Go offline with the Player FM app!
How Smell Guides Our Inner World
Manage episode 498423284 series 1428432
When some people smell the molecule benzyl acetate, they identify a distinctly banana-y scent. But when others sniff the same compound, they get hints of nail polish remover. How can this be? Smell is a tricky sensory process to pin down. Our perception of scents is wide-ranging and often depends on lived experience. But researchers are building a deeper understanding of the processes underlying our nosesβ elusive machinery.
In this episode, host Samir Patel and ππΆπ’π―π΅π’ biology staff writer Yasemin Saplakoglu explore the invisible sense that shapes our reality, from nostalgic childhood fragrances β lavender, old books β to familiar irksome odors β skunks, garbage. This topic was covered in a recent story for ππΆπ’π―π΅π’ ππ’π¨π’π»πͺπ―π¦.
Each week on ππ©π¦ ππΆπ’π―π΅π’ ππ°π₯π€π’π΄π΅, ππΆπ’π―π΅π’ ππ’π¨π’π»πͺπ―π¦ editor in chief Samir Patel speaks with the people behind the award-winning publication to navigate through some of the most important and mind-expanding questions in science and math.
289 episodes
Manage episode 498423284 series 1428432
When some people smell the molecule benzyl acetate, they identify a distinctly banana-y scent. But when others sniff the same compound, they get hints of nail polish remover. How can this be? Smell is a tricky sensory process to pin down. Our perception of scents is wide-ranging and often depends on lived experience. But researchers are building a deeper understanding of the processes underlying our nosesβ elusive machinery.
In this episode, host Samir Patel and ππΆπ’π―π΅π’ biology staff writer Yasemin Saplakoglu explore the invisible sense that shapes our reality, from nostalgic childhood fragrances β lavender, old books β to familiar irksome odors β skunks, garbage. This topic was covered in a recent story for ππΆπ’π―π΅π’ ππ’π¨π’π»πͺπ―π¦.
Each week on ππ©π¦ ππΆπ’π―π΅π’ ππ°π₯π€π’π΄π΅, ππΆπ’π―π΅π’ ππ’π¨π’π»πͺπ―π¦ editor in chief Samir Patel speaks with the people behind the award-winning publication to navigate through some of the most important and mind-expanding questions in science and math.
289 episodes
All episodes
×Welcome to Player FM!
Player FM is scanning the web for high-quality podcasts for you to enjoy right now. It's the best podcast app and works on Android, iPhone, and the web. Signup to sync subscriptions across devices.