Latest Achievements

William Wood, Chemistry

“Do skunks hate the smell of their own spray?” William Wood, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, was asked this question by Popular Science Magazine (July-August, 2016, p. 102). He said we can never really know the answer to this question. Like humans, skunks should experience olfactory fatigue on prolonged exposure to their defensive spray. The receptors in their nose get clogged up with odor molecules and the smell can no longer be detected. The article is online at www.popsci.com/do-skunks-hate-smell-their-own-spray.

Academic Department
Achievement (100 Words Max)

“Do skunks hate the smell of their own spray?” William Wood, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, was asked this question by Popular Science Magazine (July-August, 2016, p. 102). He said we can never really know the answer to this question. Like humans, skunks should experience olfactory fatigue on prolonged exposure to their defensive spray. The receptors in their nose get clogged up with odor molecules and the smell can no longer be detected. The article is online at www.popsci.com/do-skunks-hate-smell-their-own-spray.

Name(s) of People Involved
William Wood
Type of Achievement
Faculty
Submitter's Full Name
William Wood
Email
william.wood@humboldt.edu
College
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