The Nose Can Smell a Trillion Scents

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Verb Adjective Adverb Expression

For a long time, people believed that the human nose could tell apart only about 10,000 different smells. Recently, however, scientists have suggested that the true number may be closer to one trillion. In other words, our sense of smell is far more powerful than we once assumed.

Smell is also deeply linked to memory and emotion. A single familiar scent — freshly baked bread, or the rain on a summer evening — can instantly bring back a memory from years ago. This is because the part of the brain that processes smell sits right next to the areas that handle memory and feeling. Our nose, it seems, is quietly connected to our past.

Vocabulary from this story

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tell apart
farqlamoq
suggested
ilgari surdi, taklif qildi
sense
hissiyot, sezgi
assumed
deb hisoblardik
deeply
chuqur
linked
bogʻliq
emotion
hissiyot, tuygʻu
familiar
tanish
scent
hid
instantly
bir zumda
processes
qayta ishlaydi
handle
boshqaradi

Grammar from this story

Key patterns that appeared in the text.

recently, however

Biroq soʻnggi paytda / yaqinda esa (avvalgi qarash bilan zid yangi maʼlumot).

  • Recently, however, scientists have suggested a much bigger number.
  • Recently, however, prices have started to fall.

this is because ...

Buning sababi shuki ... (sababni tushuntiradi).

  • This is because the smell area sits next to the memory area.
  • This is because the roads were closed.

Check your understanding

Read the story, then choose the best answer. Tap a choice to check it.

1. What did people previously believe about the human nose?

2. What have scientists recently suggested?

3. Why can a single smell instantly bring back a memory?