The Great Belly Button Lint Survey
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The survey is now closed
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Sadly, the Belly Button Lint Survey is now closed.

The Survey has generated a huge amount of interest - BBC, Canada TV & even New Scientist have taken up the challenge.

The lint data will now be analysed by a team of dedicated lintologists.

Thankyou to everyone who has contribted & watch this space for the results of the Great Bellybutton Lint Survey.

Why is Belly Button Lint always a bluish colour - and what causes Belly Button Lint?

If you'd like to help us get to the bottom of one of the Greatest Unsolved Mysteries of the 21st Century, then here's your chance.

Many people believe that the colour of Belly Button Lint is directly related to the colour of clothing - in particular, the colour of undergarments.  (Check the colour of the lint in your clothes dryer - usually a shade of blue?)

Various people have Done The Experiment of wearing different colours of underwear - and most of the results that have come in agree with this theory.  But some do not... And what causes Belly Button Lint?  Some brave souls have Done The Experiment of shaving a doughnut-shaped area around their bellybutton.

Practically all of them have found that this dramatically reduces the production of Belly Button lint. But not all...One woman reported that her production of Belly Button Lint dropped enormously after she had a navel ring put into her belly button (ouch!).

Check out our new page of special responses to the survey.

We know how The Universe began, but we do not yet understand Belly Button Lint.  We have been offered, by our fabulous audience (radio and web) various theories.  However, others have refuted these theories.  It is in response to this controversy, combined with our Relentless Search for the Truth, that we need to conduct this survey and get to the bottom of Belly Button Lint once and for all.

But there is more to this than just Scientific Curiosity - Belly Button Lint could have major uses.  The world needs more energy.  Perhaps Belly Button Lint, as a renewable resource, could take over from fossil fuels? Or perhaps our Lint could be the basis of a new fabric/building insulating material that could shield us from the chill of winter, and the heat of summer.  Perhaps Lint could... We cannot do it by ourselves - we need your generous help.


special responses | dr karl | the lab

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