. Petrichor “泥土油”這種香氣主要由土壤細菌釋放的化合物土臭素和乾旱期積聚的植物油組成。 Petrichor doesn’t come from flowers or perfumes it rises from the living earth itself. The aroma is primarily made of geosmin, a compound released by soil-dwelling bacteria, and plant oils that accumulate during dry spells.

 自然之美

傑西卡·桑德斯

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20分鐘

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人類對雨水氣味的感知能力比鯊魚嗅覺強20萬倍

雨後那種令人感到舒適愜意的泥土氣息？它被稱為“泥土油”，人類對它的敏感度驚人，大約比鯊魚對血腥味的敏感度高出20萬倍。但這不僅僅是一種好聞的氣味；它體現了生命、土壤和生存之間深厚的進化連結。泥土油並非來自花朵或香水，而是源自於生氣勃勃的地球本身。

這種香氣主要由土壤細菌釋放的化合物土臭素和乾旱期積聚的植物油組成。當雨水最終落到地面時，它就像一個觸發器，將這些看不見的分子釋放到空氣中。雨滴本質上變成了微型噴霧器，將土臭素和植物源化學物質噴灑到大氣中，使空氣中瀰漫著那種我們常常聯想到新生、懷舊和寧靜的懷舊氣息。

我們對泥土油的敏感度並非偶然。研究人員認為，隨著時間的推移，人類進化出能夠檢測極低濃度土臭素的能力，這可能是為了找到肥沃的土地或安全的飲用水。有趣的是，甚至有些昆蟲會被泥土油吸引，而有些則會避開它，這表明這種氣味與生命節律有著多麼深厚的聯繫。歸根結底，泥土油不僅僅是雨水帶來的美妙副產品，更是自然與生物之間感官的“握手”，它提醒我們，即使是最簡單的氣味，也可能根植於強大而古老的聯繫之中。

The Beauty of Nature

Jessica Sanders ··

Humans Can Detect the Scent of Rain 200,000 Times Better Than Sharks Smell Blood

That comforting, earthy scent after rainfall? It’s called petrichor, and humans are astonishingly sensitive to it about 200,000 times more sensitive than sharks are to the smell of blood. But this isn’t just about a nice smell; it’s a deep evolutionary connection between life, soil, and survival. Petrichor doesn’t come from flowers or perfumes it rises from the living earth itself.

The aroma is primarily made of geosmin, a compound released by soil-dwelling bacteria, and plant oils that accumulate during dry spells. When rain finally hits the ground, it acts like a trigger, releasing these invisible molecules into the air. Raindrops essentially become micro-sprayers, launching geosmin and plant-sourced chemicals into the atmosphere, filling the air with that nostalgic scent we often associate with renewal, nostalgia, and calm.

Our sensitivity to petrichor isn’t accidental. Researchers believe that over time, humans evolved to detect geosmin at incredibly low concentrations possibly as a way to locate fertile ground or safe drinking water. Interestingly, even some insects are drawn to petrichor, while others avoid it, showing how deeply tied this scent is to life’s rhythms. In the end, petrichor isn’t just a beautiful byproduct of rain it’s a sensory handshake between nature and biology, and a reminder that even the simplest smells can be rooted in powerful, ancient connections.