26Geosmin
The smell of the air after a storm is caused by Geosmin. It is a chemical compound released by dead soil bacteria. Humans are hypersensitive to it, capable of detecting it at a concentration of 5 parts per trillion. It is theorized that in our evolutionary past this helped us seek out water.
27. In 1800, chemists working with willow bark extracts discovered that salicylic acid present in it is responsible for its analgesic (pain-reducing) and antipyretic (fever-reducing) effects. In 1893, a German chemist converted salicylic acid to its less acidic ester, known as Aspirin.
28. NaCl is the chemical formula for table salt. It does not actually describe the chemical formula of a molecule. It is actually the ratio of sodium atoms to chlorine atoms in a sodium chloride crystal.
29. Butyric acid is an oily, colorless liquid with an unpleasant odor. It is found in animal fat and plant oils, bovine milk, breast milk, butter, parmesan cheese, body odor, and vomit.
30. Nitrogen trichloride, a.k.a. trichloramine, is responsible for that common swimming pool smell. This yellow, oily, pungent-smelling and explosive liquid is most commonly encountered as a byproduct of chemical reactions between ammonia-derivatives and chlorine (byproduct of urine/sweat and chlorine).
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31GenX
GenX is a known toxic chemical which is being added onto non-stick pans, after a similar toxic chemical PFOA was banned, as it was causing cancers and birth defects in human population.
32. Orthocarbonic Acid is also known as “Hitler’s Acid” because its molecular geometry resembles a swastika.
33. Beer Hops naturally produce an acid that can kill off a parasitic mite known to annihilate entire colonies of bees. Hops have shown such promise in helping Colony Collapse Disorder, that the EPA has even approved their use as a biochemical miticide.
34. Fenugreek contains an extremely potent aromatic compound called solotone. When consumed in heavy amounts, it can cause a sweet maple-y odor in sweat and urine.
35. Potatoes contain toxic compounds known as glycoalkaloids, the most prevalent of which are solanine and chaconine. Glycoalkaloid poisoning may cause headaches, diarrhea, cramps, and, in severe cases, coma and death. Poisoning from cultivated potato varieties, however, is very rare.
36Cadaverine
Cadaverine is a toxic chemical formed by dead tissue breaking down. It is the source of the corpse smell and it also gives semen its taste.
37. There is a compound named Erythritol, which tastes like sugar, but doesn’t affect blood sugar levels, or causes tooth decay. It also has 95% less calories than sugar.
38. The four artificial sweeteners that are used the most, Saccharine, Cyclamate, Aspartame, and Sucralose, were all discovered when scientists accidentally tasted the chemicals.
39. Penguinone is an organic chemical compound. Its name is derived from the fact that its molecular structure resembles a penguin.
40. Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) does not digest food. Instead, it sanitizes the stomach, denatures uncooked protein, and activates an enzyme called Pepsin that digests the food.
41Bananas
Bananas have a compound in them called isopentyl acetate. This is the same compound as the bee alarm pheromone and causes bees to get aggressive and swarm.
42. Researchers have found that what we smell when we sleep has the power to influence our dreams. The positive smell of rose produces positive dreams, and the negative smell of rotten eggs produces more negative dreams.
43. Confusional arousal is a condition where an individual awakens from sleep and remains in a confused state. It is characterized by an individual’s partial awakening and sitting up to look around. They usually remain in bed and then return to sleep.
44. After finding that 66% of teens have chronic sleep deprivation, the CDC has started recommending later start times for schools.
45. Sleep is the only time the brain has time to catch its breath. If it doesn’t, it will drown in its own biological debris, everything from toxic free radicals produced by hard-working fuel cells to spent molecules that are now useless.
