The Suspicious Smell

Curious Cases

BBC

Technology, Science

4.8 • 4.1K Ratings

🗓️ 30 August 2022

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Why are some smells so nasty and others so pleasant? Rutherford and Fry inhale the science of scent in this stinker of an episode. Our sleuths kick off with a guided tour of the airborne molecules and chemical receptors that power the sense of smell. Armed with a stack of pungent mini-flasks, Professor Matthew Cobb from the University of Manchester shows Hannah and Adam just how sensitive olfaction can be, and how our experience of some odours depends on our individual genetic make-up. Dr Ann-Sophie Barwich from Indiana University reveals how most everyday smells are complex combinations of hundreds of odorants, and how the poo-scented molecule of indole turns up in some extremely surprising places. With the help of a flavoured jellybean and some nose clips, Hannah experiences how smell is crucial to flavour, adding complexity and detail to the crude dimensions of taste. Speaking of food, listener Brychan Davies is curious about garlic and asparagus: why do they make us whiff? Professor Barry Smith from the Centre for the Study of the Senses reveals it's down to sulphur-containing compounds, and tells the story of how a cunning scientist managed to figure out the puzzle of asparagus-scented urine. Finally, another listener Lorena Busto Hurtado wants to know whether a person’s natural odour influences how much we like them. Barry Smith says yes - we may sniff each other out a bit like dogs - and cognitive neuroscientist Dr Rachel Herz points to evidence that bodily bouquet can even influence sexual attraction! Producer: Ilan Goodman Contributors: Professor Matthew Cobb, Professor Barry Smith, Dr Ann-Sophie Barwich, Dr Rachel Herz

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm Dr Adam Rutherford. And I'm Dr Hannah Fry. And you are going to send us your everyday
0:10.8	mysteries. And we are going to investigate them using the power of science. Science.
0:16.5	I like it. Welcome back, here it is, the next episode of Curious Cases of Rutherford and
0:26.2	Fry. What is going on with your mind? I'm not sure, but I notice.
0:29.9	I'm very observant like this. I noticed you've got some new face furniture.
0:34.2	Is that what you call it? Yeah. Because we have my nose pierced. Yeah. Nice.
0:38.6	I think I'm having a mid-life crisis. You're not even in your midlife yet.
0:42.8	Well, it depends. It depends how long my life is, isn't it? You're not even 40.
0:46.6	You know what? Actually, this is sort of related to today's show. Because when I
0:51.9	had my nose pierced, all I could smell was blood for three days. That was it.
0:56.7	It's constant. And actually, that is loosely related to today's show.
1:02.4	It's very specifically related. Because it's all about smell.
1:12.7	Today we've got an absolute stinker for you. For which I can only apologise,
1:16.4	it's my new deodorant. No, actually, listeners have been sending in lots of questions about smell
1:22.7	to curious cases at BBC.co.uk. And we've bundled them up all into a delicate bouquet for your
1:28.4	delectation. Okay, so Alice Taylor asked, why do our bodies smell? I know the reasons behind
1:33.9	body odors, such as not washing and fungal or bacterial infections, but there must be a reason
1:38.8	in our evolution as to why this happened. Well, adding to the popery of ponds was this question
1:43.9	from Lorena Buster-Hattada, who had gotten to know some people during an online book club,
1:48.1	and wondered whether they're in person smell might affect how much she likes them. Which is a
1:53.9	puzzling question, because I would be smelling the books themselves more than the people.
1:58.3	Nothing better than that. Smell of a book. And finally, to add to the Schmorgas Board of Stinks,
	...

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