Tag: smell

Rafflesia Arnoldii – Largest flower is parasite

Rafflesia Arnoldii - Bengkulu - 21-April-2015Rafflesia Arnoldii - Lake-Maninjau - Sumatra-Indonesia - 1-09-99Rafflesia ArnoldiiModel of Rafflesia flower - Lee Kong Chian - Natural History Museum Singapore - 08-08-2015

Rafflesia Arnoldii – Largest flower is parasite

Rafflesia Arnoldii – Rafflesia arnoldii, is the largest individual flower on Earth. It doesn’t have its own stems, leaves or roots. Parasites on vines of the Cissus genus, related to the vine. Deriving water and nutrients from the hosts. Rafflesia grows in a thicket of tropical jungles in Borneo and Sumatra.
It reaches a weight of 11 kg and a diameter of one meter. It consists of five fleshy, red, white speckled petals. Inside, it finds a few liters of nectar, and spike-like creations with an unknown function.
Rafflesia emit a specific, bad smell to rotten meat. In this way it attracts pollinating beetles and flies. That’s why the people of Indonesia call it a corpse flower. It blooms for 5-7 days, every few years. However, if pollinated, it produces round fruit. Containing thousands of tiny seeds.

Plants difference – Suitable for Christmas tree

Plants difference – Suitable for Christmas tree

Plants difference – Suitable for Christmas tree – What is the difference:

Fir (Abies)

Plants difference - Fir (Abies)

  1. Branches pointing up, form a triangle
  2. Short rounded needles on the opposite sides of the branch
  3. Longitudinal protruding cones
  4. Stays at home for a long time

Pine (Pinus)

Plants difference - Pine (Pinus)

  1. Asymmetrical tree shape
  2. Rare, long, prickly needles
  3. Cones round
  4. Pleasant smell

Norway spruce (Picea)

Plants difference - Norway spruce (Picea)

  1. Branches hanging down
  2. Short needles, grow around the branches
  3. Longitudinal hanging cones
  4. Quickly loses needles at home

Use of smell

Use of smell - Perfume shelf

Use of smell

Use of smell – If a particular scent can trigger specific emotions can therefore affect our behavior and decisions, eg. Buying (from 70s known that emotions decide the election to a much greater extent than quality or price). Properly applied smell can be a powerful tool for manipulation, is likely to attract other people (customers, employees or partners) desirable behavior.

Mole stereo smell

Mole stereo smell - European mole

Mole stereo smell

Mole stereo smell – During experiments with moles. Neuroscientists from the University of  Vanderbildt in the US observed the repetitive patterns of behavior. The proof of the existence of stereo-smell of moles was an experiment in which scientists put the nostrils of moles plastic tubes, each facing in the opposite direction. Moles were so lost, that went on back and forth, and in most cases they can not find food.

Fear like perfume

Fear like perfume - Fear in the eyes

Fear like perfume

Fear like perfume – Researchers from the University of Munich showed that fear is spreading through the air. Just to our brain she sensed fear pheromones contained in sweat stressed people and they begin to be afraid. Feeling fear pushes us to hasty and risky behavior. Responsible for this state of affairs is the structure located symmetrically over our ears, namely the amygdala.

Monosodium glutamate – Enhances taste and smell

Monosodium glutamate

Monosodium glutamate – Enhances taste and smell

Monosodium glutamate – Developed a chemical equivalent of natural umami taste. It is the monosodium glutamate, also designated E621. Pure monosodium glutamate has no taste, and added to food enhances its taste and smell. For this reason, it is a component of bouillon cubes, Chinese soups, Vegeta, and other spices.

Friends smell – Genes variations analysis

Friends smell - Hands holding 1Friends smell - Hands holding 2Friends smell - Hands holding 3

Friends smell – Genes variations analysis

Friends smell – Scientists from the United States analyzed almost 1.5 million markers variations of genes in almost 2 thousand. people who were not biologically related to each other. A pair of friends had the same level of common genes, which are cousins, having a common ancestor in the fourth generation, ie approx. 1% of the common genome. The most common gene shared with friends was a gene affecting our sense of smell.

Animal olfactory opportunities

Animal olfactory opportunities - Aussie Bonnie plays with footballAnimal olfactory opportunities - Male African Elefant (Loxodonta africana) in Serengeti

Animal olfactory opportunities

Animal olfactory opportunities – Researchers at the University of Tokyo compared the number of genes responsible for the sense of smell in 13 mammals, including man. It turned out that of all the animals tested was the elephant has the most olfactory genes – in 1948. In second place came the rat (1207 genes), followed by the cow (1186 genes). Dogs of 811 genes were in the middle of the statement, and a man of 396 genes was ninth. Worst fell orangutan, which has only 296 olfactory genes.

Memory likes colors – Using your favorite colors

Memory likes colors - Color palette

Memory likes colors – Using your favorite colors

Memory likes colors – It is assumed that 83% of the information received by sight, hearing 11%, 3.5% smell, touch 1.5% and 1% flavor. Remembering and the huge impact of color is because using your favorite colors while taking notes. Makes we gain emotional relation to the content and thus better remember.