Why Do You Love That Smell? Books, Grass, And More | SciShow Compilation

TL;DR

• Chemistry explains the scents of everyday things, from books to rain, gasoline, and even nature.

Transcript

thanks to the node for supporting this size show compilation video you can get a 100 60 day credit on a noodle note account at lenode.com scishow some things just put us in a trance when we smell them like old books can smell like that smell what is it I love it when it comes down to it they are just a bunch of paper so we're going to explore the c... Read More

Key Insights

• 👃 Books' smells derive from cellulose, lignin, and various compounds in paper and bindings.
• 👃 Rain smells originate from plant oils, geosmin by soil bacteria, and ozone.
• 🇬🇱 Grass emits Green Leaf Volatiles after mowing to attract insect predators.
• ❓ Gasoline odor is due to Benzene and volatile compounds, triggering dopamine release.
• 💥 Exploding Plankton release dimethyl sulfide, contributing to the distinctive ocean smell.
• 👱 Winter air carries less scent due to slower evaporation of volatile organic compounds.
• 🥶 Winter's distinct smell is partly due to the trigeminal nerve reacting to cold air.

Questions & Answers

Q: What causes books to have distinct smells?

Books smell due to chemical compounds like cellulose, lignin, benzaldehyde, vanillin, and ethyl benzene released over time from the paper and bindings.

Q: How do plants contribute to the smell of rain?

Plants release oils rich in fatty acids when water is scarce, which combines with geosmin released by soil bacteria due to rain, creating the familiar rain smell.

Q: Why does gasoline have a distinctive smell?

Gasoline's smell comes from Benzene and other compounds present in hydrocarbons, which trigger dopamine release in the brain, creating a familiar odor.

Q: How do stink bugs defend themselves through smell?

Stink bugs release aldehyde compounds when threatened, emanating a foul smell as a defense mechanism to deter predators and safeguard against diseases.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Books have distinct smells due to various chemical compounds like cellulose, lignin, benzaldehyde, vanillin, and ethyl benzene.

• Rain smells arise from compounds released by plants, soil bacteria, and ozone.

• Grass after mowing emits Green Leaf Volatiles, signaling insects, while gasoline owes its smell to Benzene and other compounds.