Mammals can sniff out danger: scientists

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

GENEVA (AFP) — Scientists at the University of Lausanne said Thursday that mammals can communicate danger to each other through smell.

The scientists found that when placed in an environment where there is a beaker of water containing warning pheromones emitted by other mice, the animals are able to immediately sniff out the danger and move away from the beaker.

The mice's keen reaction has been attributed to the 300 to 500 cells found at the entrance of their noses, called the Grueneberg ganglion.

This ganglion is present also in human beings, according to the scientist Hans Grueneberg who discovered it in 1973.

And the Swiss researchers believe that "one can imagine that humans have a similar method" of communicating danger to each other.

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