20 Questions We've All Asked Ourselves (But Never Bothered To Find Out)

16. Why Does It Smell After It's Rained?

Have you ever gone outside after a storm and given the air a big sniff? It's a beautiful thing, isn't it? Almost reminds us of spring, freshly cut grass and deceptive skies that dupe you into not taking a coat out with you. But why is that? Rain is just a bit of water, isn't it? Well, yes, but the reason the air and ground smells so good after a downpour is down to a few reasons. First, some plants create oil during periods of dryness and when they get wet the oils are released into the air, which creates a chemical reaction called petrichor, apparently, that's the delightful smell we're sniffing up. Another reason is called ozone. During thunderstorms lightning can split oxygen and nitrogen molecules into the atmosphere which can create a chemical that smells a little bit like chlorine, you know, the stuff you smell in your local swimming pool. This can also occur before the storm as the wind carries it down to ground level, thus why we can sometimes smell a storm beforehand, and probably why the cows in my back field seem to know the weather before we do. Always take a coat, my friends.

15. Why Do Farts Smell Worse In The Bath?

Don't give us that look, we've all done it at least once - you're sitting in the bath splashing around when suddenly you're surrounded by a pool of bubbles. But you scream, 'I didn't use any bubble bath.' Oh, don't be so modest, it's completely natural, and for some reason letting one rip in the water is extremely stinky, more so than usual, right? Yeah, you know what we're talking about, don't be embarrassed, we know what you're thinking - why does it smell so bad in the bath? It doesn't smell like that anywhere else. Simple, the reason farts smell worse in water is because the gas moves upwards within the bubbles and doesn't mix with the air, so when it comes to the surface and into your nose the smell is much more concentrated and pure. Next time you guff in the bath give it a big ol' whiff and see. But wait, you shout, why does it also often happen in the shower? Firstly, because showers are small condensed areas and thus the smell is trapped around you, silly. Also, the humidity within a warm shower and bath can enhances our sense of smell so our farts are more potent to us, so perhaps think hard next time before you decide to shower so soon after eating beans on toast, eh?