Fact

[Fenlander]

Paul Hunn holds the record for the loudest burp, which was 118.1
decibels, which is as loud as a chainsaw.

What A Gas

There's not much substance to it, which is why your stomach
usually throws it back at you. "It" is the air you swallow,
sometimes from eating too fast, or in laughing. Taken into your
stomach, it's expelled when the muscles contract and force out a
combination of oxygen and nitrogen, vibrating the esophageal
sphincter as it passes, and producing the classic sound of a
burp.

Certain foods can agitate the stomach's normal production of
acids and the processing of food, which will also cause an
explosion of sound and gas. The same applies to carbonated
beverages, although in that instance, the gas expelled is carbon
dioxide.

In general, burping in the Western world is considered almost as
impolite as farting, while both are highly entertaining to
children, and often done on command to amuse themselves and
their friends. However, in some Asian cultures to burp after a
meal is a compliment to your hostess.

In which case, cows are very complimentary since they not only
burp, they also fart. Only their emissions are methane, one of
the culprits in causing the greenhouse effect. Consequently, a
research firm in Australia is working on a vaccine that will
help the cow's digestive system to reduce the type of gas
produced by its anaerobic organisms.

At least they are a bit quieter than Paul Hunn. On April 5,
2000, Hunn took part in a live competition broadcast in London,
England. The burp he produced, was an eardrum shattering 118.1
decibels, the equivalent of a chain saw at a distance of three
feet.