smell : NPR

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 23: A young woman smells the blooms inside the branch of one of the cherry trees surrounding the Tidal Basin near the National Mall March 23, 2016 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

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The Scent of History

February 8, 2024 • What if we told you that the key to time travel has been right in front of our eyes this whole time? Well, it has: it's in our noses. Today on the show, the science — and politics — of smell, and how it links our past and our present.

The Scent of History

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Here's why most of us love the smell of vanilla and peaches and not sweaty feet

Peaches ripen on a branch at Chappell Farms orchard in Kline, S.C., in July 2013. Jeffery Collins/AP hide caption

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Jeffery Collins/AP

Science

Here's why most of us love the smell of vanilla and peaches and not sweaty feet

April 6, 2022 • Researchers found that most people share similar preferences when it comes to smell, and it has little to do with their cultural background.

Researchers suggest that smell training can help those who've lost their sense of smell regain it. SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images hide caption

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SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images

Short Wave

Smell Therapy

April 8, 2021 • A curious symptom of COVID-19 that can stick with patients for a long time is loss of smell. Researchers don't know exactly how prevalent the loss of smell ism and while most people recover from it, some will not. This has given new life to a very specific treatment: smell training. Emily Kwong talks to the Atlantic's science reporter Sarah Zhang about how practicing how to smell might help those who've lost their sense of smell.

Smell Therapy

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What Makes Wagyu Beef Smell So Good? Science Explains

Japanese Wagyu beef has a sweet, coconut-like aroma. Scientists found 16 compounds associated with the smell, 10 of which are newly associated with the meat. Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images

The Salt

What Makes Wagyu Beef Smell So Good? Science Explains

November 13, 2017 • The Japanese beef is considered a luxury, with plenty of fat and its super-soft texture. New evidence could explain what's behind its sweet smell.

Why Your Sense Of Smell Is Better Than You Might Think

Turns out humans are better at smelling than you might think. CSA Images/ Color Printstock Col/Vetta/Getty Images hide caption

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CSA Images/ Color Printstock Col/Vetta/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Why Your Sense Of Smell Is Better Than You Might Think

May 11, 2017 • A neuroscientist argues that our noses are more powerful than we think. Humans, he says, actually have a great sense of smell.

Why Your Sense Of Smell Is Better Than You Might Think

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You're born with roughly 9,000 taste buds, and they're very good at regenerating — which is why you can recover the ability to taste just days after burning your tongue. But that changes as we age. CSA Images/Getty Images hide caption

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CSA Images/Getty Images

The Salt

Why Taste Buds Dull As We Age

May 5, 2017 • You're born with roughly 9,000 taste buds, and they're very good at regenerating — which is why you can recover the ability to taste just days after burning your tongue. But that can change as we age.

With No Sense Of Smell, The World Can Be A Grayer, Scarier Place

Cornelia Li for NPR

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With No Sense Of Smell, The World Can Be A Grayer, Scarier Place

October 10, 2016 • Some people are born with anosmia — the inability to smell. Others lose their sense of smell later in life. That makes it hard to taste food, detect threats, or even savor memories.

With No Sense Of Smell, The World Can Be A Grayer, Scarier Place

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From Medical Maggots To Stench Soup, 'Grunt' Explores The Science Of Warfare

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From Medical Maggots To Stench Soup, 'Grunt' Explores The Science Of Warfare

Fresh Air

May 31, 2016 • When it comes to curiosity, science writer Mary Roach describes herself as someone who is "very out there." Her new book, Grunt, looks at some scientific developments that help keep soldiers safe.

From Medical Maggots To Stench Soup, 'Grunt' Explores The Science Of Warfare

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Meet The Bacteria That Make A Stink In Your Pits

While you're resting, your armpit bacteria are hard at work pumping out stinky thioalcohols. iStockphoto hide caption

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iStockphoto

Shots - Health News

Meet The Bacteria That Make A Stink In Your Pits

March 31, 2015 • Scientists say they've identified the bacteria that emit that rank smell after a hard workout. Future deodorants might target that bad actor rather than blocking sweat glands or nuking all bacteria.

The Scents And Sensibility Of LA's Nosy New Perfume Enthusiasts

Scent Bar, in central Los Angeles, is home to over 700 niche fragrances — several of which are neatly arranged here. Courtesy of LuckyScent hide caption

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Courtesy of LuckyScent

Culture

The Scents And Sensibility Of LA's Nosy New Perfume Enthusiasts

February 22, 2015 • Our sense of smell isn't simply a powerful trigger. It's a draw to scientists — and to a flourishing subculture in Los Angeles, where amateur perfumers collect fragrances like others collect stamps.

The Scents And Sensibility Of LA's Nosy New Perfume Enthusiasts

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Do We Choose Our Friends Because They Share Our Genes?

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Do We Choose Our Friends Because They Share Our Genes?

July 14, 2014 • You and your friends may have more than music and movies in common. Friends typically have more genetic similarities than strangers, researchers say. That may have evolutionary advantages.

Do We Choose Our Friends Because They Share Our Genes?

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Never Mind Eyesight, Your Nose Knows Much More

Your schnoz deserves more respect. epSos .de/Flickr hide caption

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epSos .de/Flickr

Shots - Health News

Never Mind Eyesight, Your Nose Knows Much More

March 20, 2014 • 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.

Never Mind Eyesight, Your Nose Knows Much More

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