Posted by Robin on 3 Comments
In a pilot study at the University of Helsinki, dogs trained as medical diagnostic assistants were taught to recognize the previously unknown odor signature of the COVID-19 disease caused by the novel coronavirus. And they learned with astonishing success: After only a few weeks, the first dogs were able to accurately distinguish urine samples from COVID-19 patients from urine samples of healthy individuals.
— Read more in Dogs Can Smell COVID-19 at EcoWatch.
Posted by Robin on 5 Comments
...there were 3 sets of identical twins in which one twin had no [olfactory bulb] and the other twin had a normal OB. In all three cases, the person without an OB could actually smell better than their twin. Overall, in that database, they found that 0.6% of women and 4.25% of left-handed women had the same condition.
Read more in People missing the scent region of their brain can still smell at Massive Science.
A male orchid bee zips around the rainforest, a flash of iridescent green against an equally emerald background. The bee stops at various flowers, fungi and dead trees, collecting fragrant particles and storing them in pockets in its hind legs. ...it flitters about, using its wings to disperse a bouquet of perfumes into the air.
The aromatic efforts are all for the sake of attracting a mate.
— Read more in A single gene for scent reception separates two species of orchid bees at Phys.org.
Posted by Robin on 2 Comments
One way birds stay clean is by spreading around oil produced by the preen, or uropygial, gland. It’s thought that the oil is primarily used to preserve feathers, but previous studies of bird olfaction have also shown that some species communicate using the oil. Researchers have shown that some birds show a preference for certain oily smells, with some songbirds ditching the father of their chicks if a better smelling stud comes along.
— Read more at Birds Sniff Each Other’s Bacteria to Help Choose a Mate at Smithsonian.
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The study found that rats reacted differently to male and female pheromones. Regardless of risk, rats — particularly males — were observed to “scout out” areas with male pheromones, often later avoiding them. Areas sprayed with female pheromones, however, were visited significantly more often than male-sprayed areas.
— Can rat pheromones solve New York City's rat problem? Read more in Fordham Research Repels NYC’s Rodents at Fordham Observer.