The scent of sickness: 5 questions answered about using dogs – and mice and ferrets – to detect disease
Scientists are experimenting with using dogs to sniff out people infected with COVID-19. But dogs aren't the only animals with a nose for disease.
Glen J. Golden, Research Scientist/Scholar I, Colorado State University •
conversation
Jan. 13, 2021 • ~8 min
Jan. 13, 2021 • ~8 min
infectious-diseases covid-19 dogs mammals mice smell air-travel odor olfaction disease-surveillance avian-flu animal-training
Synthetic odors created by activating brain cells help neuroscientists understand how smell works
Brains recognize a smell based on which cells fire, in what order – the same way you recognize a song based on its pattern of notes. How much can you change the 'tune' and still know the smell?
Edmund Chong, Ph.D. Student in Neuroscience, New York University •
conversation
July 8, 2020 • ~8 min
July 8, 2020 • ~8 min
brain neuroscience neurons brain-cells optogenetics smell senses olfactory sense-of-smell odor olfaction scents sensory-perception brain-circuitry brain-circuits olfactory-system
What makes something smell good or bad?
Mmmmmmm. That smells delicious. Wait, how do you know that?
Weihong Lin, Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County •
conversation
June 1, 2020 • ~5 min
June 1, 2020 • ~5 min
curious-kids curious-kids-us smell science-of-smells senses olfactory sense-of-smell odor olfaction scents
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