The video discusses the process of how we smell and the two theories of smell receptors, shape and vibration. The vibration theory suggests that the smell receptors behave like metals separated by a small gap, and electrons pass through the receptor triggering the nerve. Scientists conducted experiments to test the vibration theory and found strong evidence that different isotopes of molecules smelled differently, proving that quantum physics is involved in the sense of smell. Finally, the video concludes that both the shape and vibration theories are required to explain how our noses function fully.
1. Arno's use of quantum physics to smell.
2. Odor molecules get captured by a layer of mucus and are taken to olfactory epithelium.
3. Olfactory epithelium contains bundles of neurons containing special receptor sites which detect the molecules and send signals to the brain.
4. Shape and vibration are the two main theories about how smell receptors work.
5. The vibration theory suggests that the smell receptor can tell the difference between different molecules based on how they vibrate.
6. Inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy is used to probe molecules and determine their resonances.
7. Chiral molecules have a left-handed and a right-handed form.
8. Both the shape model and vibration model are needed to explain how we smell.
9. Directly observing the receptor sites in action is necessary to fully understand how smell works.
10. Quantum physics plays a role in how we smell.