Chemists show origin of soil-scented geosmin

harminka — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 15:01:09 -0500

Brown University chemists have found the origins of an odor – the sweet smell of fresh dirt. In Nature Chemical Biology, the Brown team shows that the protein that makes geosmin – source of the good earth scent – has two similar but distinct halves, each playing a critical role in making this organic compound.