Rockefeller University scientists figure out how to see smells

We already knew that select scientists were working up an advanced electronic nose, but now a team at Rockefeller University has apparently figured out a way to actually see smells. Supposedly, these gurus closely investigated fly larvae and found that sensing odors "in stereo" enabled flies to navigate to smells much more effectively than when only one olfactory organ was used. As they studied said phenomenon, the researchers used a "novel spectroscopic technique that exploited infrared light to create environments where they could see, control and precisely quantify the distribution of these smells." Impressive though this may be, we still prefer the ole GPS method to locating our favorite fare, but beholding those delightful aromas could certainly help out in a pinch.

[Via Physorg, image courtesy of Noendo]

[blade417 @ Dec 26th 2007 9:05AM]

"Hey go talk to that chick across the room"
"nah, she stinks man"
"how the hell do you know"
"With these glasses, I can see some brown smoke coming from her armpits"
"what?"
"dude... keep your breath away from me"

[Matthew Hilario @ Dec 26th 2007 5:39PM]

crop dusting will now look like crop dusting.

[John @ Dec 26th 2007 9:10AM]

Finally, a Smell-O-Scope!

[John @ Dec 26th 2007 9:14AM]

Seriously, Engadget, this news is SOOOO old. Nickelodeon Smell-O-Vision came out YEARS before this!

[Joseph @ Dec 26th 2007 9:15AM]

Finally, something to combat silent but deadly.

[jamma @ Dec 26th 2007 9:16AM]

I can see that this idea stinks....

[Johnny Appleseed @ Dec 26th 2007 9:38AM]

Only one way to see smells...LSD!
But hey, people have discovered this since the 1960's. Why the resurgence? Hmmmm I'm in!

[Sean @ Dec 26th 2007 3:36PM]

synthenasia ;)

[Robert @ Dec 26th 2007 10:20AM]

This ain't news, I learned how to see smells back in college. This girl kissed me and slipped this little tab in my mouth... the rest is history.

[scott @ Dec 26th 2007 10:21AM]

awesome. and as for the SBD comment above...SBD's are methane..a gas. Smells aren't gasses. If you want to see a fart, try Infa-red imaging..(search youtube for it.)

[Valgas @ Dec 26th 2007 12:46PM]

An odordar will definitely be in our future. They will come in handy at bars and "meeting places" for people who love the quickies. If someone invents smell visualizing spectacles that can differentiate between good, bad, rank, dank, stank, fetid and funky smells, we can single out the women who don't take care of their sausage wallets and avoid them completely before having to actually smell their putrescent dead clams and butt cracks. We will be able to single out the ones that smell like fresh baked pumpkin pie.

[jroc @ Dec 26th 2007 1:54PM]

Rockefellers are evil.

"For more than a century ideological extremists at either end of the the political spectrum have seized upon well-publicized incidents ... to attack the Rockefeller family for the inordinate influence they claim we wield over American political and economic institutions. Some even believe we are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the United States, characterizing my family and me as 'internationalists' and of conspiring with others around the world to build a more integrated global political and economic structure - one world, if you will. If that's the charge, I stand guilty, and I am proud of it."
- David Rockefeller, "Memoirs" autobiography (2002, Random House publishers), page 405

[thethirdmoose @ Dec 26th 2007 2:28PM]

What's wrong with a more united world? Who says that can't be good for the US?

[jroc @ Dec 26th 2007 2:41PM]

Have you read 1984? When you have all of the power you just want more control. These are globalists, the word "freedom" is not in there dictionary. A one world oceanic government is not a good thing for us commoners.

[x3qt0r @ Dec 27th 2007 3:48AM]

I liked the Lady in the above given picture... :D
can i see her smell? :D (whatever that means)

[Panathas17 @ Dec 26th 2007 4:16PM]

I can see that there's humor here... wait! I meant HUMOR ESSENCE....

[Mobius_1 @ Dec 26th 2007 11:44PM]

Stanford University scientists figure out how to smell sees