It’s clear that genes, receptors and neurons all play a role in detecting odors. But much of how we make sense of what we sniff remains mysterious. A neuroscientist explains. By Daniela Hirschfeld / ...

Holly has a degree in Medical Biochemistry from the University of Leicester. Her scientific interests include genomics, personalized medicine, and bioethics.View full profile Holly has a degree in ...

How we smell is not just a matter of taste—it's also influenced by our genes. An international team of researchers led by scientists from Leipzig University has conducted the largest genetic study to ...

We rarely think about it, but the sense of smell gives us a remarkable power. Without moving or even opening our eyes, it allows us to detect danger, trigger memories, and enjoy the aroma of food.

New research found confined and isolating environments changed the way people smelled and responded emotionally to certain food aromas. The team in this study compared 44 people's emotional responses ...

When Thomas Hummel gets a whiff of an unripe, green tomato, he finds himself in his childhood home in Bavaria. Under the tilted ceilings of the bedroom that he shared with his two older brothers, ...

The sense of smell is the least researched of our senses – despite the fact that olfactory disorders can significantly impair quality of life and may provide important clues to underlying illnesses.

Humans and other animals actively sense their surrounding environment. This entails the deliberate adjustment of motor behavior involved in sensory sampling (i.e., movements of the eyes, ears and ...

Kendra Pierre-Louis: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Kendra Pierre-Louis, in for Rachel Feltman. In late 2024 Nicola Coughlan, the actor famous for her work on Derry Girls and ...