The molecular mystery of how we smell
By 
Mason Wakley2026-05-11T09:09:00
Despite being one of our key senses, the molecular mechanisms of smell remain poorly understood. Mason Wakley sniffs out the competing theories of what may be happening in our noses
What if the way we experience smell is far more mysterious than we think? From virtual reality headsets that can release scents on cue to competing scientific theories that still can’t fully explain how our noses work, researchers are uncovering a sense far richer—and stranger—than expected. Dive into the ongoing debate over how we detect odours, and why one of our most basic senses remains one of science’s biggest puzzles.