Tag: smell

• Mosquito Magnets

  Scientists have known that mosquitos are drawn to people at varying rates, but they have struggled to explain what makes certain people “mosquito magnets” while others get off bite-free. In a new paper published in the journal Cell, researchers suggest that certain body odors are the deciding factor. Jeff and Anthony draw out as much wisdom as they can from this vein, sucking every last morsel of insight. [more]

  December 19, 2022Episodes

• Representational Drift and the Stress of Grey

  Neuroscientists studying how the sense of smell operates in the brains of mice have discovered a phenomenon they cannot explain. In fact, it may change the entire way we think about how brains work. Jeff and Anthony dive into the topic to see what the excitement is about. Then, we all have heard that stress can cause grey hair, but new research has found the link may be more significant than we ever knew. Anthony and Jeff talk about stress, aging, and looking distinguished. [more]

  July 2, 2021Episodes

• The Little Engine That Turd (w/Ify Nwadiwe and Dani Fernandez)

  https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-content-18207635 Right now, dozens of train cars carrying 10 million pounds of poop are stranded in a rural Alabama rail yard. Technically it's biowaste, but to the 982 residents in the small town of Parrish, that's just semantics. They want it gone. [more]

  April 16, 2018Episodes

• Passing the Sniff Test

  A dog searching for a lost child is typically given an item of clothing to smell. But what does that scent “look” like? To find out, scientists tested 48 dogs, half of which had special police or rescue training. Jeff and Anthony discuss whether or not this study stinks. [more]

  March 16, 2018Episodes

• Smell Wishers

  What are the ingredients of a good relationship? Trust? Communication? Compromise? How about a sense of smell? When researchers in the United Kingdom surveyed almost 500 people with anosmia (the loss of sense of smell), more than 50 percent of them reported feeling isolated, and blamed their relationship troubles on their affliction. Smell is important in social bonding, says psychologist Pamela Dalton, at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, in Philadelphia. When a mom smells her newborn baby, the scent activates brain regions associated with nurturing behavior. Smells might also trigger brain activity linked with affection, compassion, or romantic love. Jeff and Anthony give this story the sniff test. [more]

  February 23, 2018Episodes