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General Science / Re: smells
« on: 29/12/2005 00:31:05 »quote:
Originally posted by neilep
I think it does mean you're breathing in dog poo....but itsy bitsy titsy bits of molecular poo poo !!..just breathe it in and inhale...it'll put hairs on your chest !!...
i'm probably wrong (inferior complex mode) so lets wait for a passing olfactory expert to waft in and let rip a bottom burp of an answer !!
Hi, I'm an expert in the olfaction of canine faeces. I just happened to be passing and I think your explanation is correct. You didn't of course because you are not an expert.
You don't breathe in the whole pooh, obviously, just the volatile components that evaporate from it. Molecules of these gases and vapour diffuse though the air or are carried by air currents until you breathe them in. In your nose these molecules impact with sensors that respond differently to different chemicals. From the pattern of sensory response your brain identifies the source.
Interesting that we nearly all find the smell of faeces unpleasant and it is potentially quiet bad for you. Obviously an certain amount of genetic preprogramming there.
For more information you could buy my book ("Lampost to Lampost with Nose and Notebook" £19.99, Grabber and Grabber, London, 1985)or you could try this link http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro99/web1/Bernstein.html