We delve into the remarkable world of a dog’s sense of smell, revealing insights that may revolutionize the design of scent-detection technology. Unlike humans, a dog’s sniff is not a simple in-and-out affair; their noses guide air in a one-way path, fostering zones where scents linger. We built a Gaseous Recognition Oscillatory Machine Integrating Technology (GROMIT) to explore this phenomenon. We compared different airflow patterns, including a unique setup mirroring a dog’s nasal flow. The result implies that sensors in this dog-like configuration retained scent traces longer, hinting at a form of “physical memory.” This research also paves the way for advanced electronic noses, potentially enhancing their sensitivity and broadening their applications.
*’Canid Nasal Passageway 3D visualization image reprinted from Craven et al. 2007.