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[instrument: shaker]
[shaker continues]
*FART*
Jeremy: AGH!
Jeremy: Why would you do that?!
Awti: Wrong question... but, for science!!
Jeremy: So anyway, you going to be working tomorrow?
Awti: Uh, Hold on a second... *BELCH*
Jeremy: *Gasp* Why????
Awti: Wrong question! But, for science!
Jeremy: Who are you talking to?
Awti: Ahhh, oh man I... [mischevious laugh]
Jeremy: Aggh!! Why... why would you do that?
Awti: Again, wrong question! But the right question is, "How?" Now for the answer!!
["KnowThat?!" title music]
Awti: How does smell - both the act of taking in smells and the emitting of smells - work?
In other words, when Jeremy smelled that fart, what happened? Let's start with Jeremy's nose.
Inside the nose are tons of olfactory cells. When molecules from the environment are sniffed
into the nose, the olfactory cells come in contact with them.
Olfactory cells: Hm??
Awti: The olfactory cells relay electronic signals to the brain about the molecules.
Olfactory cells: Hmm... and.. "send!"
Brain: Huh? Uhhh.... Ah ha!
Awti: And the brain tells the body how to react. In this case, Jeremy's brain tells his body to freak out!
Jeremy: NOOOOOO!!!!
Jeremy: So Austin just got done explaining about how we intake smell, but remember, humans
can also exude smell right? So, how do we do that? Well first, you have to understand
that we have a relationship with bacteria. So, suppose you eat something. When you ingest it,
the bacteria is going to break that down and create a gas and that gas has molecules in it.
So when you fart and that smell goes up in your nose, it's molecules!
The second example, we talked about burping. It's that same idea: the gas comes up and it has molecules in it.
And last, if you were to run a really long distance and start having a liquid come out
of your skin, that liquid isn't water, it's sweat. And when the bacteria breaks that down,
it changes it into a gas that once again has molecules. So it's true, we humans, we "smell."
Awti: Now, let's talk about your brain. The brain has different parts. One of which is
the "limbic system." The limbic system is responsible for different things including
mood, emotion, your memories, and even the sense of smell. So you can see why, oftentimes,
when you smell something, that smell can trigger a strong mood, emotion, or memory. It's because
all those things are wrapped up with the sense of smell in the same area of the brain,
the limbic system. Let's look at an example.
Remember, these are molecules.
Hey Jeremy... there you go.
Jeremy: Uh, what am I doing?
Awti: Ah, just give this a whiff.
Jeremy: Oh. Okay.
Ah! NOOOOOO!!!
Awti: See? Jeremy's sense of smell is greatly tied into...
*SMACK*
Awti: Get out of here!
Like I was saying: This molecular combination triggered an immediate memory of when he had last
smelled it, which also brought up a mood and an emotion. All of these things occurred because
the sense of smell is handled by the limbic system.
Jeremy: Ah! Where -- wha --- Austin!
Awti: Doot de doo...
Jeremy: YOU!
Awti: Me?
[Dramatic music]
Awti: What is that?
Awti: *Sniffs* Whoa!
Young Awti: Yeah baby, you and me... Girlfriend: *tee hee*
Girlfriend: WE'RE DONE! Young Awti: What??
EX girlfriend: *tee hee* Alright bye bye!
Young Awti: NOOOO!! *sobbing uncontrollably*
Awti: *sobbing continues* Aaghh! *sobs*
Why, Jeremy?!
Jeremy: Why, for science!
["KnowThat?!" title music]
Jeremy: Alright, are we good? Good! Alright, everybody go home.
Awti: I, uh... who... Who are you talking to? ... Jeremy?