Why do bad smells smell bad?

#236 When a retired chemist wrote in… we had to explore to his great questions. How does reverse osmosis actually work? Should you put aluminum foil in your dishwasher? Why do mixed powders mysteriously un-mix themselves? This episode is full of clever questions, surprising chemi ...  Show more

Question and Response #76 You asked… so we answered. What do carbon chains have to do with Greek words? How do MRIs make “3D pixels”? Is that pool smell actually chlorine? And wait… are birds blue, or is that just a trick of the light? This episode is a rapid-fire round of your q ...  Show more

How do we smell? What role does our sense of smell play in our closest relationships? And how are brands creating scents to keep us coming back for more? In this episode of How We’re Wired, join evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin as she unpicks the science of smell, from ...  Show more

In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, I explore how your sense of smell (olfaction), taste, and chemical sensing influence memory, alertness, focus, and even communication between people. I explain how these senses help us detect chemicals in the environment and respond to a v ...  Show more

Discover the science of pheromones and unravel the mystery behind their effectiveness. Cosmos Science Journalist, Imma Perfetto, sheds light on what pheromones are, how they work, and whether they truly exist in humans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

International Flavors & Fragrances master perfumer Stephen Nicoll talks about a side of the fragrance industry that doesn’t get a lot of publicity: scenting household products. He explains how he creates fragrances for fabric detergents, cleaning sprays, and dryer sheets; what en ...  Show more