Scientists speak out about 'house burping' trend going viral on social media

Let us get off, we don't want to live on this timeline anymore. Continuing to prove why artificial intelligence might be thinking it's in the best interests to wipe the human race off the face of the planet, a bizarre trend is taking off on social media.

While TikTok is known for foolish and sometimes dangerous trends like decorating your cars with Christmas decorations, the bonesmashing of looksmaxxing, and the frankly ridiculous 'airport theory', others are even more unusual.

Away from the apparent use of 'vabbing' that's recently gone viral when one woman lied about the addiction to get on television, we're now being told that the seemingly gross idea of 'house burping' is taking off. Instead of this being a dangerous trend like sticking objects into computer slots, house burping is actually one that could be beneficial for your health – we just don't want to think about its grim name.

A bit like how smelling farts can apparently reduce your risk of Alzheimer's, house burping is a viral trend that's good for clearing that stale air out of your abodes.

As reported by The Conversation, house burping is a regular German habit that's quickly finding popularity in other countries.

Here, Vikram Niranjan, Assistant Professor in Public Health, School of Medicine, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, explained that in Germany, Lüften means 'airing out', while Stoßlüften means 'shock ventilation'. The method involves simply opening your windows and doors wide to let fresh air circulate. While that's all well and good in the height of summer, Germans will even practise house burping in the icy depths of winter. Some rental contracts will even mention how tenants should regularly be burping their houses so as to prevent damp and mould.

In a previous study held by Niranjan, exposure to household air pollution (HAP) was connected to everything from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to bronchus cancer.

Today's well-insulated homes can lead to a buildup of HAP, but if you're questioning the methodology, remember that public health agencies stressed improved ventilation during the COVID pandemic.

One classroom study has suggested that opening all windows and doors can reduce carbon dioxide levels by around 60%, while also releasing a simulated 'viral load' by over 97% during an average eight-hour day. For those who still aren't impressed, that's said to shrink the area with higher infection risk to just 15%.

We should apparently look to our pets for early warning signs, and as they breathe the same air as us, veterinary studies link lung irritation in cats and dogs to HAP.

In terms of when to burp, you should avoid busy commuter times like mornings and evenings, while short bursts after it's rained and washed away some harmful pollutants are also advised.

If you haven't already noticed 'house burping' taking over your feeds, we bet you soon will. One video from NBC News explaining how it works has nearly 800,000 likes.

Responding to the video, one person chuckled: "Me, a German, watching lüften being newsworthy in the US.

Another added: "How is getting fresh air a growing trend? 🙄."

A third said: "America really must be a social experiment. This can't be a serious thing to not open the windows for god damn weeks."

It could be time to Stoßlüften, as Niranjan concluded: "Treating COPD (a chronic lung disease) from poor indoor air can cost thousands yearly in drugs and hospital stays – a lifelong burden once diagnosed. Opening windows for five minutes in winter loses just pennies in heat. Fresh air now beats massive medical bills later."