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Optimisation is a Slow Process (mander.xyz)

submitted 6 days ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

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[-] Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Thinking about how smell might have developed is kind of cool. Some mutation allowing cells to detect smell (something modern science is kind of puzzled by) then just sending those signals to the brain and saying, you figure it out. I'd bet there is some other property of matter that exists that we have no ability to detect.

[-] el_abuelo@programming.dev 7 points 5 days ago

Isn't smell just particulate matter hitting receptors not dissimilar to how taste receptors send taste signals to the brain? I thought science had this stuff nailed down now?

[-] Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago

That's what they theorize. How do you prove it?

[-] el_abuelo@programming.dev 3 points 5 days ago

Science shit?

I dont know....but I wouldn't say that's a good reason to doubt it, for example I don't know how they proved black holes exist but they seem pretty confident.

[-] Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Ok, if it's just particles how does it distinguish the particles on a molecular level. This is important shit. The closest science can do is gas chromatography and that's an instrument which exists in any reputable lab. Also, using gas chromatography for this a far cry from the simple function of our sense of smell which can distinguish scents just by simply introducing a fragrence.

[-] Redfox8@mander.xyz 2 points 5 days ago

I believe the receptor cell responds to a particular part of the molecule in question. Artificial flavourings and scents have identical (or similar enough) parts to trigger the same response, but are otherwise different molecules.

[-] Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago

I think someone said the number of combinations for a key and lock receptor was insurmountable. Don't quote me.

[-] el_abuelo@programming.dev 2 points 5 days ago

Maybe I'm misreading your tone, but I'm not trying to argue with you - I'm genuinely curious about this and if you have superior knowledge I'm open!

My understanding from a quick skim of Wikipedia citations suggests we understand what's involved (particles and receptors) but the actual mechanism around encoding of signals seems to be theory.

We also can't teach a computer to think, but we still have quite a good idea of how it works.