this post was submitted on 11 Nov 2024
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Isn't smell just particulate matter hitting receptors not dissimilar to how taste receptors send taste signals to the brain? I thought science had this stuff nailed down now?
That's what they theorize. How do you prove it?
Science shit?
I dont know....but I wouldn't say that's a good reason to doubt it, for example I don't know how they proved black holes exist but they seem pretty confident.
Ok, if it's just particles how does it distinguish the particles on a molecular level. This is important shit. The closest science can do is gas chromatography and that's an instrument which exists in any reputable lab. Also, using gas chromatography for this a far cry from the simple function of our sense of smell which can distinguish scents just by simply introducing a fragrence.
Maybe I'm misreading your tone, but I'm not trying to argue with you - I'm genuinely curious about this and if you have superior knowledge I'm open!
My understanding from a quick skim of Wikipedia citations suggests we understand what's involved (particles and receptors) but the actual mechanism around encoding of signals seems to be theory.
We also can't teach a computer to think, but we still have quite a good idea of how it works.
https://pca.st/episode/835428d6-e13b-4f1b-866c-de9b6a74d660
If your interested this is a good episode of Unexplainable. They can do better then me.
I believe the receptor cell responds to a particular part of the molecule in question. Artificial flavourings and scents have identical (or similar enough) parts to trigger the same response, but are otherwise different molecules.
I think someone said the number of combinations for a key and lock receptor was insurmountable. Don't quote me.