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 nosesโ elusive machinery.
In this episode, host Samir Patel and ๐๐ถ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต๐ข biology staff writer Yasemin Saplakoglu explore the invisible sense that shapes our reality, from nostalgic childhood fragrances โ lavender, old books โ to familiar irksome odors โ skunks, garbage. This topic was covered in a recent story for ๐๐ถ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต๐ข ๐๐ข๐จ๐ข๐ป๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ.
Each week on ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ถ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต๐ข ๐๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ค๐ข๐ด๐ต, ๐๐ถ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต๐ข ๐๐ข๐จ๐ข๐ป๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ 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.
