Harmonic Keys to Olfaction and Consciousness - Dr. Luca Turin, University of Buckingham - DSPod #274

Dr Luca Turin is a biophysicist, writer, and perfume connoisseur
whose work on fragrances seems to suggest that we don’t smell
molecules, per se - we smell the complex vibrations of an atomic
structure. Turin came to be convinced of this model for olfaction
at the expense of the standard model of receptors binding smell
molecules just on the basis of their shape due to a prediction he
made about the smell of sulfur. If the pungent odor of rotten
eggs and brimstone was due to the vibrational frequency of the
sulfur atom attached to the molecule, then any other atom with a
similar vibrational frequency, no matter its shape, should also
smell of sulfur. He found a compatible molecule in an unexpected
place, and the rest fell into place. We talk about his nascent
passion for perfumes, why people are so reluctant to smell
things, and the overlap between smell, resonance, and
consciousness. Sign up for our Patreon and get episodes early +
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https://amzn.to/4fLMbQR (00:00:00) Go!! (00:05:12) The Concept of
Fragrance


(00:11:39) Evolution and Decline of Vibrational Theory in Smell
Science


(00:23:47) Social Dynamics in Scientific Progress


(00:26:30) Impact of Public Perception on Scientific Discourse


(00:29:23) Musical Analogies in Smell Perception


(00:31:00) Harmonic Analogies in Molecular Structures


(00:33:17) Exploring Dissonance in Perfumery and Music


(00:39:06) Longevity of Perfumes and Environmental Factors


(00:46:44) Theory development on molecular vibration and smell
perception


(00:48:23) Discovery of Boron hydrides and their olfactory
similarities to sulfur


(00:51:36) Public reception and impact of the vibrational theory
of smell


(01:11:20) Electrical properties of molecules in drug design


(01:13:09) Radical formation and drug interaction with receptors


(01:18:05) Electrical vs. shape-based theories in GPCR activation


(01:24:21) Electron transfer in cellular metabolism


(01:31:11) ATP synthesis and electrostatic gradients in
mitochondria


(01:34:36) Electrons' Spin Behavior in Biology


(01:37:05) Revolution in General Anesthesia


(01:42:05) Mechanism of Anesthesia and Brain Function


(01:49:23) Quantum Effects in Brain Function


(01:57:40) Brain Stimulation and Consciousness


(01:58:52) Spin and Conductivity


(02:05:02) Radio Frequency Emission from Brain Activity


(02:09:54) Mitochondrial Activity and Brain Function


(02:18:09) Quantum Aspects in Brain Function


(02:21:08) The Intersection of Quantum Mechanics and
Consciousness


(02:25:01) Historical and Technological Influences on
Consciousness Studies


(02:30:13) Quantum Biology: Origins and Evolution


(02:34:26) The Central Role of Chemistry in Quantum Biology


(02:37:11) Transactional Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics


(02:44:15) Philosophical indifference to facts


(02:45:22) Science as myth-making


(02:46:15) Finding joy in science #sciencepodcast,
#longformpodcast, #QuantumMechanics, #PhysicsPodcast,
#TransactionalInterpretation, #WaveFunctionCollapse,
#Schrödinger, #Heisenberg, #QuantumTheory, #Cosmology,
#StringTheory, #QuantumPhysics, #TimeReversal, #NonLocality,
#QuantumInterpretation, #CarverMead, #MitochondrialResearch,
#AntiAgingScience, #EnergyTransactions, #QuantumPhilosophy,
#CosmologicalTheories, #QuantumBeats PODCAST INFO: Anastasia
completed her PhD studying bioelectricity at Columbia University.
When not talking to brilliant people or making movies, she spends
her time painting, reading, and guiding backcountry excursions.
Shilo also did his PhD at Columbia studying the elastic
properties of molecular water. When he's not in the film studio,
he's exploring sound in music. They are both freelance professors
at various universities. MUSIC: -Shilo Delay:
https://g.co/kgs/oty671