You Use Quantum Physics to Smell

Exploration of how our noses work, including the olfactory epithelium and neuron receptors.

Discussion of shape and vibration theories of smell receptors.

Explanation of the shape theory based on lock and key mechanism for odor molecules.

Challenges in the shape theory to explain different odors of molecules.

Introduction to the vibration theory based on the vibrational frequencies of molecules.

Discussion on the application of vibrations to detect the chemical composition of molecules.

Explanation of quantum tunnelling in detecting the vibrations of molecules in smell receptors.

Presentation of experiments using deuterium to demonstrate the influence of quantum physics in smell detection.

Discussion on the complexity of understanding smell perception using shape and vibration models.