The floral scent of blooming lavender, the leafy smell of freshly cut grass, and the earthy aroma of the first rain transport most people back to childhood summer memories. Cells called sensory ...

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 / ...

While smell plays a considerable role in the social interactions of humans -- for instance, signaling fear or generating closeness -- for ants, it is vitally important. Researchers have found that a ...

Olfactory receptors are integral to sensory perception, forming a sophisticated system that enables organisms to detect and differentiate an immense variety of volatile chemical compounds. As members ...

For the first time, researchers have determined how a human olfactory receptor captures an airborne scent molecule, the pivotal chemical event that triggers our sense of smell. Whether it evokes roses ...

As unique as a fingerprint, your scent communicates a lot about you to others. Our skin emits a distinct smell that can convey various messages, but what exactly does your scent say about you? Dr.

In the middle of dinner, the faint whiff of something burning in the kitchen might go unnoticed by most people, but others may catch the smell instantly. Their noses are a little sharper, tuned to ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Márquez is a marine scientist and science communicator Understanding the intricate mechanisms of shark olfaction not only deepens ...