Cloning the Smell of the Sea

An anonymous reader wrote in with an article that opens: "Scientists from the University of East Anglia have discovered exactly what makes the seaside smell like the seaside — and bottled it. The age-old mystery was unlocked thanks to some novel bacteria plucked from the North Norfolk coast." The responsible substance, dimethyl sulfide, in addition to smelling like the coast, also acts as a homing scent for birds looking to feast on plankton.

cologne

[rg_pda]

Man, I just had a great idea for a new cologne. I gotta get a meeting with Calvin Klein.

Apparently they arent talking about New Jersey

[Karma Vampire]

I think it would take alot more than ONE substance to accurately reproduce the scent of the Jersey Shore..

Squawk!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

So...how long before I can use this stuff to seduce that cheeky seagull I've had my eye on lately?

Press Release

[RMB2]

All your beach are belong to us

Re:Apparently they arent talking about New Jersey

[thefirelane]

I think it would take alot more than ONE substance to accurately reproduce the scent of the Jersey Shore

I don't think so, most people say it just smells like shit.

zing

At last!

[nmg196]

> dimethyl sulfide, in addition to smelling like the coast,
> also acts as a homing scent for birds

I always knew the scientists could come up with a pheromone which really does attract the birds.

Now I can smell like the sea AND get all the hot chicks.

Re:intresting

[EveLibertine]

I'm all for curiousity and discovering stuff, but this sounds really useless.

Obviously you don't have much of an imagination.

The responsible substance, dimethyl sulfide, in addition to smelling like the coast, also acts as a homing scent for birds looking to feast on plankton.

1. Find a large flat cement wall
2. Paint a mural of a lake on it
3. Coat with dimethyl sulfide
4. Watch birds smash into it

Now if that isn't reason enough why this research should considered useful, then there is something wrong with this world.

Re:intresting

[FernandoBR]

Well, if we hope someday the holodecks of the Enterprise be possible, we must start solving this kind of problems now...

Re:intresting

[rjshields]

It's true, when you're constantly surrounded by a smell you can't smell it anymore. That's also the reason that most computer geeks don't realise they reek of BO.

Re:Double edged sword...

[Numbstruck]

But I have to pay a little man to beat off the sea birds who have come in search of plankton.

If I come in search of plankton will I get the same treatment?

Re:intresting

[Anonymous Coward]

The responsible substance, dimethyl sulfide...also acts as a homing scent for birds looking to feast on plankton.

Wait - when I said I wanted a cologne that would attract chicks, that's not what I meant!