Even with many years of study and modern technology, there are still things about the human body that doctors and scientists don’t fully understand. Since the body is very complex, this isn’t surprising.
Some people believe in a “sixth sense” that helps them feel or predict things. In a similar way, a recent study suggests that people may also sense when death is near. Scientists explain that when a person dies, the body quickly starts to break down. During this process, a bad and harmful smell called putrescine is released. Humans may recognize this smell without realizing it, and it can trigger an immediate reaction in the body.
Two researchers, Arnaud Wisman and Ilan Shira, explain that humans, like animals, can detect certain smells and react to them. This ability helps with survival.
They found that when people smell putrescine, they react both consciously and unconsciously.
Their experiments showed that when people are exposed to this odor, they tend to move away from it—similar to how animals either run away or prepare to defend themselves when they sense danger.
“We don’t really know why we like or dislike someone’s smell, and we’re often unaware of how scents affect our feelings, choices, and behavior,” explain Arnaud Wisman and Ilan Shira.
Other researchers say it’s not easy to think of a smell as something scary, but scents can still make people more alert to what’s happening around them.
Another example is sex pheromones—these are smells produced by males or females that can influence the behavior of the opposite sex and help attract them to each other for mating.
“Putrescine sends a very different signal compared to pheromones. While pheromones often attract people, reactions to putrescine—like avoiding it or feeling uneasy—tend to be the opposite,” explain Arnaud Wisman and Ilan Shira. They also say that people are usually not aware of this smell and don’t consciously connect it with death or fear.
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