Olfaction

This is a piece about innovation which hasn’t happened yet—artificial olfaction. For a very long time, researchers have been trying to figure out how the nose detects, reacts and remembers odors, and that has been elusive. But researchers have at least broken down the sense of scent into its component parts which someone else may develop into, say, a way to transmit odors over the internet or smartphone. How might this be useful? One advantage might be a genuine aromatherapy for people suffering from sensory deadening disorders such as dementia, depression, Parkinsonism, and stroke. Meanwhile, it’s the stuff of medical breathalyzers. MORE

Image Credit: en.wikipedia.org