Do plants fart?

Summary

Podcast Summary: Brains On! – Do Plants Fart?

Host: Molly Bloom
Kid Co-Host: Zsa Zsa from Washington
Expert Guest: Patrick McGonagall, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Episode Date: August 11, 2026
Podcast: Brains On! Science Podcast for Kids

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Episode Overview

This episode of Brains On! tackles a delightfully offbeat science question submitted by young co-host Zsa Zsa: Do plants fart? Joined by plant scientist Patrick McGonagall, Molly and Zsa Zsa set out to answer this question, exploring what plant farts are, how they happen, and why they matter—for science and for the planet.

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Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Where Did the Question Come From?

• Zsa Zsa was inspired after listening to a previous plants episode, sparking curiosity about plant bodily functions ([04:00–04:26]).
• Zsa Zsa shares her favorite plants such as the corpse flower, karu rose, and the “strangler fig” with fascinating self-propagation strategies ([04:46–06:58]).

2. The Human Fart Process & Microbiome

• Farts are mostly made by microbes living in our intestines.
• Our gut microbes help digest food by breaking it down into absorbable nutrients—and as a byproduct, they create gas ([07:49–09:15]).
• Memorable Quote:
  • “Hey, it’s us microbes. We make the farts. You're welcome.” — (Microbe voice, [07:58])

3. Do Plants Fart? (Spoiler: YES!)

• Main Expert’s Answer:
  • “Absolutely. They’re constantly farting.” – Patrick McGonagall ([02:15])
• Plants don’t have intestines, but they do have internal spaces filled with microbes, just like humans.
• These microbes create gases inside the plant, which escape via tiny pores in leaves (called “lenticels” on trunks, comparable to “plant buttholes”), as well as other microscopic openings ([09:34–11:08]).
• Notable Moment:
  • “That means plants are covered in tiny buttholes.” — Molly ([11:08])
• Plants can also act as “fart chimneys” for microbes in the soil, especially in swampy environments ([11:25–12:18]).

4. What Gases Do Plant Farts Contain?

• The gases are primarily methane, occasionally hydrogen sulfide (the “rotten egg” smell), but usually plant farts are odorless ([18:41–19:41]).
• Memorable Quote:
  • “Most plant farts don’t have a smell. They’re odorless.” — Zsa Zsa ([19:41])
• Photosynthesis products like oxygen are NOT considered plant farts ([19:46–20:04]).

5. Why Study Plant Farts?

• Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas — about 25 times more powerful at absorbing heat than carbon dioxide ([21:50–22:22]).
  • “The methane molecule has about 25 times more power to absorb heat than CO₂.” — Patrick McGonagall ([21:50])
• Scientists are researching how much methane comes from trees, especially in places like the Amazon, because counting “tree farts” helps us understand greenhouse gas cycles and climate change ([22:22–23:32]).
• Some forests even absorb methane—understanding which ones do what helps paint a full climate picture.

6. Fun with "Plant Waste"—Not Just Farts

Brought in by Sandin, who showcases plants with unique ways of getting rid of waste ([28:28–33:43]):

Mimosa pudica (Sensitive Plant)

• Closes leaves when touched; releases a sulfurous stink from roots if attacked by a living thing (not by inanimate objects).
• “The plant can tell the difference between different kinds of touches.” — Sandin ([30:46])
• Remarkable defense mechanism—plants only “stink bomb” real threats.

Mangroves

• Live in salty water, need to get rid of excess salt.
• They squeeze salt out through their leaves.
• Zsa Zsa tastes a leaf: “Blech. It’s very salty.” ([32:40])

Venus Flytrap

• Eats bugs; after digesting, lets the indigestible bug parts fall out as “plant poop” ([32:54–33:30]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Patrick McGonagall: “Absolutely. They’re constantly farting.” ([02:15])
• Molly Bloom: “That means plants are covered in tiny buttholes.” ([11:08])
• Zsa Zsa: “Well, maybe that there are tiny plant buttholes, like, everywhere on plants.” ([23:43])
• Patrick McGonagall: “The methane molecule has about 25 times more power to absorb heat than the CO₂.” ([21:50])
• Sandin: “If you poke the roots of a sensitive plant, it’ll release a stinky gas...One tiny seedling is powerful enough to stink up a whole room.” ([30:11–30:43])

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Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:41 | Episode Introduction begins, focus on plants | | 02:13 | Main question: “Are plants farting?” | | 02:15 | Patrick McGonagall: “Absolutely. They’re constantly farting.”| | 07:33 | Introduction to microbes in plants | | 09:34 | How microbes make gases inside plants | | 10:49 | Lenticles (plant “fart exits”), “tiny buttholes” | | 11:25 | Wetland plants as “fart chimneys” for soil microbes | | 18:41 | What’s in a plant fart? Methane, hydrogen sulfide | | 21:50 | Importance of methane as a greenhouse gas | | 22:22 | Tree farts and the Amazon rainforest | | 28:29 | Sandin’s “plant waste” showcase: Mimosa, Mangrove, Flytrap | | 33:56 | Summary/Quick Recap |

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Science Takeaways

• Yes, plants (sort of) fart—they release gases produced by microbes, mostly through pores and lenticels rather than a single exit.
• Methane is the main “fart” gas—a potent greenhouse gas important to track for climate science.
• Plants have creative ways to get rid of waste—mimosa makes stink gas, mangroves excrete salt, and flytraps digest bugs and drop the leftovers.
• Understanding plant gas cycles is crucial for understanding and combating climate change.

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Episode’s Signature Style

True to Brains On!’s spirit, fun sound effects, silly voices (“it’s us microbes!”), and plenty of curiosity keep things lively and accessible for listeners of all ages, while still delivering accurate and nuanced science.

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Final Recap

• Plants do fart—constantly!
• Their farts aren’t usually stinky, but they matter for greenhouse gas cycles and research.
• Studying plant gases and waste helps scientists understand ecosystems and fight climate change.
• Also: plants are covered in tiny buttholes—who knew?

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For More Questions or to Contribute

Send your questions, drawings, and ideas to brainson.org/contact.

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Next Week’s Topic: Sunlight and vitamin D!

Transcript

[A]

Lemonade. Hi, friends. It's me, Molly. Before we start the show, I wanted to let you know that we just announced new Brains on live show dates this fall. We're going to be in Charlotte, Colorado Springs, Norfolk, Virginia, Evanston, Illinois, and Princeton, New Jersey. That's right. We're gonna be all over the country and we would love to see you in person. To get tickets and find out more, head to brainson or brainson.org events. That's brainson.org events. Hope to see you there. Today's episode is sponsored by Great Wolf Lodge. At Great Wolf Lodge, there's adventure for the whole family. You and your pack can splash away in the indoor water park where it's always 84 degrees. There's a massive wave pool, a lazy river and tons of water slides for your pack to enjoy together. And the fun doesn't stop there. Get ready to explore and play at Adventure Packed attractions from Magi Quest, a live action game that takes place throughout the lodge to the Northern Lights Arcade. There's also a bunch of great dining options and complimentary daily events like nightly dance parties, all under one roof. And the best part, with 22 lodges across the country, you're always only a short drive away from adventure. So bring your pack together at a lodge near you. Book your [e-mail] and strengthen the pack.

[B]

Brains on Universe. You're listening to Brains on where we're serious about being curious.

[A]

Is there a plant near you?

[B]

Maybe a houseplant in a pot or a tree outside the window?

[A]

Take a look at it. Seems pretty chill, right? Well, chances are that plant is busy doing all kinds of planty things.

[B]

Turning sunlight into energy, you know, photosynthesis,

[A]

sipping water with its roots, pumping out

[B]

fresh oxygen for creatures like us to breathe in.

[A]

But are plants also pumping out a different kind of gas?

[B]

Yeah. Are plants farting?

[C]

Absolutely. They're constantly farting.

[A]

That's plant scientist Patrick McGonagall. He'll tell us how plants fart and why it's important to study their gas.

[B]

So stick around to learn about these leafy green farting machines.

[D]

Hey, want a good reason to join Smarty Pass? Here's one. We just dropped a bonus episode in the Smarty Pass feed. It's an all new hoax Hunters, the show where Sandin and I look into wild things to see if they're true or not. And this one is about something called the Pokemon Shock, where a cartoon made people feel sick.

[E]

Experts quickly pinpointed the problem. It had to do with just four seconds in the show where there are these intense flashing lights.

[D]

Remember that scene we told you about where Pikachu does his attack? In that scene, there were a bunch of colorful lights quickly flashing in the background behind him.

[E]

Yeah. It's a style of animation called Pakapaka, which weirdly sounds like Pika Pika but has nothing to do with Pokemon. It existed before the cartoon.

[D]

Want to find out more? Join Smartypass and get this and lots of other cool stuff. If you're already a member, just go to your premium feed and find the full episode. It's one of the ways we say thanks for helping to keep brains on going strong.

[A]

This is Brainzon, the show where we answer your questions about the world. I'm Molly Bloom and my co host today is Zsa Zsa from Washington. Welcome, Zsa Zsa.

[B]

Hi, Molly.

[A]

You're here because you sent us this question.

[B]

Hi, my name is Jaja and my question is, do plants fart?

[A]

That is wonderful stuff. So, Zsia, how did you come up with this plant farting question?

[B]

I was listening to do plants sleep? And then the question just popped up in my mind. Do plants fart?

[D]

Nice.

[A]

You're like, plants sleep. What else are they getting up to? Probably farting. So when you asked the question, did you have a guess if it was yes or no?

[B]

No, not. I didn't really have a guess.

[A]

So do you have a lot of plants in your house?

[B]

No, but outside at my house, do

[A]

you have a favorite plant?

[B]

Well, I don't have a favorite plant, but some of my favorite plants are the corpse flower, the karu rose, and the strangler fig.

[A]

A strangler fig? I have not heard of that plant. Can you describe it to me?

[B]

Yeah. So basically, I think it lives in the Amazon forest. And it's crowded in the Amazon forest. So plants have to compete for space. And the strangler fig has a very smart technique.

[A]

What do they do?

[B]

So basically say there was a strangler fig. It has some fruit. A bird ate one of the fruits and then it flew over to another tree, and before it left, it made some waste, AKA droppings.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

And in the droppings was the seed. And the seed would sprout on top of the tree, its roots would start dangling down and, like, wrapping around the tree. And then once it got all the way down, it would take over more and more and take some of the nutrients, and eventually it would die and.

[A]

Oh, okay. So let me see if I get what's happening. So animal, bird eats the fig, bird poops out seed onto the Top of another tree. And then that seed starts to grow on top, and the roots go down the body of the tree that it's on top of.

[B]

Yeah. And wrap around the body of the tree.

[A]

That's pretty clever.

[B]

And eventually the host tree dies and the roots are still there. And, like, sometimes if, like, the roots wrap around, like, a really big tree after the tree dies, like, it's hollow inside.

[A]

Very cool. That is a really cool plant. So if you were a plant for a day, not the strangler fruit, but any plant, what do you think would be the best part of being a plant?

[B]

Not doing chores.

[A]

Good choice. And what would be the hardest part of being a plant for a day?

[B]

Trying to get eaten by animals.

[A]

Very good. Very good. Okay, well, let's answer your question. As we already heard, plants do fart. As Patrick McGonagall said at the beginning of the show, they are constantly farting.

[B]

Patrick works at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.

[A]

He studies plants and the little, tiny, microscopic creatures that live on and in plants. They're called microbes. You know, like bacteria and fungi.

[B]

As humans, we have microbes, too.

[A]

They live in us and on us.

[B]

And our farts are actually made by our microbes.

[F]

Hey, it's us microbes. We make the farts. You're welcome.

[A]

The microbes that make our farts live in our intestines, our guts. We call the world of microbes living in and on us our microbiome.

[F]

The microbiome. AKA home sweet home for a microbe.

[A]

And the microbes in our gut microbiome love to chow down on the food we eat. In fact, gut microbes help us digest food by breaking it down so we can absorb all the vitamins and stuff.

[B]

As the microbes munch on our meals, they make gases.

[A]

Over time, those gases build up inside us.

[F]

Mmm, mangoes. Oh, boy. Broccoli. Yum, yams. What a feast.

[B]

As the microbes munch on our meals, they make gases.

[A]

Over time, those gases build up inside us.

[F]

Is it just me, or is it getting a bit stuffy? Oh, wait. Intestines don't have windows.

[B]

Eventually, those gases have to come out.

[A]

So the gases float to the nearest exit, which in our case, is the hole in our rear. Then,

[B]

voila, a fart.

[F]

Ah, that's the sound of microbes hard at work. It's music to my ears. If microbes had ears, he.

[B]

So that's how humans fart.

[A]

But what about plants? How do they fart? Are microbes making the farts for plants, too? Here's Patrick again.

[C]

Plants Are constantly releasing gases.

[E]

Cool.

[B]

Trees have microbes, too?

[F]

Yeah, dude, we're everywhere.

[A]

But trees don't have intestines like we do. Instead, there are small open spaces all throughout the plant.

[C]

Plants are full of spaces where microbes can live. I think most people are aware that trees draw water up from the soil through their leaves. So there's. There's some piping right there. Some spaces, they also have other vessels that bring sugars from the leaves down through the stem to the roots. So there's some more.

[A]

They also have space in their leaves and even their bark.

[B]

And those spaces are full of teensy, tiny microbes.

[F]

Hey, if you've got the space, we will for sure live in that place.

[A]

Those microbes chow on stuff inside the tree and make gases.

[F]

Yep, heating and gassing, that's pretty much all us microbes like to do.

[B]

So plant farts are also made by microbes, Just like our farts.

[A]

For us, farts have only one exit, the butt. But for plants, there are lots of ways to pass gas, like through tiny openings called pores.

[C]

Yeah, there's pores in those trunks. And sometimes those pores have names. We call them lenticels, which I suppose you might compare to a butthole.

[A]

Gas can also leak out through small openings in the leaves, too. Side note, that means plants are covered in tiny buttholes.

[B]

I'll never look at a tree the same way again.

[A]

Me neither. Anyway, plants are covered in fart exits,

[B]

and they're constantly using them.

[A]

Farts all over, farting all the time.

[B]

Plants are truly wild.

[A]

There's another way plants fart. Sometimes they act like a fart chimney for the microbes in the soil around them.

[B]

This is the case in wetlands or swamps.

[A]

The microbes in the swamp soil Munch on dead stuff in the ground and make gases.

[C]

The gases that are coming out of these microbes that make methane in wetlands Are moving into the plant and rising up through it like a straw. And sometimes it does it just through kind of a slow process called diffusion. Other times, the plant is more like pumping it rapidly out of the soil into the atmosphere.

[B]

So these swamp plants are farting their own farts and farting soil farts. That's a lot of farting.

[A]

Nature really is a farty party. Thank goodness plant farts are totally silent. Otherwise, nature walks would be pretty noisy. Could you imagine hiking if you could hear plant farts? Zsa zsa.

[B]

No, Like, I cannot imagine it, because, like, I cannot imagine having the plant farts. Farts would sound.

[A]

Yeah, I think they'd be Teeny tiny. They'd be maybe kind of cute.

[F]

I don't know.

[A]

What do you think it would sound like?

[B]

Well, I think it would be small, but, like. It would be, like, going, like.

[A]

Yes, I like that. Very good plant fart impersonation. Coming up, we'll explain why studying plant farts is super important. But first, here's a sound that's anything but silent. It's the mystery sound. This is when we play a sound from the world and you guess what it is. Here is today's mystery sound. Are you ready, Zsa Zsa?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay, here it is.

[F]

Hmm.

[A]

What do you think, Ziah?

[B]

Some kind of, like, ball, Like, I think it's someone bouncing some kind of ball.

[A]

That was my initial thought, too. Should we hear it again?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay. Still sticking with your original thought?

[B]

Yes, because I am sure.

[A]

I like your certainty.

[B]

I am, like, 100% sure.

[A]

All right, well, we're gonna hear it again. Get another chance to guess and hear the answer at the end of the show.

[B]

So stay tuned.

[A]

Humans love to dance. We see cultures all across the world making up their own moves.

[B]

That's why we're doing an episode on the science of dancing.

[A]

And we want you to be in it. Make up a dance move and tell us about it. Zsa Zsa, can you please tell me about a dance move you made up?

[B]

Well, my dance is called the Butt Wheel. You sit on the floor, and then you basically try to, like, scoot yourself around and around.

[A]

Oh, like in a circle on your butt?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

All right. The Butt Wheel, brought to you by Zsa Zsa. Listeners, record yourself describing your moves. Give it a name and send it to [e-mail] contact.

[B]

You can also send us mystery sounds, drawings, questions, or suggestions for new rooms at Brandzon headquarters.

[A]

Just go to brainson.org contact. Thanks. Today's episode is sponsored by KT by nyx. Being a mom, you get used to your kids changing all the time. What they're into, how they're growing, how they act towards you. It's always changing. Every day is new and exciting. And a conversation I've been having a lot lately with my mom friends is getting ready for our kids going through puberty. And one of the cool things is how much better period products have gotten since I was a kid. Like, having to carry around thick pads in your backpack and then finding out a way to get those to the bathroom. That is over now, which is amazing, because kids can wear KT by Nicks. And every kid I know who uses KT has felt so much more confident about having their period. It looks, feels and washes like normal underwear, but they're reusable so you can wear them every month. Truly, I so wish I had this when I was growing up. It would have been a game changer. So if you have a kid getting ready for their period, I would hands down recommend kt. It's not just underwear, it's giving our kids the confidence they deserve. Go to nyx teen.com that's K-N I X teen.com and use code brainson for 15% off. That's K N I X teen.com code brainson today's episode is sponsored by Great Wolf Lodge. At Great Wolf Lodge, there's adventure for the whole family. You and your pack can splash away in the indoor water park where it's always 84 degrees. There's a massive wave pool, a lazy river, and tons of water slides for your pack to enjoy together. And the fun doesn't stop there. Get ready to explore and play at Adventure packed attractions from Magiquest, a live action game that takes place throughout the lodge, to the Northern Lights Arcade. There's also a bunch of great dining options and complimentary daily events like nightly dance parties all under one roof. And the best part, with 22 lodges across the country, you're always only a short drive away from adventure. So bring your pack together at a lodge near you, book your stay at Great Wolf and strengthen the pack.

[F]

Brains on.

[A]

Welcome back to Brains On. I'm Molly.

[B]

And I'm Shasha.

[A]

And we're answering the question, do plants fart? Turns out yes, plants fart a lot. Like us, plants are full of tiny little things called microbes, and those microbes

[B]

make gases that build up inside the plants.

[A]

Unlike us, plants don't have a rear end to fart through. Instead, they let em rip out of openings all over their stems, trunks and leaves.

[B]

So plants and humans both fart, but we get rid of those farts in different ways.

[A]

Which leads us to this question. What exactly are plants farting out? Is it the same gases we fart? Here's plant scientist Patrick McGonigal again.

[C]

So inside the tree, in the wood are methanogens.

[A]

Methanogens are microbes that make methane.

[B]

Methane is part of some human farts, and it's a big part of cow

[C]

farts, and they're making methane and that methane is escaping through the trunk of the tree. There are other gases that make their way through plants, some of which we're pretty sure are probably also produced Inside the plant, like this gas, this stinky gas, Hydrogen sulfide. That's what you smell when you walk into a salt marsh.

[A]

Humans also fart hydrogen sulfide.

[B]

Yeah, that's what gives our toots that rotten egg smell. It's the classic fart odor.

[A]

Yep, really the star of the fart show, at least for us humans. But most plant farts don't have hydrogen sulfide in them. Usually, plant farts are made mostly of methane, which does not have a smell.

[B]

Yeah, and that's why most plant farts don't have a smell. They're odorless.

[A]

Plants also let out a lot of oxygen, but that's not a fart gas. The oxygen is made by photosynthesis, not microbes.

[B]

Photosynthesis is how plants make energy using sunlight. It's like a magic trick.

[D]

And now I, the great tree Dini, will take this sunlight, and using a little bit of air and some water will transform it into energy. Ta da.

[A]

Meh.

[F]

All plants do that.

[D]

Tough crowd. Want to see how I magically change my leaves from green to red every fall?

[A]

So back to farts. Turns out plant farts and people farts aren't that different.

[B]

They're both made by microbes, and they both have a mix of gases. Sometimes we even fart the same gases.

[A]

So why is it important to know about plant farts? Plant expert Patrick McGonigal says there are several reasons.

[C]

The big one is that methane is a very powerful greenhouse gas.

[A]

Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in the air around our planet.

[B]

They help make the planet warmer. Think of it like a sweater for the earth.

[A]

But if you have too much greenhouse gas in the air, it's like wearing several sweaters all at once, which would

[B]

be very hot and uncomfortable.

[A]

Humans do a lot of things that put more greenhouse gases in the air, like burning coal and oil heats up

[B]

the planet pretty fast.

[A]

When greenhouse gases heat up the planet faster than normal, we call that climate

[B]

change or sometimes global warming.

[A]

Usually when people talk about global warming, they're worried about a greenhouse gas called carbon dioxide, or CO2. It traps heat. But Patrick says methane traps even more heat than CO2.

[C]

If you took just a molecule of methane and a molecule, carbon dioxide, the famous greenhouse gas, you know, the methane molecule, has about 25 times more power to absorb heat than the CO2. So it's a powerful greenhouse gas, and we want to know where it comes from and where it goes, because we'd like to be able to understand why it's increasing in the atmosphere. And honestly, what we might be able to do to limit how much it's increasing.

[A]

So Patrick and other scientists like him study tree farts, in part to see how much methane trees are tooting out.

[B]

It's changing how we understand places like the Amazon rainforest.

[C]

A very important study that was published a number of years ago now was pointing out that in the Amazon basin, we know there's all this methane coming out of the Amazon. But when we make measurements on the ground, we can't find out where it's coming from. And it turned out that a lot of that missing methane was coming out of the trunks of trees.

[A]

Understanding how much methane the plants in the Amazon fart out can help us predict the amount of greenhouse gases being released.

[B]

Other forests seem to suck some methane out of the air. They actually take this greenhouse gas away.

[A]

That's important to understand, too.

[B]

Now, to be clear, plants aren't causing climate change.

[A]

In fact, they help absorb and store a lot of that other greenhouse gas we mentioned, carbon dioxide. But we still want to understand the role they play by taking in and giving off gases.

[B]

So studying plant farts is serious stuff, but also seriously cool science.

[A]

So, Zsia Zsa, what surprised you the most about what we've learned so far?

[B]

Well, maybe that there are tiny plant buttholes, like, everywhere on plants.

[A]

Yeah, seriously, I would have never guessed that these green things I see all around me are just toot machines covered in buttholes. Well, coming up, farts aren't the only way plants get rid of waste. But first, let's check the mailbag.

[D]

Hey, pals, it's Mark from the Brainzon team here with some mail for the hoax hunters. Oh, yeah, let's see. Oh, this one is about our latest episode, the Fresno Nightcrawlers. It's about a legend involving two strange creatures that kind of look like pants and walk by themselves. Strange? Our pal Lucy heard the episode and found it a little scary. But get this. Lucy took matters into her own hands and lightened the mood a little. She named the nightcrawlers Bob and Steve. Okay, good start. And then she made up stories about them. One likes to tap dance, and the other one wears a sombrero. I mean, come on. She even took it a step further and made her own nightcrawler stuffies out of paper.

[A]

They're super cute.

[D]

Oh, hello, Bob.

[A]

Hello, Steve.

[D]

And you know what? This gives me a good idea. I may have to go make up some stories about a magic karaoke booth so I can finally overcome my fear of karaoke. Anyway, thanks for sharing your story, Lucy. If you were inspired to make something after hearing an episode. Let us know. Head over to brainson.org contact okay. See you in the mailbag.

[A]

Today's episode is sponsored by KT by Nyx. Being a mom, you get used to your kids changing all the time. What they're into, how they're growing, how they act towards you. It's always changing. Every day is new and exciting and a conversation I've been having a lot lately with my mom friends is getting ready for our kids going through puberty. And one of the cool things is how much better period products have gotten since I was a kid. Like having to carry around thick pads in your backpack and then finding out a way to get those to the bathroom. That is over now. Which is amazing because kids can wear KT by Nyx. And every kid I know who uses KT has felt so much more confident about having their period. It looks, feels and washes like normal underwear, but they're reusable so you can wear them every month. Truly, I so wish I had this when I was growing up. It would have been a game changer. So if you have a kid getting ready for their period, I would hands down recommend kt. It's not just underwear, it's giving our kids the confidence they deserve. Go to nixteen.com that's K N I X K teen.com and use code brainson for 15% off. That's K N I X teen.com code brainson Today's episode is sponsored by Great Wolf Lodge. At Great Wolf Lodge, there's adventure for the whole family. You and your pack can splash away in the indoor water park where it's always 84 degrees. There's a massive wave pool, a lazy river and tons of water slide slides for your pack to enjoy together. And the fun doesn't stop there. Get ready to explore and play at Adventure packed attractions from Magiquest, a live action game that takes place throughout the lodge to the Northern Lights Arcade. There's also a bunch of great dining options and complimentary daily events like nightly dance parties all under one roof. And the best part? With 22 lodges across the country, you're always only a short drive away from adventure. So bring your pack together at a lodge near you. Book your [e-mail] and strengthen the pack. Want a bonus episode of Hoax Hunters and loads of other cool stuff? Join SmartyPass. You get invited to Hangs with Our Crew, discounts on shirts and more. [e-mail] Thanks. We're back. It's Molly and Zsa Zsa.

[B]

Talking plants. Talking farts.

[A]

And answering the question, do plants fart?

[B]

Yes, they do. They mostly fart out, a guess called methane.

[A]

Speaking of plants, our pal Sandin said he'd be stopping by soon to show off some of his plant pals. He loves plants.

[E]

Did somebody say Sandin is so cool and handsome?

[A]

No, I said you'd be bringing some plants.

[E]

Oh, sorry, Molly. You see, I bonked my head the other day, and my doctor said it gave me this temporary condition where I misinterpret normal statements as gushing compliments about how great I am.

[B]

That sounds unusual.

[E]

Yeah, it is pretty fabulous. Anyway, I brought some plants. Let me just wheel in my cart, O Greenies.

[A]

Ta da.

[E]

Look at these cuties.

[B]

Cool plants, dude.

[E]

Thank you. I am cool. But let's talk about my plants. I brought in three plants that either make a farty stink or get rid of waste in some cool way. I thought it kind of fit with today's episode about plant farts.

[A]

That makes sense. So, what did you bring?

[E]

Okay, this one is called a mimosa pudica, or the sensitive plant.

[A]

Oh, I've heard of these. It's a green leafy bush and it's called a sensitive plant because when you touch the leaves, they quickly curl up and close them. Like they're shy or something.

[E]

Exactly. That's why it's sometimes called the shy plant. It's kind of a strange way to protect itself, but it's really cool to watch. Here, check it out.

[B]

Neat. The leaves are closing up. The leaves kind of look like little green books shutting themselves.

[E]

Yeah, it's so neat to see. Now, this plant is really cool already. But scientists found out that it has another trick it can do. When something pokes or attacks its roots,

[A]

it toots a toot. Attack. What?

[E]

Yeah, you heard me. This plant defends itself with a fart like stink. Kind of like a skunk does. You see, when you poke the roots of a sensitive plant, it'll release a stinky gas from little hair like sacs on the roots. The gas has a lot of sulfur in it, which is what makes our farts smelly, too. One tiny sensitive plant seedling is powerful enough to stink up a whole room.

[A]

That's a mighty stink.

[B]

Yeah.

[E]

And get this. The plant can tell the difference between different kinds of touches.

[B]

Wait. The plant knows what's touching it?

[D]

Yeah.

[E]

If you poke it with your finger, it lets out the stink. But if you poke it with grass or metal, which aren't alive, it won't release that smell. Scientists don't know how it knows what's touching it, but they think the plant developed this skill so it doesn't start stinking if a harmless stick or rock touches the roots. It'll only stink bomb the place if it's touched by a creature that might hurt it or eat it.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

The sensitive plant should be called the smart plant, because that's some clever stuff.

[A]

I know that plant does a lot. What's that tree you brought in? Xandon.

[E]

Why, yes, My hair does smell like freshly peeled apples today. It's my freshly peeled apples shampoo. Thanks for noticing. Now, let me tell you about this tree I brought in. This is a mangrove tree. Mangroves are famous for living in salty water.

[A]

Right. You often find them near oceans. And oceans are full of. Of salty water.

[E]

Exactly. But mangrove trees don't love all that salt. It can be bad for them if too much salt builds up inside them. So these plants have to get rid of the waste. Sort of like how we humans have to poop out the stuff we don't need.

[B]

So they poop out salt?

[E]

Well, sort of. As we talked about before, plants, they don't really have, like, one single hole they use to get rid of all the waste like we do. Instead, they have lots of little holes all over that they use to get rid of the stuff they don't need. So one of those places are tiny holes in leaves and mangroves. They kind of squeeze out extra salt through their leaves.

[A]

So does that mean their leaves are salty?

[E]

Yep. Here, try licking this one.

[B]

Blech. It's very salty.

[E]

I know. Pretty fun to taste, Especially when you think of it like plant poop.

[B]

Ew. I'd rather not.

[E]

Lastly, I brought a good old Venus flytrap.

[A]

Ooh. These are plants that eat flies and small bugs.

[E]

Yeah. A bug goes inside the main mouth, like part of the plant, and the plant quickly closes shut, trapping the bug inside. Then the fly trap releases digestive chemicals that kind of break the bug down into a sort of bug juice. The plant drinks that juice up, and it helps it grow. But after that, some of the crunchy bits of the bug are still left in the fly trap. So what does it do? Well, the fly trap opens back up to let that hard stuff fall out. Sort of like how we poop out the stuff our bodies can't digest.

[A]

So plants don't really poop like we do, but some do get rid of waste. And they do it in interesting ways.

[E]

Exactly. Plants are like us in some ways and totally different in other ways. It's really cool to think about.

[B]

Thanks so much for showing us these neat plants, Sandon.

[D]

I know.

[E]

I'm impressed with myself, too. Well, you're welcome. I stopped by later.

[A]

Plants do fart, but it's different from how we fart.

[B]

We both have tiny creatures called microbes living inside us and making gas.

[A]

But instead of farting from a rear end, plants release gas all over their trunks, leaves and branches.

[B]

Plants fart out a lot of methane, which is a greenhouse gas.

[A]

Studying plant farts can help us understand the gases in the air around us.

[B]

Plants don't really poo like we do, but some get rid of waste in other ways.

[A]

That's it for this episode of Brains On. Brains on is produced by me, Molly Bloom, Santa Totten and Mark Sanchez. It was sound design by Mark Sanchez. We had engineering help from Johnny Brigar. Special thanks to Elise Jenkins, Elizabeth and Ken Taborski at Code of the north for their website help. Okay, Zsa Zsa, are you ready for that mystery sound again?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay, here it is. What do you think?

[B]

Still some kind of ball. Like, I know. It was either like one of those red bouncy balls that my school has.

[C]

Mm.

[A]

Like a kickball ball kinda.

[B]

Or like a basketball or something like that.

[A]

Should we hear the answer?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Okay. Hi, Brainjohn. My name is Inge Johnson from Burlington, Washington. And the sound you just heard was

[B]

me bouncing my mom's yoga ball.

[A]

Oh, nice work, Zsia. How do you feel about that?

[B]

Good.

[A]

Well, you got the mystery sound right. Aren't we excited? There you go. Nicely done. Good ears. Now it's time for the brains honor roll. These are the incredible kids who keep the show going with their questions, ideas, mystery sounds, drawings and high fives. Ava, Jean from St. Paul, Minnesota. Shelby and Calvin from Genoa, Nevada. Kinley from Toronto. Natalia from San Bernardino, California. Niren from Bangkok. Alyssa and Abel from Englewood, California. Roland, Charles and Ezra from Auburn, Nebraska. Rachel from Charlotte, North Carolina. Henry from Social Circle, Georgia. Lila from Providence, Rhode Island. Philippa and Matthew from Romsey, uk. Wyatt from Richmond, Virginia. Ezra from New York City. Dustin from Cedra. Woolley, Washington. Tatum from Fresno, California. William and Rebecca from Kiawaka, New Zealand. Alva and Gabriel from Zurich, Switzerland. Ashton from Seattle. Philip from Budapest, Hungary. Eno from Los Angeles. Rowan, Hudson and Philip from Tucson, Arizona. Annika and Julian from San Diego. Wilbur from Launceston, Australia. Alex from Moments, Illinois. Iris from San Francisco. Emily from Beijing, China. Conrad from Reno, Nevada. Joshua from North Attleborough, Massachusetts. August from New Orleans. Alma from Boston Finley and milo from Reading, Pennsylvania Auden from East Hampton, Massachusetts Waverly from Victoria, British Columbia Joseph from Annandale, Virginia Vivian from St. Louis Lachlan from Thetford, Vermont Cameron from Maquaquita, Iowa Easton from Port Moody, British Columbia Stella from Fairfax, Virginia Noah from Camarillo, California Blakely and Britain from Smyrna, Tennessee Roland from Kansas City Jasis and Jesse from Bertram, Texas Adira from Philadelphia Ellis from Philadelphia Valerie from Corpus Christi, Texas Xena from Los Angeles Nona from Portland, Oregon Logan and Wyatt from Ramona, California Yayen from Pacific Grove, California Rowan from Forest of Dean, UK Charlotte from Villanova, Pennsylvania Duncan from Cary, North Carolina Julian from Toronto Connor from San Antonio, Texas Desmond from Philadelphia Reese from White Rock, British Columbia Bobby from Portland, Oregon Alice and Clara from Charlotte, North Carolina and Aiden from Fresno, California. We'll be back next week with an episode about sunlight and vitamin D. Thanks for listening.