Humans have about 400 odorant receptors (ORs), but scientists have had trouble finding ligands that match up with most of these ORs in lab settings—leaving them with a murky understanding of how certain smells are recognized ...
According to a new study by researchers from Greifswald and Canada, black widows (Latrodectus hesperus) use a unique scent strategy to find their mate. A chemical pheromone slowly decomposes on the female's web, creating ...
Plants & Animals
Sep 29, 2025
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70
Ant societies are built on scent. Pheromones guide the insects to food, warn them of predators, and regulate the rhythms of their colonies. This chemical communication system is governed by a simple rule: one receptor, one ...
Plants & Animals
Sep 19, 2025
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100
Bacteria that cause intestinal infections typically avoid a stinky chemical—one that can kill them at high enough concentrations—inside human intestines, but they may actually swim toward it when a hearty meal is the reward.
Cell & Microbiology
Jul 15, 2025
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26
A research team has developed a "next-generation AI electronic nose" capable of distinguishing scents like the human olfactory system does and analyzing them using artificial intelligence. This technology converts scent molecules ...
Bio & Medicine
May 2, 2025
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148
New research from RMIT University found confined and isolating environments changed the way people smelled and responded emotionally to certain food aromas.
Space Exploration
Nov 18, 2024
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40
Graphene-based olfactory sensors that can detect odor molecules based on the design of peptide sequences were recently demonstrated by researchers at Tokyo Tech. The findings indicated that graphene field-effect transistors ...
Bio & Medicine
Jan 19, 2023
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94
No one wants bad breath—not when visiting friends and family, at a job interview, and especially not on a first date. Smelly breath can make things awkward, but it also is a natural warning sign, indicating that serious dental ...
Bio & Medicine
Jul 21, 2021
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250
