Leave it to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) to run an investigation into the nation's belly button lint experiences. As a result of their 2002 survey, we now know that Australian men are slightly more likely to get it - 58.1 percent of the 4,799 participants who said they got belly button lint were male, compared to the 41.9 percent that were female. Overall, 66 percent of those surveyed said they had it.
The survey also revealed that age and relative hairiness appeared to be related to levels of belly button lint, and those with 'innie' belly buttons are - surprise, surprise - more likely to harbour an accumulation.
So what causes this mysterious blue fluff? The most plausible theory, according to A Week in Science, is that the hairs on your stomach cause small abrasions in your clothes, which causes small amounts of fibre to fall off and get trapped on your skin on the way down. The hairs on your stomach generally point towards your belly button, so this little hole is a natural repository for the fibres.
But it's not just fabric fibres that make up belly button lint. These horrible little balls also contain particles of skin, sweat, and dust.
Watch the latest episode of RiAus's A Week in Science above to find out what it takes to have the largest collection of belly button lint in the world. We feel terrible for ruining whatever meal you were just eating.
Source: RiAus