Science & Nature · 3
According to a 2014 Science study, approximately how many distinct scents can the human nose detect?
Answer
At least 1 trillion
A 2014 study published in Science by Bushdid et al. used a mathematical model based on human discrimination tests to estimate that the human olfactory system can distinguish at least 1 trillion distinct odours — far surpassing the long-cited figure of 10,000, which had no experimental basis. This extraordinary sensitivity is achieved with only about 400 different types of olfactory receptor proteins, which work in combination to encode smells the way mixing primary colours creates a full spectrum.
💡 Did you know?
A 2014 Science study found humans can detect at least 1 trillion distinct odours — yet we have only about 400 different types of smell receptors to do it.
Other options people guess
- About 10,000
- About 1 million
- About 10 billion
Topics
- smell
- olfaction
- senses
- human-body
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