A child cups a lemon hanging from a tree to his face, closing his eyes and smelling intensely. As an adult, the smell of a lemon may bring back specific memories from his childhood—the ability of smell (and taste) to suddenly trigger vivid, emotional memories is called the “Proust effect” after the French novelist Marcel Proust.
| 3 min read
Smells and tastes can trigger vivid emotional memories from decades past. Scientists are digging into the neurological mechanisms behind the anecdotes.

senses

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Spider Uses Its Web Like a Giant Engineered Ear

The Scientist Speaks Podcast - Episode 12

Researchers Make Mice Smell Odors that Aren’t Really There

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Stem Cells Delivered to the Nose Restore Mice’s Ability to Smell

Just the Sight of Food Gets the Liver Ready for Action

Researchers Identify Gene Variants Linked to Synesthesia

Fruit Flies Feel Humidity with Dedicated Receptors

pH Detectors in Lamprey Spinal Cords Control Cell and Locomotor Activity

ESP on Trial

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The Ear as a Therapeutic Gateway to the Vagus Nerve

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Universe 25 Experiment

3D illustration showing three differently colored semi-translucent cells, representing different T cell subtypes, on a black background. A purple cell is in the front on the right, a red cell is on the left, and a blue cell sits behind the red one.

T Cell Nomenclature Gets an Update

A yellow-colored frozen frog.

Freeze-Tolerant Frogs Power Organ Cryopreservation Strategies

Multimedia

Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Unchained Labs
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Thermo Scientific X and S Series General Purpose Centrifuges

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Illustration of a developing fetus surrounded by a clear fluid with a subtle yellow tinge, representing amniotic fluid.
January 2026, Issue 1

What Is the Amniotic Fluid Composed of?

The liquid world of fetal development provides a rich source of nutrition and protection tailored to meet the needs of the growing fetus.

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Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

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An Automated DNA-to-Data Framework for Production-Scale Sequencing

illumina
Exploring Cellular Organization with Spatial Proteomics

Exploring Cellular Organization with Spatial Proteomics

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Organoid Origins and How to Grow Them

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Biotium Launches GlycoLiner™ Cell Surface Glycoprotein Labeling Kits for Rapid and Selective Cell Surface Imaging

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Thermo Scientific X and S Series General Purpose Centrifuges

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