Senses | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/senses/RSS feed for SensesenWed, 29 Apr 2026 20:59:40 +0000Scientists Create the First Detailed 'Smell Map' of Odor Sensors in the Mouse Nose—and Sniff Out Some Surprising Discoverieshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-create-the-first-detailed-smell-map-of-odor-sensors-in-the-mouse-nose-and-sniff-out-some-surprises-180988639/In two new studies, researchers used genetic techniques to upend a longstanding assumption that nerve cells with scent detectors were randomly arranged. They don’t know whether the same spatial organization is found in human nosesWed, 29 Apr 2026 20:59:40 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-create-the-first-detailed-smell-map-of-odor-sensors-in-the-mouse-nose-and-sniff-out-some-surprises-180988639/Earth's Smells Are Disappearing Because of Climate Change, and It's a Vast Cultural Losshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/earths-smells-are-disappearing-because-of-climate-change-and-its-a-vast-cultural-loss-180988496/A triple threat of pollution, extinction and warming temperatures is altering the way the planet smells. Scientists are only beginning to understand the stakes for humansWed, 08 Apr 2026 12:57:09 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/earths-smells-are-disappearing-because-of-climate-change-and-its-a-vast-cultural-loss-180988496/An Elephant's Trunk Is Covered in Whiskers—and They're Unlike Those on Any Other Animal, a New Study Suggestshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-elephants-trunk-is-covered-in-whiskers-and-theyre-unlike-those-on-any-other-animal-a-new-study-suggests-180988199/Hundreds of the specialized hairs help the poor-sighted creatures navigate the worldFri, 13 Feb 2026 22:15:05 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-elephants-trunk-is-covered-in-whiskers-and-theyre-unlike-those-on-any-other-animal-a-new-study-suggests-180988199/This Inca Building—the Only Surviving Structure of Its Kind—Might Have Been Designed to Amplify Sound and Musichttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-inca-building-the-only-surviving-structure-of-its-kind-might-have-been-built-to-amplify-sound-and-music-180987597/Researchers will use 3D modeling to assess what the "carpa uasi" in Huaytará, Peru, originally looked like and how sound traveled through itThu, 30 Oct 2025 15:48:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-inca-building-the-only-surviving-structure-of-its-kind-might-have-been-built-to-amplify-sound-and-music-180987597/Our Teeth May Descend From Sensitive Bumps on Prehistoric Fish Armor, New Research Findshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/our-teeth-may-descend-from-sensitive-bumps-on-prehistoric-fish-armor-new-research-finds-180986675/Hundreds of millions of years ago, fish had sensory features on their exoskeletons that contained dentine, the material that makes our teeth sensitive todayFri, 23 May 2025 17:59:43 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/our-teeth-may-descend-from-sensitive-bumps-on-prehistoric-fish-armor-new-research-finds-180986675/Climate Change Is Threatening Eye Health in Disturbing Wayshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/climate-change-is-threatening-eye-health-in-disturbing-ways-180986573/Cataracts, pinkeye and other ocular disorders are linked to heat, air pollution and higher UV exposureFri, 16 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/climate-change-is-threatening-eye-health-in-disturbing-ways-180986573/Discover the Aromas of Ancient Egyptian Mummies, From Orange Peels to Pine to Incensehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/discover-the-aromas-of-ancient-egyptian-mummies-from-orange-peels-to-pine-to-incense-180986035/A new, first-of-its-kind analysis of the scents of nine mummies detected woody, spicy, herbal and rancid notes, among other odorsFri, 14 Feb 2025 00:02:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/discover-the-aromas-of-ancient-egyptian-mummies-from-orange-peels-to-pine-to-incense-180986035/Why Do Mammals Have Outer Ears? Scientists Are Getting Closer to Solving the Mysteryhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-do-mammals-have-outer-ears-scientists-are-getting-closer-to-solving-the-mystery-180985884/Two new studies offer insights into the evolution and development of external ears, which appear in humans and other mammals but aren't found in reptiles, birds or amphibiansThu, 23 Jan 2025 17:22:26 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-do-mammals-have-outer-ears-scientists-are-getting-closer-to-solving-the-mystery-180985884/You Can Actually Smell the Incense, Rainy Meadows and Musty Cloth in These Pre-Raphaelite Paintingshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/you-can-actually-smell-the-incense-rainy-meadows-and-musty-cloth-in-these-pre-raphaelite-paintings-180985553/At an exhibition in England, curators have placed artworks alongside diffusers that dispense carefully crafted fragrances, which visitors can trigger by pushing a buttonMon, 02 Dec 2024 17:33:48 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/you-can-actually-smell-the-incense-rainy-meadows-and-musty-cloth-in-these-pre-raphaelite-paintings-180985553/People Born Without a Sense of Smell Have Different Breathing Patterns, Study Findshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/people-born-without-a-sense-of-smell-have-different-breathing-patterns-study-finds-180985327/Study participants with lifelong anosmia sniffed less than those with a normal sense of smell. Future research could shed light on whether this has negative implications for their healthFri, 25 Oct 2024 16:04:02 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/people-born-without-a-sense-of-smell-have-different-breathing-patterns-study-finds-180985327/