sense of smell

How do mosquitoes smell us out? And how can we stop them? A new study offers a surprising answer to the first question — and hope for better preventive strategies as a result.

Mosquitoes surprise researcher with their 'weird' sense of smell

3:13pm August 18, 2022

by Ari Daniel

That's how neuroscientist Meg Younger describes her team's findings about how skeeters hone in on human aromas. And that could lead to better ways to keep us bite- and disease-free.

Health & Safety

Is Loss Of Smell And Taste A Symptom Of COVID-19? Doctors Want To Find Out

9:15pm March 26, 2020

They have seen patients who presented with these symptoms — then tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Now they're gathering data to see if they can prove that there is indeed a connection.

A woman with an unlikely superpower â an incredible sense of smell â has inspired a new field of scientific research.

Health & Safety

Her Incredible Sense Of Smell Is Helping Scientists Find New Ways To Diagnose Disease

6:04pm March 23, 2020

Years before he got diagnosed with Parkinson's, Joy Milne noticed her husband's characteristic scent had changed. The discovery that she could smell his illness has opened up a new field of research.

Dogs' olfactory capacity — they can sniff in parts per trillion — primes them to detect disease.

How Super Sniffer Dogs Are Helping Detect Disease Around The World

8:55pm January 25, 2020

by John Henning Schumann

Our canine buddies can do more than play fetch. Turns out dogs' incredible sense of smell is a secret weapon in medicine.

Researcher Alexandra Horowitz plays with her dogs Finnegan and Upton. She studies how dog's sense of smell influences their view of the world.

Learn To Sniff Like A Dog And Experience The World In A New Way

7:56am June 08, 2017

by Alexandra Horowitz

We humans think we don't have a very good sense of smell. But psychologist Alexandra Horowitz says dogs can show us how to train our noses so they give us a window into a secret world.

Turns out humans are better at smelling than you might think.

Why Your Sense Of Smell Is Better Than You Might Think

5:15pm May 11, 2017

by Richard Harris

A neuroscientist argues that our noses are more powerful than we think. Humans, he says, actually have a great sense of smell.

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Molecules in wine stimulate thousands of taste and odor receptors, sending a flavor signal to the brain that triggers massive cognitive computation involving pattern recognition, memory, value judgment, emotion and, of course, pleasure.

The Taste Of Wine Isn't All In Your Head, But Your Brain Sure Helps

3:17pm April 03, 2017

by Mark Schatzker

Savoring the flavor of wine activates more gray matter than solving a complex math problem, according to neuroscientist Gordon Shepherd. His new book, Neurenology, explores your brain on wine.

Parkinson's disease, smoking, certain head injuries and even normal aging can influence our sense of smell. But certain patterns of loss in the ability to identify odors seem pronounced in Alzheimer's, researchers say.

A Sniff Test For Alzheimer's Checks For The Ability To Identify Odors

4:25pm July 26, 2016

by Jon Hamilton

New research suggests it may be possible to spot people in the early stages of Alzheimer's by testing their ability to recognize fragrances. The goal is a quick and inexpensive screening test.

Never Mind Eyesight, Your Nose Knows Much More

8:14am March 24, 2014

by Richard Harris

The human nose may be able to distinguish more than a trillion different odors and fragrances, research hints. If true, our noses are much more discerning with smells than our eyes are with color.

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