Science Vs How to Smell like a Dog, with Ed Yong
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Sep 25, 2025 
Joining the discussion is Ed Yong, a Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer and the mind behind 'An Immense World,' which delves into animal senses. Ed shares fascinating insights into how animals perceive their environments, from dogs’ incredible sniffing abilities to the stunning world of ultraviolet vision. He explains how whales communicate using infrasound and how certain creatures like the emerald jewel wasp interact with their surroundings. They also touch on the challenges facing scientific research and the impact of pollution on sensory biology.
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We All Live In Different Sensory Worlds
- Every animal experiences a unique "Umwelt" that limits and defines what it perceives.
- Other creatures detect signals we miss, like electric fields, magnetic cues, and swim traces.
Trying A Dog's Sniff Walk
- Ed Yong tried a dog-style sniffing task blindfolded and could follow a scented string but struggled.
- He hyperventilated and found human breathing interrupts continuous smell sensing.
Dog Noses Deliver Continuous Smell
- Dogs maintain a continuous flow of scented air to a dedicated olfactory chamber while breathing.
- This anatomical split gives dogs smooth, sustained smell perception unlike humans.
