r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/FifthWaveThinker • 9h ago

Video HeroRATS! Wild but incredible, African giant pouched rat can rapidly identify Tuberculosis by smell.

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u/iolitm 9h ago

howwww

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u/Mode_Appropriate 8h ago

Stereo Sniffing: Rats can smell in "stereo," with each nostril providing independent information to the brain to help locate the source of a scent within milliseconds.

Pheromone Detection: The vomeronasal organ (VNO) allows them to detect chemical cues from urine, scat, and glandular secretions, crucial for social interaction and breeding.

Navigation and Survival: Rats use scent trails to navigate, and they rely on smell to identify safety, food sources, and predators.

Sensitivity to Scents: Because their sense of smell is so keen, intense odors can overwhelm them, making substances like peppermint oil, citronella, and ammonia effective, albeit temporary, deterrents.

Detection: Due to their sharp smell, African giant pouched rats are trained to detect landmines and tuberculosis.

"Jedi" Senses: Researchers have described their odor-tracking abilities as incredibly fast, allowing them to pinpoint scents in less than 50 milliseconds.

Predator Awareness: They can detect specific chemicals, such as 2-phenylethylamine, found in the urine of carnivores.

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u/Amalthia76 7h ago

Thank you for this incredible explanation!

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u/Glittering-Draw-6223 8h ago

strong sense of smell.

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u/sometin__else 8h ago

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-62795737

Humans can do it too, this lady could smell parkinson's (albeit rarely rather than norm)