Senses

The Biology of the Mosquito: CO2 and Infrared Sensing

How does a mosquito find you in the dark? Discover the multi-modal sensory system of the mosquito, from CO2 detectors to thermal imaging.

The Science of Salmon: Magnetic Imprinting

How does a fish find its way home across 2,000 miles of ocean? Discover the Sockeye Salmon and the science of Magnetic Imprinting.

The Art of Incense Making: Scent of the Spirit

Why burning plants is a lesson in 'Atmospheric Alchemy.' Discover the biology of the Olfactory-Amygdala link and the art of the 'Koh-do' ceremony.

The Biology of the Cochlea: The Fluid Piano

How do we tell high notes from low notes? Discover the Cochlea and the Basilar Membrane, the snail-shaped organ that acts as the brain's internal piano.

The Biology of the MGN: Auditory Relay

Discover the brain's 'Sound Station.' Explore the Medial Geniculate Nucleus (MGN) and how it filters and organizes everything you hear.

The Biology of the Olfactory Bulb: The Scent Relay

Discover the brain's 'Chemical Sorting Office.' Explore the Olfactory Bulb and the complex Glomeruli networks that translate a million smells into memory.

The Biology of the Star-Nosed Mole: The Fovea of Touch

Meet the fastest eater on Earth. Discover the Star-Nosed Mole and its bizarre, tentacled nose that functions as a high-speed 'Tactile Eye'.

The Biology of the Thalamus: The Sensory Switchboard

How does the brain filter out the noise? Discover the Thalamus, the massive biological switchboard that controls everything you feel, see, and hear.

The Biology of the Olfactory Epithelium: Sensing Molecules

Discover the specialized tissue at the top of your nose that allows you to detect one trillion different scents. The biology of the only 'Exposed' neurons.

The Biology of the Trigeminal Nerve in Taste: The Spice Burn

Why does spicy food hurt? Discover the Trigeminal Nerve and how your brain translates the chemistry of chili peppers and mint into the sensation of touch and pain.

The Biology of the Tympanic Membrane: The Eardrum

How does air turn into movement? Discover the biology of the Tympanic Membrane (eardrum) and the physics of the acoustic boundary.

The Biology of the Umami Receptor: The Protein Sensor

Discover the 5th basic taste. Explore the biology of the Umami Receptor (T1R1/T1R3) and how it drives our evolutionary craving for cooked meat and aged cheese.