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So THAT's Why Some People Can Smell Rain Before It Falls

So THAT's Why Some People Can Smell Rain Before It Falls

Did you know that some people can smell ants ? Yup – scientists have found that ants release a scent when they’re distressed or have passed away. The smell is different for various species, and some of us are more sensitive to it than others ( probably due to genes ). And if you swear you can smell rain before it falls, it looks like science is on your side for that, too. Why can I smell rain before it falls? Scientific American explained that storms and other rainy events can bring ozone down from higher up in the atmosphere to “nose level”. This happens before the precipitation actually falls. Ozone, a type of oxygen whose name derives from the Ancient Greek meaning “to smell,” has a fresh, clean scent that reminds some of chlorine and can linger for hours after a storm ends. Per The Times , some people can smell ozone at concentrations as low as 10 parts per billion. The Times added that humidity often hits the ground before rain does. After a dry spell, Streptomyces bacteria in the ground grow spores. But when humidity, which often arrives before rain, hits the ground again, “the spores are shot into the air and people with a sensitive nose can pick up the smell” of the resulting pre-preciptiation geosmin. These all form “petrichor” The sum of all the smells created by rain’s interaction with the environment is called “ petrichor ” (one of my favourite words). “Petrichor” is usually strongest after rainfall . It can be created by the aforementioned ozone and geosmin, as well as the volatile plant oils let loose in the air. It is especially strong if rain falls after a dry spell. Humans are unbelievably sensitive to the smell of petrichor – we can perceive geosmin, for instance, at concentrations of 10 parts per trillion. Related... What does it mean if you get winded walking up the stairs? Yes, Some People Can Smell Ants – Here's Why So THAT's Why Old Books Smell So Good