Comment on Optimisation is a Slow Process
el_abuelo@programming.dev 5 days agoIsn’t smell just particulate matter hitting receptors not dissimilar to how taste receptors send taste signals to the brain? I thought science had this stuff nailed down now?
Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 5 days ago
That’s what they theorize. How do you prove it?
el_abuelo@programming.dev 5 days ago
Science shit?
I dont know…but I wouldn’t say that’s a good reason to doubt it, for example I don’t know how they proved black holes exist but they seem pretty confident.
Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 5 days ago
Ok, if it’s just particles how does you knows distinguish thr particles on a molecular level. This is important shit. The closest science can do is gas chromatography and that’s an instrument which exists in any reputable lab. Gas chromatography is a far cry from the simple function the our sense of smell can distinguish just by simply introducing a fragrence.
Redfox8@mander.xyz 4 days ago
I believe the receptor cell responds to a particular part of the molecule in question. Artificial flavourings and scents have identical (or similar enough) parts to trigger the same response, but are otherwise different molecules.
el_abuelo@programming.dev 4 days ago
Maybe I’m misreading your tone, but I’m not trying to argue with you - I’m genuinely curious about this and if you have superior knowledge I’m open!
My understanding from a quick skim of Wikipedia citations suggests we understand what’s involved (particles and receptors) but the actual mechanism around encoding of signals seems to be theory.
We also can’t teach a computer to think, but we still have quite a good idea of how it works.