Why can't we Smell or Taste with a Cold? + more videos | #aumsum #kids #science #education #children

TL;DR

When we have a cold, excess mucus prevents odorants from reaching our olfactory receptors, leading to a loss of smell and taste.

Transcript

It's AumSum Time. Why can't we smell and taste when we have cold? Because we become lazy. No. Our nose has specialized olfactory receptors. Covered in a thin layer of mucus. In normal conditions, the odorants released from food or perfume. Diffuse through the mucus and get transported to the receptors. Activating them, and thus allowing us to smell... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥶 When we have a cold, excess mucus prevents odorants from reaching the olfactory receptors, leading to a loss of smell and taste.
• 🖇️ The pleasant smell of old books is caused by the breakdown of organic compounds in paper and ink, releasing volatile organic compounds into the air.
• 👃 The smell of rain, known as petrichor, comes from a combination of plant oils and geosmin, a chemical produced by actinomycetes bacteria in the soil.
• 👃 Smell and taste are closely connected, with the combination of information from gustatory and olfactory receptors contributing to our sense of flavor.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why can't we smell and taste when we have a cold?

When we have a cold, excess mucus blocks odorants from reaching the olfactory receptors in our nose, preventing us from smelling. The lack of smell also affects our sense of taste because the combination of information from gustatory and olfactory receptors gives us the sense of flavor.

Q: What causes the smell of old books?

The smell of old books is caused by organic compounds in the paper and ink deteriorating over time. As these compounds break down due to heat, light, and moisture, they release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, creating the distinct aroma associated with old books.

Q: Why does rain have a smell?

The smell of rain, known as petrichor, is caused by a combination of plant oils and a chemical called geosmin. During dry weather, plants release oils into the soil to inhibit the growth of other seeds and reduce competition for water. When rain hits the ground, it brings up these oils and geosmin, producing the recognizable smell of rain.

Q: How do we smell things?

We smell things through our olfactory system. When we breathe in, odorant chemicals enter our nose and get stuck in the mucus of the olfactory epithelium. These chemicals activate olfactory receptor neurons, which transmit signals to the brain through the olfactory tract, allowing us to perceive smells.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• When we have a cold, excess mucus blocks odorants from reaching the specialized olfactory receptors in our nose, resulting in a loss of the sense of smell.

• The combination of information from gustatory receptors on our tongue and olfactory receptors gives us the sense of flavor. When we have a cold, the olfactory receptors are unable to detect odors, leading to a diminished sense of taste.

• The smell of old books is caused by the breakdown of organic compounds in paper and ink, releasing volatile organic compounds that evaporate into the air and create a pleasant smell.