What causes body odor? - Mel Rosenberg

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  • 18,131 Questions Answered
  • TEDEd Animation

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Most of us don’t need more than one whiff to identify that generally unpleasant, characteristic smell we call body odor. But it’s a surprisingly complex phenomenon, influenced by our genetic makeup, age, diet, and hygiene. So what is this odor, exactly? Where does it come from? And can we do anything about it? Mel Rosenberg dives into the stinky science of body odor.


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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Mel Rosenberg
  • Director Els Decaluwe
  • Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
  • Composer Vincent Groos
  • Sound Designer Samuel Chan
  • Associate Producer Elizabeth Cox, Jessica Ruby
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Fact-Checker Joseph Isaac
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Some researchers have studied the potential role of the human underarm in sending out signals related to mating. What do you think? How would you go about studying such a theory? What have researchers done thus far? Why is it so hard to draw conclusions that will be widely accepted by the scientific community?

If odors help us choose our appropriate mate, then do you agree that artificial chemical signals may be worrisome? Check out the educator's TEDx talk on the subject here.

Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Mel Rosenberg
  • Director Els Decaluwe
  • Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
  • Composer Vincent Groos
  • Sound Designer Samuel Chan
  • Associate Producer Elizabeth Cox, Jessica Ruby
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Fact-Checker Joseph Isaac

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