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Prone positioning in infants with acute bronchiolitis

A recent study published in JAMA found that prone positioning in infants with moderate to severe bronchiolitis receiving high-flow nasal cannula support did not significantly reduce escalation of care. The study suggests that further research is warranted due to the wide confidence interval around the observed odds ratio.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateJun 17, 2026

Asthma and antibiotic use may predict nasal polyp recurrence after endoscopic sinus surgery

Researchers found a strong association between asthma and repeated antibiotic use in predicting nasal polyp recurrence after endoscopic sinus surgery. The study suggests that patients with severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps may benefit from additional treatments like biologics to manage the disease.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalClinical and Translational Allergy·DateFeb 4, 2025

Now how did that get up there?

Researchers discovered three phases of growth that explain how cetaceans shift their nasal passage from a parallel to an angled orientation. This finding provides insight into the developmental process and could inform our understanding of cetacean evolution.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalJournal of Anatomy·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 5, 2021

Stereo-olfaction in humans

Researchers found that human participants consistently biased their movements toward a perceived stronger odor source, even when unable to report nostril detection. The study suggests that humans navigate with stereo olfaction, similar to the binocular and binaural senses that enable 3D perception.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 22, 2020

Climate had a hand in shaping the human nose

A study published in PLOS Genetics found that nose size and shape are linked to differences in ancestral temperature and humidity levels. Wider nostrils were correlated with ancestors who lived in warmer climates, suggesting a role for climate in shaping human nasal evolution.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateMar 16, 2017

Nose form was shaped by climate

The study found that nose width is strongly correlated with temperature and humidity levels in different climates, suggesting a role for natural selection in shaping nose shape. The researchers also identified differences between men and women in nose features across populations.

SourcePenn State·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateMar 16, 2017

Jawed vertebrates get a face

Fossil evidence reveals the step-by-step assembly of the face during the evolutionary transition from jawless to jawed vertebrates. The Romundina skull shows primitive and modern features, shedding light on the origin of the jawed vertebrate face.

SourceUppsala University·JournalNature·DateFeb 12, 2014

Evidence that at least 1 mammal can smell in stereo

A study by Kenneth Catania at Vanderbilt University has found that common moles rely on stereo sniffing to detect odor gradients, a skill previously thought to be limited to visual and auditory perception. This discovery opens new avenues for research into the capabilities of other mammals that heavily rely on their sense of smell.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 5, 2013

Smelling a skunk after a cold

A Northwestern University study reveals that brain activity changes in olfactory regions after a week of blocked nostrils, compensating for the interruption of the sense of smell. The brain's response to odors returns to normal shortly after free breathing is restored.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateAug 12, 2012

Nostrils alternate to process competing odors

Researchers at Rice University found that when the nose is presented with two different smells, the brain processes them separately through each nostril in an alternating manner. This 'perceptual rivalry' in the olfactory system allows individuals to perceive one smell predominantly at a time, creating an 'olfactory illusion'.

SourceRice University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateAug 20, 2009

Saline nasal wash helps improve children's cold symptoms

A saline nasal wash solution improved nasal symptoms and reduced the recurrence of respiratory infections in children with the common cold. Children using the saline group had fewer days of illness, missed school days, or complications compared to those receiving standard medication.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·DateJan 21, 2008

Plague remains a threat; and more

A study finds that Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization is linked to persistent S. aureus infections, highlighting a potential target for non-antibiotic interventions. Plague remains a current threat globally, with most cases occurring in Africa and Asia, primarily through contact with infected rodents and fleas.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateJan 14, 2008

Sniffers show that humans can track scents, and that two nostrils are better than one

Researchers at UC Berkeley found that humans gain a performance advantage from cross-nostril comparisons when tracking scents. With training, humans can improve their accuracy significantly and nearly double their speed. This discovery challenges the common assumption that humans are poor smellers compared to other mammals.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateDec 18, 2006

On the scent

Scientists discover that people prefer certain smells when sniffed through one nostril over the other. The left nostril is more accurate for identifying odours, while the right nostril enhances pleasantness perception. This finding fits with brain processing theories and may lead to further research on smell perception.

SourceNew Scientist·JournalThe New Scientist·DateJan 4, 2000