Your emotional contagion might be making your dog a pessimist

In the world of dogs and cats, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that canines seem more optimistic and felines less so. But a dog’s optimism can apparently be dampened by their human’s emotional state, according to new research.Continue ReadingCategory: … Continue reading Your emotional contagion might be making your dog a pessimist

Now we know: Dogs can sniff trauma recollections on our breath

Two dogs in a small study were able to correctly identify what breath smelled like when it was linked to a memory of trauma. The finding might allow dogs to be even better friends when it comes to helping PTSD sufferers cope with their conditions.Conti… Continue reading Now we know: Dogs can sniff trauma recollections on our breath

Face-worn tech could help bring smell-o-vision to the world of VR

While we’ve seen multiple attempts to produce real-world odors in VR environments, many have involved rather cumbersome wearable devices. Chinese scientists have developed a much more streamlined system, which is applied to the skin below the user’s no… Continue reading Face-worn tech could help bring smell-o-vision to the world of VR

Scientists use gold nanoparticles to get the stink out of wine

One thing that will definitely ruin a wine is an unpleasant aroma. Such malodorous wines could soon be saved, however, with a little bit of help from gold nanoparticles.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: Wine, Flinders University, Gold, Nanoparticl… Continue reading Scientists use gold nanoparticles to get the stink out of wine

E. coli bacteria turned into nanowire factory for artificial nose

The mighty snouts on dogs are famously known for their abilities to sniff out everything from disease to explosives, but science is quickly catching up with its own range of artificial noses. Now, in the most recent breakthrough in this exciting field,… Continue reading E. coli bacteria turned into nanowire factory for artificial nose

Lab-grown ancient nose receptors reveal how our ancestors smelled

Our ancestors probably didn’t smell good, but did they smell well? A new study has grown odor receptors from Neanderthals and Denisovans, and tested their sensitivities to different smells compared to modern humans.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, Sc… Continue reading Lab-grown ancient nose receptors reveal how our ancestors smelled

Wheeled robot uses a locust antenna to identify odors

While we’ve heard about a number of “electronic noses,” the devices are rarely as sensitive as their natural counterparts. That’s why Israeli scientists have taken a new approach, by incorporating a locust antenna into an odor-identifying robot.Continu… Continue reading Wheeled robot uses a locust antenna to identify odors

Fatty acids on the skin explain why some people are “mosquito magnets”

If you’re one of the unlucky ones that seems to get ravaged by mosquitoes while others around you escape unscathed, a new study offers an explanation as to why. Scientists have examined what makes mosquitoes more attracted to some humans over others, a… Continue reading Fatty acids on the skin explain why some people are “mosquito magnets”

Nosewise Handheld Olfactometer brings a sense of smell to VR gaming

For decades, inventors have pursued the concept of adding “smell-o-vision” to movies or TV shows. Swedish scientists have now created such a system for use in VR gaming, and it could actually help people regain their lost sense of smell.Continue Readin… Continue reading Nosewise Handheld Olfactometer brings a sense of smell to VR gaming