Scientists developed an electronic 'nose' that can predict the pleasantness of novel odours
Thursday, April 15, 2010 - 20:35
in Mathematics & Economics
Weizmann Institute scientists have 'trained' an electronic system to be able to predict the pleasantness of novel odours, just like a human would perceive them - turning the popular notion that smell is completely personal and culture-specific on its head. In research published in PLoS Computational Biology, the scientists argue that the perception of an odour's pleasantness is innately hard-wired to its molecular structure, and it is only within specific contexts that personal or cultural differences are made apparent...