The Secret of Scent. Trust Your Nose. Follow Your Instincts

Smell and the nose make up a unique system through which living organisms perceive the world around them and interact with each other. How does smell contribute to the reproduction, development, and survival of creatures on Earth? Fascinating and unexpected stories about how odors can influence the behavior of animals, birds, and insects—urging them to act or causing disgust—even in cases when the smells are not consciously perceived. This engaging narrative tells about how smell works and is built in animals, birds, and humans, and about how smells in the noses and brains of Earth’s inhabitants shape various reactions and unconscious or conscious behavioral strategies. Renowned Swedish biologist Bill Hansson explains how modern scientific achievements in the field of olfaction are applied to diagnosing diseases, monitoring environmental pollution, and controlling the behavior of animals, birds, insects, and people.