#sciencejournalism
https://gizmodo.com/this-flower-smells-like-a-rotting-corpse-and-now-scientists-know-how-2000524308
Scientists apparently discover "for the first time" that corpse flowers give off putrescine?
I'm confused. I thought it was well understood that they gave of putrescine.
You can smell it.
@AskTheDevil The smell of putrifaction is a combination of various compounds like cadaverine, putrescine, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, methane, various thiols (sulfur-containing compounds), and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which overall give it the unforgettable stench. These compounds are primarily the result of protein (meat) bacterial degradation. The rotting of plant matter smells different. You ever smell root rot?
@AskTheDevil I've a few Stapelia succulents in the backyard that also produce the rotting flesh smell. Flowers are small in comparison and you have to get close to inhale aroma. #nature #photography #flowers
@AskTheDevil Have you lost any sense of smell as you grow older or have you had COVID and temporarily lost your ability to smell? These last few weeks I could not taste or smell anything and I have not had any sign of illness, i.e., cold or COVID.
@Victor It impacted me briefly, but not even as much as, say a sinus infection or bad allergies. I had a very mild case with almost no symptoms, though. Within a week, my sense of smell was back to normal.
@Victor I am blessed and cursed with a great sense of smell. I could have been a perfume tester, if I took leave of my sensibilities.
One of my parlor tricks used to be that people could hand me anything that had been handled or worn, a handkerchief, ring of keys, whatever, and I could smell it and hand it to the person it belonged to.
Downside: The world is covered in foot stank and urine.