logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2022
5m 37s

Why Didn't We Evolve to Smell Water?

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

OK, water is scentless, but lots of non-human animals track down sources of it with their noses. Learn why humans aren't so good at that in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/evolution/humans-smell-fresh-water-evolution.htm

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
Who Was Helen of Troy?
Helen is a figure from Greek myth -- a daughter of Zeus with a mortal woman, and said to have been the most beautiful woman in the world. Learn more about her (and how she perhaps inadvertently started the Trojan War) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https:// ... Show More
7m 27s
Jun 12
How Does Your Heart Get Blood?
Your heart needs blood as much as any other muscle in your body, and it receives it the same way -- just a little earlier than anyone else. Learn how the coronary arteries work (and what can go wrong when they don't) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://h ... Show More
11m 43s
Jun 10
How Do Butterflies Get Their Brilliant Colors?
Butterfly wings often come in striking, iridescent colors -- but it's not from pigments (or not entirely). Learn how microscopic structures give butterfly wings their flash in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/butterfl ... Show More
10m 6s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2022
Making Sense: No one nose
Dogs can smell cancer, Covid-19, and many other health problems in humans. Now, scientists are trying to duplicate these powers in robotic sniffers. But there’s a big challenge here: Scientists don’t really understand how smell works. This is the third episode of our six-part ser ... Show More
29m 15s
Mar 2021
No one nose
Believe it or not, scientists still don't know how the sense of smell works. But they're looking at how powerful it is - dogs can actually sniff out cancer and many other diseases - and they're trying to figure out how to reverse engineer it. In fact, one MIT scientist may have b ... Show More
29m 25s
Jun 2023
Odor Receptors, Whale Vocal Fry, Body Donation
Today you’ll learn about what really happens when we get a whiff of something, about the mechanism that allows dolphins to communicate with vocal fry, and the dark and windy history of body donation.Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/ep ... Show More
13m 8s
May 2021
Roses Smell Different in Space
Learn about emotions in online reviews; how flowers smell in space; and how water efficiency affected human evolution.Emotions matter more than ratings when it comes to online reviews by Kelsey Donk“Emotional” reviews predict business success, new study shows. (2021). Northwester ... Show More
13m 37s
Jul 2021
How Reverse Osmosis Will Save the World
<p>Can we save the future of the human race with some thin membranes riddled with ultra-tiny holes? Science says yes! Thanks to reverse osmosis filtration, we can turn saltwater to fresh and finally say, Water, water everywhere so let’s all have a drink!</p><p> </p> Learn more ab ... Show More
43m 7s
Oct 2021
Research Bias: Sort It Out, Science
<p>There’s a sticky issue scientists have to deal with – science is carried out by humans. We humans have flaws (and how) and they can end up in our work. Fortunately, science is waking up to research bias. In the meantime, here’s what to look out for.</p><p> </p> Learn more abou ... Show More
53m 2s
Apr 2020
How Wastewater Treatment Works
<p>All that gross stuff we humans put in the water that gets flushed down the sewers has to be taken back out before that water is reintroduced to the environment. That’s the ideal, and it’s essential to staving off the imbalance people bring to the planet.</p><p> </p> Learn more ... Show More
58m 25s
Oct 2015
How Vestigial Organs Work
<p>Darwin asserted that seemingly useless organs and behaviors are left over from our evolutionary history. But as more are found to have a function, the idea has become a flashpoint for the battle between science and religion.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a h ... Show More
44m 6s
Oct 2021
Blowhole Origins, Weather Manipulation, How to Slow Aging
Learn about how brushing your teeth can slow aging; how blowholes start as noses; and how humans manipulate the weather.Additional resources from Andrew Steele:Pick up "Ageless: The New Science of Getting Older Without Getting Old" at your local bookstore: https://www.indiebound. ... Show More
16m 13s
Apr 2014
How Natural Selection Works
<p>While evolution gets all the spotlight for moving species into better versions of themselves, but really it's natural selection that is the engine driving the process. Learn all about this elegant scientific observation that forms the basis of life.</p><p> </p> Learn more abou ... Show More
56m 5s
Listen to millions of songs and podcasts on Anghami