Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Pseudoscience-is-malarkey on 20/09/2022 19:37:41
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It is said that if we orbited Uranus there would be a flatulent-like stench from its upper clouds (hydrogen sulfide) emanating from it. Would we really smell it?
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Smell do not travel into space.
But molecules and atoms can travel into void space, and into "air" (void space filled with "air" molecules).
So when the molecules enter into someones nose, the molecules can interact with the cells present in the nose.
This interaction is changed into electric charges and the current flow to the brain using neural cells.
Into the brain, the change involved by this current is named "smell".
It is what you perceive, "the smell".
"Smell" is a perception.
The smell is the interpretation of the electric signal originated by the interaction of the nose cells and the "smelling" molecules, by the brain.
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Your nose woks best near atmospheric pressure
- apparently, your nose works a lot less well inside an aeroplane, so airline chefs use more spices than they would for meals to be consumed at ground level(?)
- In particular, your nose does not work at all in very low pressure (like on Mars, or in orbit) - in fact, you quickly lose consciousness & die
- And your nose does not work at all in very low temperature (like on Mars, or in orbit around Uranus). Odor molecules are much less mobile at low temperatures - in fact, your nose would quickly freeze, and you would smell nothing (your lungs would freeze, too, with dire consequences)
So, if you had a sample of the atmosphere of Uranus at room temperature and pressure (eg inside your spaceship), you would smell the hydrogen sulphide easily. But if you were in orbit around Uranus, you would die before you smelled anything (eg outside your spaceship).
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apparently, your nose works a lot less well inside an aeroplane, so airline chefs use more spices than they would for meals to be consumed at ground level(?)
Pressurised hulls run at 5 - 8000 ft equivalent altitude, and plenty of people live that high. Not sure whether McDonalds really have a special Bouldermac - it tasted pretty much the same as at sea level. Could be that after a few hours of being sat between two Sumo wrestlers, behind a puking baby and in front of a group of unwashed hikers still wearing their expedition socks, one's taste buds go into low-gain mode whilst the overhead air vent does its best to blow the food aroma away from your nose. Not that unpressurised light aircraft are any better: flying towards the sun everything tastes of sweat, and flying away from it your sandwich freezes solid and tasteless.
Gastropub chef son tells me that they overspice everything for pretty much the same reason. The chemical receptors get saturated with a couple of preprandial drinks in a crowded restaurant, and nobody wants to revisit a bland menu.
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When molecules enter into someones nose, they interact with the cells present in the nose.
This interaction is changed into electric charges and the current flow to the brain using neural cells.
In the brain, the change involved by this current is named "smell".
It is what you perceive, "the smell".
"Smell" is a perception.
Thank you Dr. Manhatten.
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The answer to the question actually asked is "yes, if you allowed a sample of the adjacent atmosphere to enter your spacecraft" The human nose is actually acutely sensitive to H2S which is why it is used as a tracer in domestic heating gas.
There is no required medium for molecules to travel through space, so "smell" as a noun (i.e. molecules with a distinctive impact on the nasal sensors) can indeed travel, but if you interpret smell as a verb, clearly this is an instance of the observer determining the phenomenon.
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... H2S which is why it is used as a tracer in domestic heating gas.
No it's not.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odorizer#Natural_gas_odorizers