Choose to be Curious Ep. #291: Making Sense: Curiosity & Smell, with Venkatesh Murthy
Aug 7, 2025
Venkatesh Murthy, a renowned Harvard molecular biologist, dives into the fascinating world of smell and curiosity. He explores how our olfactory system shapes our behaviors and memories, shedding light on why this sense is often overlooked. The discussion unveils an innovative experiment with mice that demonstrates their natural curiosity through scent trails. Murthy also reflects on the evolution of olfaction and its implications during the COVID-19 pandemic, making a case for why understanding smell is vital for grasping our sensory experiences.
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Smell's Direct Link To Emotion And Memory
- Smell has a direct, evolutionarily ancient path to limbic areas tied to emotion and memory.
- That neural proximity likely explains why odors feel visceral and evocative.
How Murthy Chose To Study Smell
- Venkatesh Murthy described his path from engineering to neuroscience and then to olfaction research.
- He chose smell because it was less explored and offered new discoveries and collaborators.
Why Mice Are Ideal For Olfactory Research
- Mice are a convenient, well-developed model and are exceptionally smell-oriented compared with vision or hearing.
- That serendipity made mice ideal for studying olfaction at scale.