorf. Dave Barry needs to get right on this, but alas, the man has retired from regular column-writing. Tragically, without Dave Barry, exploding toilets and exploding cows explode in vain. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-bed-caused-by-flatulence-and-static-electricity/679987/8 "2014-01-29T01:24:09Z")
My buddies and I as a kid were always burning off gas. It gives off a much larger flame than a candle. Most are yellowish with blue. I think it could possibly catch a light piece of cotton or something. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-bed-caused-by-flatulence-and-static-electricity/679987/9 "2014-01-29T01:49:40Z")
I’ve read that there are a small handful of documented cases in medical literature of patients spontaneously igniting on the operating table. Cauterizing instruments ignite gastrointestinal gases, and POOF! ---
**Author:** ![Artemis\_Tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Artemis\_Tardis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Artemis_Tardis)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-bed-caused-by-flatulence-and-static-electricity/679987/10 "2014-01-29T02:20:15Z")
what about static electricity and body products, perfume or waterproofing on the bed? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-bed-caused-by-flatulence-and-static-electricity/679987/11 "2014-01-29T15:42:55Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **samclem** : > > And you know this how? By watching Mythbusters, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-bed-caused-by-flatulence-and-static-electricity/679987/12 "2014-01-29T15:48:09Z")
I hope Cecil addresses this question in one of his columns—not because I want to see what he would say, but because I want to see what Slug would draw. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-bed-caused-by-flatulence-and-static-electricity/679987/13 "2014-01-29T15:49:56Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Farts don’t contain nearly as much flammable gas as most folks think. Even if it did ignite, you’d get something about the size of a candle flame, for a fraction of a second. Tell that to [this farmer](http://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireStory/gassy-german-cows-blamed-barn-explosion-22263227). ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-bed-caused-by-flatulence-and-static-electricity/679987/14 "2014-01-29T16:05:08Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > And you know this _how_? :eek: By lighting bubbles while taking a bath, perhaps. Obviates having a flame shoot up where it is not desired. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-bed-caused-by-flatulence-and-static-electricity/679987/15 "2014-01-29T16:05:43Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Farts don’t contain nearly as much flammable gas as most folks think. Even if it did ignite, you’d get something about the size of a candle flame, for a fraction of a second. [Oh, really?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HIZNSIwFWU) ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-bed-caused-by-flatulence-and-static-electricity/679987/16 "2014-01-30T21:52:34Z")
Well played, Duckster!