All articles tagged with #smell
Humans produce body odour through sweat and skin oils, but there is no clear pheromone system like in many animals. While scent can influence attraction and may carry signals of emotion or illness, the evidence is mixed and heavily shaped by culture. Odour can help us gauge risk or health and could fuel future noninvasive diagnostics with electronic noses, but everyday diagnosis from smell remains unreliable.
New research in Physiology & Behavior shows cats don’t finish meals because they get desensitized to familiar smells; olfactory habituation reduces interest in the same food over time, while a new scent or food re-engages them, explaining why Oliver starts and stops eating and why cats pace their meals (unlike dogs) as part of an evolved, scent-driven behavior.
A study published in Physiology & Behavior with 12 cats found that the scent of food strongly influences feline appetite. Repeated exposure to the same odor reduced intake, but introducing a new scent revived interest in food, indicating olfactory cues drive feeding via habituation and dishabituation. The findings could help stimulate eating in cats with health issues by using scent to boost appetite.
Early detection of cancer, especially cervical cancer, can be aided by self-awareness of bodily changes, including unusual odors or persistent lumps, and regular screening like Pap smears. Recognizing subtle signs and maintaining vigilance can save lives, as early treatment is crucial.
The article explains various reasons for foul-smelling stool, including diet choices like sulfur-rich foods, food intolerances, alcohol consumption, processed foods, constipation, high protein or fat intake, infections, and gastrointestinal disorders, and offers advice on when to consult a doctor.
Research from the UK shows dogs can be trained to detect Parkinson's disease through scent with high sensitivity, offering a potential non-invasive early diagnostic tool, as part of ongoing efforts to identify biomarkers for the disease.
Two trained dogs can detect Parkinson’s disease by smelling skin sebum with up to 80% sensitivity and 98% specificity, offering a promising non-invasive screening method that could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment, while researchers explore electronic sensors to mimic this remarkable canine ability.
The article explores the deep connection between smell, emotion, and memory, highlighting recent scientific advances in understanding how scent molecules are perceived and processed in the brain, challenging the outdated notion that humans have a poor sense of smell.
There is no definitive 'best smeller' in the animal kingdom, but animals like the Gambian pouched rat, elephants, moths, and dogs have remarkable olfactory abilities, with different species excelling in various aspects of scent detection based on genetic, anatomical, and ecological factors.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra users have reported that the S-Pen stylus emits a strong, unpleasant odor resembling burning plastic, prompting discussions on online forums. Some users liken the smell to that of an electrical fire or overheating motor. While a Samsung employee explained that the smell is due to the pen's proximity to internal components generating heat, others have humorously suggested reasons for the odor, including the addition of a bitterant. Despite the smell, users have confirmed that the S-Pen tastes fine, and the issue does not appear to be a cause for major concern.
Meghan Markle's "Suits" co-star, Rick Hoffman, revealed that he encountered a foul smell during her wedding to Prince Harry, which was caught on camera, and joked about it on a podcast. Despite the unpleasant odor, he described the event as "incredibly special." Additionally, other "Suits" cast members discussed their limited communication with Markle since the show's resurgence, while Prince Harry and Markle recently spent time in Canada participating in the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025’s One Year to Go celebrations.
Astronomers have determined that Uranus likely smells like farts and rotting eggs due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas in its cloud cover, as detected by the Near-Infrared Integral Field Spectrometer. This gas gives off the distinctive smell of rotting eggs, and if humans were to descend into Uranus' atmosphere, they would likely find the smell nauseating. Additionally, researchers believe that Uranus and Neptune may also have ammonia ice in their clouds, contributing to the planet's unique and unpleasant aroma.
The unpleasant smell of poop is due to the release of byproducts of digestion, including compounds like skatole produced by bacteria breaking down amino acids in the gastrointestinal tract. Factors such as dietary patterns, alcohol intake, and certain foods can affect the odor of stool. Changes in smell may be temporary due to diet or medication, but persistently foul odors could indicate underlying health issues such as malabsorption diseases or infections, warranting a visit to a healthcare provider.
Astronauts often describe a unique smell after returning from spacewalks, comparing it to burnt steak, spent gunpowder, and hot metal. While no one has directly smelled space and lived to tell the tale, the scent is believed to come from chemical reactions triggered by atomic oxygen clinging to spacesuits and other items exposed to space, as well as potential molecules from dying stars. NASA commissioned a scent called Eau de Space to simulate the smell of space for astronaut training, based on astronauts' descriptions. However, there is limited data from official studies on the origin of the smell.
A new study reveals that our two nostrils work independently and have their own separate sense of smell. Researchers found that the brain can process each nostril's input individually while also synthesizing them into a complete whole. The study, conducted on epilepsy patients with implanted brain electrodes, showed that smelling through two nostrils created two distinct bursts of activity, suggesting that the nostrils are not always in unison. The findings have implications for understanding how the brain processes sensory information and may extend beyond the sense of smell.