Monthly Archives: April 2009

Watching Television Can Make You Smarter

April 15, 2009 By in Life 2 Comments

Well, sometimes. Okay, rarely. But here are a couple of entertaining shows that can.

Ape Genius Fascinating stuff. Ape Genius is a one-hour Nova special about the intelligence of apes and humans. The show was written, directed, and produced by John Rubin, a friend of mine from Cambridge. He did an amazing job on this show, which recently won a 2008 Peabody Award.

You can watch Ape Genius online here. (Note for when you watch: I would never have been smart enough to use water as a tool . . . )

The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance I couldn’t believe how addictive this series was. I worked all weekend, but I still had to watch all four episodes nearly back-to-back. It’s comprised of 4 one-hour episodes about the Medici family, their plots and intrigue, and, more importantly, the amazing artists and scientists who flourished under them. Really, you’ll be riveted.

The PBS website for the show is here, but unfortunately the show isn’t available there for viewing. The series is available through Netflix to watch on your computer or rent on DVD. Otherwise beg, borrow, or steal it!

Yes, I know I sound like a PBS groupie. I’m hoping they’ll pay me for this ad. I hear they’re loaded.

Her Nose Is Just For Show

April 5, 2009 By in Brains 1 Comment

No one knew my mother couldn’t smell until the day the septic tank was replaced. She was a curious girl and sat nearby to watch, while the rest of her family kept as far away as possible. Stench? she’d said. What stench?

My mother has no recollection of ever having smelled anything. She was either born without the sense or lost it at a very young age. Scientists call this ‘developmental anosmia.’ Thankfully, it’s a lot less incapacitating than losing other senses, such as sight or hearing. Mom’s lack of smell is good fodder for conversations (and blog entries), but other than the risk of missing a gas leak, she isn’t impaired. Since flavor depends mostly on smell, her ability to taste is probably restricted to the few types (e.g., salty, sweet) that the tongue detects. Still, she claims she gets a full spectrum of flavors, thank you very much, and she reminds me in stinky public bathrooms that her quirk is also an asset.

Although my mom is perfectly happy, it can be catastrophic when people lose their sense of smell later in life. This can happen for many reasons, including head trauma (wear your helmets!) or complications due to antibiotics. Even though most of us aren’t consciously aware of all the things we smell, odors are woven into all of our experiences and are powerfully tied to memory. People who have grown accustomed to the world’s symphony of smells are often severely affected by its loss. They can experience a profound absence in their lives. They can lose their appetite, their sex drive, even fall into depression.

I’ve tried to describe scent to my mom and she’s tried to imagine it, but always to no avail. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be left out of an invisible, inaudible, untouchable secret that everyone else shares. I’m pretty sure I’d be frustrated. And why should we cause anosmics frustration? Let’s give them a break and announce that olfaction is a hoax. While we’re at it, let’s say the same about telepathy, prophesy, and channeling the dead. I hear some people were born without those too.