Two studies this month point to pooches’ quick detection of SARS-CoV-2 on material that touched the skin of infected participants, although the pups’ accuracy does not match that of RT-PCR.

Good girl, Florin!

In a proof-of-concept study, researchers used dogs’ diagnoses of prostate cancer to inform a machine learning algorithm with the goal of one day detecting cancers with canine-level accuracy.

Decoding Smell: Demystifying Human Disease and Behavior

Some viruses, possibly even SARS-CoV-2, can sneak into the brain through the nose. Recent studies show that microglia are ready for them when they do.

Using optogenetics, scientists have simulated the sense of smell directly within the mouse brain to investigate the nature of olfactory perception.

Most small amphibious mammals have a diminished sense of smell, a quality that likely arose because of a tradeoff with thermoregulation capacities that allowed them to conserve heat in aquatic environments.

A study identifies five women who have a functioning sense of smell despite an apparent lack of olfactory bulbs—the region of the brain that processes odors.

Carbon dioxide pumped into a bright chamber mimics a breathing host for the pest to target.

The introduced cells engrafted in the nose, became olfactory sensory neurons, and sent axons to the animals’ brains.

Authors of a small study say the two abilities likely evolved in tandem.

Researchers envision a cochlear implant–like device for the nose to give people with impaired olfaction a sense of smell.

Distributed neuronal networks help the brain sort smells.

The whip spider senses the world in weird and wonderful ways.

Responses to compounds in human sweat may help explain why people with autism spectrum disorder tend to struggle with social cues.

Animals lacking a sense of smell stayed thinner than their smelling counterparts, despite eating the same amount.

Synaptic connections and a new neuron type emerge in high-res images, which hold promise for mapping the complete connectome.

Teams of modelers compete to develop algorithms for estimating how people will perceive a particular odor from its molecular characteristics.

Covering neuroscience research means choosing from an embarrassment of riches.