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NASA hires scent chemist to recreate the smell of space

NASA hires scent chemist to recreate the smell of space

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NASA plans to reproduce the scent of space to prepare astronauts for what they can expect when beyond the Earth's atmosphere.

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space colony
space colony

The scent of space is one that only few have experienced, but if you've ever wondered what treats await your olfactory nerves beyond Earth's atmosphere, NASA will be attemping to recreate the unique smell. As reported by The Atlantic, astronauts' descriptions range from "seared steak" and "sulfurous" to "a rather sweet metallic sensation," all of which will be taken into consideration as scent chemist Steve Pearce does his best to reproduce the odor. NASA hopes to use the resulting smell to help astronauts become acclimated to what they may experience in space to reduce any potential sensory shock.