MythBusters · Video summary
Does The Smell Of Fear Actually Exist? | MythBusters
The MythBusters investigate whether humans emit a detectable 'smell of fear' when scared, collecting sweat samples under both exercise and fear-inducing conditions to test if a human nose can sniff out the difference.
Watch on YouTube ↗The digest
The concept of a "smell of fear" is a common trope in horror films and popular culture, but is there any scientific basis to it? Do humans actually emit a detectable scent when they're scared? The MythBusters team set out to answer this intriguing question, embarking on a series of experiments that pushed their personal boundaries and put their olfactory senses to the ultimate test.
The Hypothesis: Fear Has a Scent
The core of the myth is the idea that when a human experiences fear, their body secretes a unique chemical compound in their sweat that can be perceived by others. To investigate this, the team devised a two-pronged approach: first, collect "normal" sweat samples during exercise as a control, and then collect "fear sweat" samples under genuinely terrifying conditions. These samples would then be presented to volunteers to see if they could differentiate between the two.
Keep reading in The Digest
The full 4-minute article, 6 more sections, and every new episode from MythBusters and the creators you follow.
- Collecting Control Sweat: The Treadmill Challenge
- The Fear Gauntlet: Scorpions, Snakes, and Rats
- Scientific Analysis: The Gas Chromatograph
- The Human Test: Can Average Noses Smell Fear?
- The Expert Nose: A Glimmer of Hope
- Conclusion: Plausible, But Difficult to Prove
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