In a study to be published in the journal Nature Communications online Nov. 14, researchers at NYU School of Medicine found that odorants—chemical particles that trigger the sense of smell—need only reach a few signaling proteins on the inside lining of the nose for the mice to identify a familiar aroma. Just as significantly, researchers say they also found that the animals' ability to tell odors apart was the same no matter how strong the scent (regardless of odorant concentration).
— Read more at Mammal brains identify type of scent faster than once thought at Phys.Org.
I’ve read the link three times now, each time telling myself to concentrate and still the Only words that stick in my head are ‘orange’ and ‘pine’. and then I just tried to remember if mice have hairy nostrils….and what their cages smell like….and how do they measure milliseconds….and concentrate.
Is that like science anxiety? (If so, I have it too.)
Maybe I was a lab mouse in a previous life?