The start of spring has an unmistakable, yet unplaceable smell. It’s a bit reminiscent of dirt, but there’s something else beneath the surface, evocative of rainy days or afternoons spent gardening.

The master chemists known as Streptomyces bacteria have turned a compound rich with the tangy odor of moist soil into a hitchhiking scam. This group of bacteria, the inspiration for streptomycin and ...

The reason for spring’s unmistakeable earthy odour has been revealed by scientists – and it’s all about reproduction. Geosmin is the chemical that produces the 'earthy' scent of spring and is made by ...

New research from an international team of scientists is suggesting that instantly recognizable earthy smell after rain is released by bacteria trying to attract a particular arthropod as a way to ...

The unique scent of rain may actually be a chemical signal used by bacteria to attract this tiny arthropod, called a springtail. Ryan Hodnett via Flickr under Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY ...

That mysterious scent has been called “petrichor”, and the main component of it is an organic compound called geosmin, which lingers around moist soil. Geosmin comes from the ancient Greek “geo”, ...

Did you ever wonder what causes that earthy smell that rises after a light summer rain? That mysterious scent has been called “”, and a main component of it is an organic compound called geosmin, ...

Klas Flärdh receives funding from The Swedish Research Council, The Crafoord Foundation, and The Carl Trygger Foundation Funding: The Swedish Research Council Formas The Crafoord Foundation Plantlink ...