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Mystery of the Senses—Smell
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Program Overview
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Why do some people crave chocolate? Why does music make some people
cry at the movies? How did kissing begin? Mystery of the Senses, a
five-part NOVA special airing over four consecutive nights, seeks
answers to these and other questions as it explores the complexities
of smell, taste, touch, hearing, and vision. In this exploration,
series host and naturalist Diane Ackerman travels around the world
to investigate the science, history, and cultural values that
influence our senses.
For centuries, many cultures have used scents and odors for a
variety of purposes. From the earliest civilizitions, humans have
created and used scents to mask unpleasant odors and to enhance
other, more appealing ones. To find out what makes humans so
responsive to natural and synthesized fragrances, series host and
naturalist Diane Ackerman investigates the role of incense in Oman,
visits a perfume factory in New Jersey, traces a smell from outside
the body to the part of the brain that stores memories and emotions,
and examines how different animals use their sense of smell.
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