Can Scent Molecules Travel Through Vacuum?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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They can! Zero gravity could even help them to travel, if the aroma was spreading through a virtual vacuum

. Smells travel by the movement of individual aroma molecules. Under the influence of gravity and with no air to get in the way, these molecules would fall to the ground at the same rate that anything else does.

Does smell need a medium to travel?

Originally Answered: Does smell travel through vacuum? Vaccum means no medium, no matter, no particle.

Smell needs some flowing medium to travel

. Now as soon as you inject a spray for smell, the molecules of spray are mobile and your nostrils can detect it.

Where do scent molecules travel?

An odor is a chemical molecule light enough to be swept around by the environment. Scents travel through

air or underwater

, before ultimately tripping sensors in our noses — known as olfactory neurons.

Does smell travel up or down?

Whether odor smells will travel upward or downward then is not determined by the mass of their constituting particles (related to their vapor densities) but rather by their initial concentrations (or rather their gradients).

How far can smell travel?

SMELL TRAVELS

1,500 YARDS

The smell is skunk-like or sewer-like,” Cooper said in his March 17 letter, noting that “the offensive smell travels long distances – 1,500 yards or more.

How does smell travel to the brain?

Each olfactory neuron has one odor receptor. Microscopic molecules released by substances around us—whether it’s coffee brewing or pine trees in a forest—stimulate these receptors. Once the neurons detect the molecules, they send messages to your brain, which identifies the smell.

Does smell pass through plastic?

On a molecular scale,

smallish molecules, like the volatile compounds that evaporate and make way to your nose, are able to permeate the plastic

.

How do smells travel through water?

In practice, smell spreads through water or air

via mixing, or currents

. The water is always in motion: tides, temperature gradients, wind, fish swimming, Coriolis forces, etc all keep the water moving (though on different scales). This motion of the water carries smell molecules with it.

How fast does scent travel?

The time it takes to smell a chemical in the air is the time the chemical takes to travel in air to our nose, and for the nerve impulse to travel to the brain (milliseconds), so smells are

almost instantaneous

.

Does smell exist in a vacuum?

According to astronauts, they all smell like space. While each astronaut smells something a bit different, they all agree ‘space stinks’. Obviously, space is a vacuum, so

no one has really ‘smelled’ it before in the traditional sense of the word.

Is there smell in vacuum?

The unpleasant odors can cause concern, making you want to vacuum even less. Then you’re stuck with a stinky vacuum and a dirty home. Vacuum cleaners need some regular maintenance to prevent dirt build-up. Luckily,

a stinky vacuum can smell fresh again with our five tips.

Can you smell poop in space?

Does smell travel through walls?


Yes, smoke can travel through walls

According to TobaccoFreeCA, smoke can travel through walls. However, even though cigarette smoke seeps into walls, floors and ceilings, when it travels it tends to act in a similar way to water – it takes the easiest and fastest route.

How do I stop my neighbors from smoking in my apartment?


Use insulation padding and painter’s tape to block vents and large gaps

. Smoke may also drift in through air vents or gaps around your heating or air conditioner. You may be able to block the smoke by covering the gaps with insulation padding or painter’s tape.

Does smoke rise or fall?


Smoke will only rise as long as it is warmer than the surrounding air

. At night a pocket of smoke will rise a bit, but as the air around it becomes warmer, it will actually sink back towards the ground and spread out horizontally. This is what is called a diurnal (or daily) cycle, which basically repeats every day.

Do smells travel in rain?

A large supply of spores builds up during a dry spell and

when it first rains, the force of the raindrops landing on the ground sends the spores up into the air and the moist air picks up the aroma.

Is scent a vibration?

The vibration theory of smell proposes that

a molecule’s smell character is due to its vibrational frequency in the infrared range

.

Does light have a smell?

You’ve seen it, you’ve heard it, but have you ever smelled it? As bizarre as it sounds, lightning has a distinct odor. But unlike its blinding flash or deafening roar, the scent of a lightning bolt is much more subtle.

Why do some people smell good?


When someone has an MHC with a composition unlike yours, they have stronger immunity toward different diseases and medical conditions than you do, so they naturally smell better to you

. Interestingly, the body odor of other people also affects attractiveness on another level.

How do you activate smell receptors?

  1. Smell different things. The more you use your senses, the better they get. …
  2. Sniff a bit more. …
  3. Build your scent IQ. …
  4. Supplement your power to smell. …
  5. Quit smoking.

Why do scents trigger memories?


Scents bypass the thalamus and go straight to the brain’s smell center, known as the olfactory bulb

. The olfactory bulb is directly connected to the amygdala and hippocampus, which might explain why the smell of something can so immediately trigger a detailed memory or even intense emotion.

Can smells pass through liquids?


Yes, although many aroma molecules have low solubility in water and their diffusion is slower because there are more solvent or solid molecules in the way.

Can smell permeate through glass?

But

containers made from metal or glass are non-porous and will keep all odors inside when vacuum sealed

. However, it is important to remember that we leave behind scents on the outside of containers that are left over from our hands.

Can you smell through a Ziplock bag?

If you smell something through a wrap or bag,

yes, odor molecules are penetrating through the plastic

. Yes, depending on the plastic, it can be porous to various chemicals.

At what distance can a shark smell blood?

Sharks can smell blood from

up to around a quarter of a mile away

. When you smell something in the air, it’s because scent molecules have dissolved into the wet lining of your nose. Smelling underwater is no different, except that the molecules are already dissolved in the seawater.

Can humans smell underwater?

When you (and most other mammals) dive underwater,

you can’t smell anything because it is impossible to inhale without getting water in your lungs

. A recent discovery by Dr. Kenneth C. Catania at Vanderbilt University shows that two mammals are capable of sniffing underwater.

How fast does scent travel in water?

In summary, odour can theoretically be detected by a shark in several miles from the source and I would estimate that in the ocean this may take at least one minute to reach the shark at a distance of 100m. More likely it will need

between ten and twenty minutes

.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.