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We Unravel The Science Mysteries Of Asparagus Pee

The 18th century French botanist Louis Lémery wrote that asparagus causes "a filthy and disagreeable smell in the urine, as everybody knows." Not everybody, Louis. Not everybody. Getty Images/imageBROKER RF hide caption

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Getty Images/imageBROKER RF

The Salt

We Unravel The Science Mysteries Of Asparagus Pee

From Ben Franklin on, many have noted the distinctive smell asparagus gives urine. But most of us lack the ability to sniff out this malodorous effect, and not everyone may produce it.

Can A Smell-Emitting Fork Alter How We Savor Flavor?

The "Aroma R-evolution" kit comes with four forks and 21 vials full of aromas like olive oil, mint and smoke. You drop a dab of scented liquid onto the base of the fork, and the smell is supposed to subtly flavor the food you eat while using the utensil. Claire Eggers/NPR hide caption

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Claire Eggers/NPR

The Salt

Can A Smell-Emitting Fork Alter How We Savor Flavor?

Flavor is a combination of taste and aroma. So can a scent-emitting fork trick our brains into thinking we're tasting something, when we're only just smelling it? The Salt team tests it out.

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