Cloning the Smell of the Sea

An anonymous reader wrote in with an article that opens: "Scientists from the University of East Anglia have discovered exactly what makes the seaside smell like the seaside — and bottled it. The age-old mystery was unlocked thanks to some novel bacteria plucked from the North Norfolk coast." The responsible substance, dimethyl sulfide, in addition to smelling like the coast, also acts as a homing scent for birds looking to feast on plankton.

Comments

Apparently they arent talking about New Jersey

[Karma Vampire]

I think it would take alot more than ONE substance to accurately reproduce the scent of the Jersey Shore..

Re:Apparently they arent talking about New Jersey

[thefirelane]

I think it would take alot more than ONE substance to accurately reproduce the scent of the Jersey Shore

I don't think so, most people say it just smells like shit.

zing

At last!

[nmg196]

> dimethyl sulfide, in addition to smelling like the coast,
> also acts as a homing scent for birds

I always knew the scientists could come up with a pheromone which really does attract the birds.

Now I can smell like the sea AND get all the hot chicks.

Re:intresting

[EveLibertine]

I'm all for curiousity and discovering stuff, but this sounds really useless.

Obviously you don't have much of an imagination.

The responsible substance, dimethyl sulfide, in addition to smelling like the coast, also acts as a homing scent for birds looking to feast on plankton.

1. Find a large flat cement wall
2. Paint a mural of a lake on it
3. Coat with dimethyl sulfide
4. Watch birds smash into it

Now if that isn't reason enough why this research should considered useful, then there is something wrong with this world.

Re:intresting

[rjshields]

It's true, when you're constantly surrounded by a smell you can't smell it anymore. That's also the reason that most computer geeks don't realise they reek of BO.