Farting in public can be mortifying—whether it's a loud burst in a quiet room or an unexpected smell. The embarrassing stares, stifled giggles, and threat of ridicule make it really humiliating.

Smelly farts, especially those that linger, can be so offensive that they clear a room, but that doesn't scare off flatologists, scientists who study flatulence. Through research, they've been able to ...