Almost all mammals hear in stereo, the benefit of having two opposing ear canals, but scientists have long debated whether some animals smell in stereo. Animals’ unique ability to find food based on odor is uncanny at times and now neuroscientist Kenneth Catania of Vanderbilt University has determined that moles at least, do indeed smell…
Tag: smell
New smell discovered – nasal equivalent of “white noise” sound
In a recent study, scientists have discovered a new smell dubbed “olfactory white” because it’s the nasal equivalent of “white noise” (which sounds like a whooshing hum). Just as white noise is a mixture of many different sound frequencies and white light is a mixture of many different wavelengths, olfactory white is a mixture of…
What causes that unique rainy smell after it rains?
It’s that distinctive earthy, musky scent that occurs after a good rain, and it has a name unbefitting its pleasant smell – “petrichor”. The petrichor odor is distinctive (and difficult to duplicate) because there are several sources/causes for the smell, including the force of the rain striking the soil and storm winds stirring everything up.…