How does our ability to smell work?
Our sense of smell, or olfaction, is a complex system that perceives odour molecules in the air and transforms them into bioelectric currents, signals that the brain analyses and interprets.
The sense of smell starts to develop at birth, enabling a baby to recognise its mother. It also allows us to identify potential dangers, such as fires or gas leaks. We can detect over 10,000 odours, and smell is also closely linked to taste, so it's thanks to our sense of smell that we're able to appreciate the food we eat!
How does it work?
