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In humans, the sense of smell is similarly developed in men and women, although women have slightly more olfactory neurons and therefore a slightly more sensitive nose. On the whole, however, they perceive the same odors. Male moths, on the other hand, live in a completely different olfactory world to their female counterparts.
— Read more in The differing olfactory worlds of female and male silk moths at Phys.org.
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In a study involving nematode worms, scientists found that when these worms were exposed to a specific compound released by harmful bacteria, it triggered the activation of a neural pathway. This activation led to an increase in the lifespan of the worms and a reduction in protein aggregation, which is known to be a contributing factor in the development of neurodegenerative illnesses.
An organism’s reaction to repugnant odors can be an indicator of the organism’s capacity to protect itself from harmful substances and live longer. This at least is what happens in the case of nematodes of the species Caenorhabditis elegans.
— Read more in The Scent of Longevity: How Smelling Harmful Substances May Prolong Life at SciTechDaily.
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A recent study reports something strange: When mice with Alzheimer's disease inhale menthol, their cognitive abilities improve. It seems the chemical compound can stop some of the damage done to the brain that's usually associated with the disease.
In particular, researchers noticed a reduction in the interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β) protein, which helps to regulate the body's inflammatory response – a response that can offer natural protection but one that leads to harm when it's not controlled properly.
— Read more in Mouse Study Reveals Unexpected Connection Between Menthol And Alzheimer's at ScienceAlert.
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Effective intergroup communication is crucial for not just the health but the very survival of a species. Pied tamarins resort to various scent markings, each serving different purposes, such as conveying territorial or reproductive information.
The study’s compelling findings revealed a direct correlation between the escalation in noise decibel levels and the frequency of scent markings. This indicates that as their vocal communication gets muffled amidst the urban noise, these primates are relying more heavily on scent markings.
— Read more in Monkeys use more scent markings to combat human noise pollution at Earth.com.
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The team’s goal is simple: Incorporate scents that repel mosquitoes into everyday products. After doing extensive research into the household products used most frequently in places where mosquito-borne diseases are common, they decided to focus mostly on bar soap and powdered laundry detergent. (They’re also thinking about other things like body lotion and body cream.) These products are already scented with a fragrance—what if that fragrance also helped keep mosquitoes away?
— Read more in Could perfume be our secret weapon in the war on mosquitoes? at GatesNotes (or watch the video below the jump)…