In this episode, Dr. Stuart Firestein takes us on a fascinating journey through his 30-year research on the olfactory system, the science behind our sense of smell, and its importance as a model for understanding brain function. He elaborates on the intricacies of odor molecule recognition and the sheer complexity of smells, like that of coffee. Dr. Firestein also discusses the significant roles of ignorance and failure in scientific progress, reflecting on his books, 'Failure: Why Science Is So Successful' and 'Ignorance: How it Drives Science.' Tune in to hear about the importance of embracing failures and unknowns as part of the scientific journey and how this philosophy extends to broader aspects of life and learning.
His books Ignorance : How it Drives Science Failure : Why Science is So Successful
Our Sponsors!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Law & Order: Criminal Justice System - Season 1 & Season 2
Season Two Out Now! Law & Order: Criminal Justice System tells the real stories behind the landmark cases that have shaped how the most dangerous and influential criminals in America are prosecuted. In its second season, the series tackles the threat of terrorism in the United States. From the rise of extremist political groups in the 60s to domestic lone wolves in the modern day, we explore how organizations like the FBI and Joint Terrorism Take Force have evolved to fight back against a multitude of terrorist threats.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com