upworthy
Add Upworthy to your Google News feed.
Google News Button
Community

Scientists explain why that 'one smell' evokes the most blissful memory

"A single smell may instantaneously evoke a past event in our life."

smell, memories, flowers, brains, olfactory bulbs
Canva Photos.

A woman sniffs a flower which evokes memories.

Ever wonder why you might get a trace of a scent and instantly get carried back to a year, a time, a place? (For me, it's Scotch tape. On the rare occasion that I smell it, I'm transported right back to Christmas in the early '80s.)

The brain's olfactory bulb, which processes the sense of smell, has the strongest influence on conjuring up memories. A recent article in Harvard Medicine cites Professor of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School, Sandeep Robert Datta, saying, “It’s now clear that even though our sense of smell is not as robust as that of a mouse or bloodhound, it is deeply tied to our cognitive centers, our emotional centers, and our memory centers. We’re dependent on it for a sense of well-being and centeredness in the world.”

Once a scent molecule enters the nasal cavity and reaches one of the "smell sensors," it makes a pit stop in the olfactory bulb and gives "information" to the cerebral cortex. In an educational video posted by Britannica, they relay "Since some of these regions are also involved in memory, a single smell may instantaneously evoke a past event in our life."

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

McDonough explains further that the information or "signals" then travel "to key areas of the brain involved in learning, emotion, and memory: the olfactory, or piriform cortex, which identifies smells; the amygdala, which is involved in generating emotion; and the hippocampus, which stores and organizes memories."

If our brain has subconsciously made a connection between a smell and something that impacted our memory, it can "store it indefinitely." She shares, "Even decades later, the same scent can bring the memory and emotional salience of the moment flooding back."

Redditors—of which there are nearly eight hundred on this thread alone—jumped to comment on the post, "What's a smell that instantly takes you back to your younger years?" The first comment is very specific: "Hot asphalt. It's immediately summer in the late '70s and I'm either playing 4-Square in the road, or we're at Six Flags."

asphalt, smells, six flags, roller coaster, memory A roller coaster loops around at Six Flags amusement park. Photo by Zachariah Aussi on Unsplash

This got hundreds of upvotes, with one person adding that they especially love the smell of asphalt in the rain. Someone then took the time to respond with the beautiful science behind that exact scent: "That smell is called petrichor and is caused by a terpene called geosmin that is released from the earth after being hit by rain. It’s a Greek word. ‘Petri’ means stone and ‘ichor’ is the golden liquid that flowed through the blood of Gods. So not only is it an amazing smell, it’s also one of the coolest words with a most unique etymology."

Quite a few also mentioned suntan oil. One person even deviously found a way to manipulate their boss, knowing how strongly it evokes memories in so many of us: "When I used to work in an office, I’d put on Coppertone at my desk Friday afternoons when I really wanted to get out early and enjoy nice weather. My boss would smell it and leave around 2 to play golf. (edit: Hawaiian Tropic)"

Along the same lines and also quite popular in the comment section was chlorine. "Chlorine in swimming pools! Not used so often anymore where I live, but back in my grandma's hometown, it's the same as ever!" Another adds how specifically this smell taps into a memory: "Being wrapped in a towel, eating ham and cheese sandwiches with Doritos by the pool was peak childhood."

nostalgia, swimming, chlorine, memory, smellsA young girl swims in a pool. Photo by Mariano Nocetti on Unsplash

So many more chimed in with answers—from freshly cut grass pulling them back through a memory tunnel to an elementary school playground, to the smell of leather reminding them of their Little League baseball team. The glue (which itself seems to trigger past experiences) that binds most of the comments seems to be: sweet memories from childhood.

A few more shared comments for the road:

"Concord grape juice gets me every time."

"A fog machine. Takes me back to the days I worked at Knott's Scary Farm."

And maybe my personal favorite? "Drakkar Noir, baby."

From Your Site Articles
smells
CommunityJoy
Innovation

Ontario teen says he'll live in 'modular home' invention for a year to prove it can end homelessness

He's already invented a wooden car.

ideas, homelessness, prodigy, social work, solutions
Photo credit: @ribalzebian on Instagram

Ribal Zebian is going to test a house he designed by living in it for a year.

Ribal Zebian, a student from the city of London in Ontario, Canada, already made headlines last year when he built an electric car out of wood and earned a $120,000 scholarship from it. Now, he's in the news again for something a little different. Concerned with homelessness in his hometown, Zebian got to work creating a different kind of affordable housing made from fiberglass material. In fact, he’s so confident in his idea that the 18-year-old plans on living in it for a year to test it out himself.

Currently an engineering student at Western University, Zebian was concerned by both the rising population of the unhoused in his community and the rising cost of housing overall. With that in mind, he conjured up a blueprint for a modular home that would help address both problems.

Zebian’s version of a modular home would be made of fiberglass panels and thermoplastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foam. He chose those materials because he believes they can make a sturdy dwelling in a short amount of time—specifically in just a single day.

“With fiberglass you can make extravagant molds, and you can replicate those,” Zebian told CTV News. “It can be duplicated. And for our roofing system, we’re not using the traditional truss method. We’re using actually an insulated core PET foam that supports the structure and structural integrity of the roof.”

Zebian also believes these homes don’t have to be purely utilitarian—they can also offer attractive design and customizable features to make them personal and appealing.

“Essentially, what I’m trying to do is bring a home to the public that could be built in one day, is affordable, and still carries some architecturally striking features,” he said to the London Free Press. “We don’t want to be bringing a house to Canadians that is just boxy and that not much thought was put into it.”

Beginning in May 2026, Zebian is putting his modular home prototype to the test by living inside of a unit for a full year with the hope of working out any and all kinks before approaching manufacturers.

“We want to see if we can make it through all four seasons- summer, winter, spring, and fall,” said Zebian. “But that’s not the only thing. When you live in something that long and use it, you can notice every single mistake and error, and you can optimize for the best experience.”

While Zebian knows that his modular homes aren't a long-term solution to either the homeless or housing crisis, he believes they could provide an inexpensive option to help people get the shelter they need until certain policies are reformed so the unhoused can find affordable permanent dwellings.

@hard.knock.gospel

What to buy for the homeless at the grocery store. 🛒 Most people get it wrong. After being there myself, these are the survival items that actually matter 💯 The 2nd to last one is about more than survival—it’s about DIGNITY. We are all one circumstance away from the same shoes 🙏 SAVE this for your next grocery run. 📌 IG@hardknockgospel Substack@ Outsiders_Anonymous #homelessness #helpingothers #kindness #payitforward #learnontiktok

Zebian’s proposal and experiment definitely inspires others to try to help, too. If you wish to lend a hand to the unhoused community in your area in the United States, but don’t know where to look, you can find a homeless shelter or charity near you through here. Whether it’s through volunteering or through a donation, you can help make a difference.

From Your Site Articles
homelessness
InnovationScience
Pop Culture

Guy 'translates' Gen Z slang for older generations and people are absolutely loving it

"You're working hard to bring real peace among the generations."

gen x, gen z, generation jones, millennials, xennials, generational humor, language, slang
via @bluefranklin1/Instagram, used with permission

Which generation do you actually belong to?

New slang can sometimes sound like an entirely new language. In that case, having a translator can be helpful. Content creator Blue Franklin has bravely stepped up to provide this service, "translating" common words and phrases so that virtually any generation can understand what's being said.

In the video below, you'll see what we mean. Franklin takes a Gen Z word (such as "Ohio") and then provides the Millennial and Gen X equivalents: "weird" and "bogus," respectively.

It's surprisingly satisfying to have mind-boggling terms suddenly make sense (so that's what "skibidi" means) and to realize when you actually prefer the slang of other generations (legend > GOAT, sorry not sorry).

Here are the translations Franklin came up with:

Gen ZMillennialGen X
Touch grassGo outsideGet a grip
OhioWeirdBogus
SkibidiRandomOff the wall
RizzSwagGame
RizzlerPlayerMac Daddy
No capNo lieFor real
SusShadySketchy
GyattDumptruckBooty
Caught in 4KExposedBusted
MeatridingSimpingBrown-nosing
PressedButt-hurtBent out of shape
IYKYKYou had to be thereInside joke
CoreAestheticStyle
Bussin'BombDope
BetAightWord
Yeet!FTW!Booyah!
LooksmaxxingGlow-upMakeover
BruhBroDude
GOATIconLegend
Big yikesAwkwardOuch

Sure, there were some remarks about the accuracy of these, but it's important to remember that cultural shifts happen faster than an entire generation. That's why different eras within each generation may gravitate toward different words. It's also very possible for a slang word to originate in one era but become more commonly associated with a different one, like "bet," which was recycled from Gen X.

Regardless, the video was clearly for lighthearted entertainment purposes. And yet, one person nevertheless commented, "You're working hard to bring real peace among the generations."

Franklin has even more translations where that came from, and he often includes more generations than just Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X. In the video below, he really spans timelines, going all the way from the Founding Fathers' era to Gen Alpha.

Leaving no stone unturned, Franklin has even decoded how each generation uses emojis.


Okay, this one has nothing to do with generational comparisons, but it's honestly the most informative one of the whole bunch. I can't believe I've lived all these years and never thought to use "😎🤏 😳🕶️🤏" for "excuse me?!" before. I most certainly will be remedying that immediately.

In case you were wondering, Franklin has already gotten a head start by translating Gen Beta slang, aka baby speak.

Whether or not you are 100% onboard with the accuracy, this is still a super fun way to see how, despite our differences in delivery, we're all really just saying the same thing. And that's pretty rad… or lit… or bussin' — whatever floats your boat.

From Your Site Articles
humor
Pop CultureInternet
Schools

Another school district just shifted to a 4-day week and parents are making themselves heard

America already has fewer school days than most other countries.

kids, school, school days, school week, schedule, 4 day week
Unsplash

Many school districts are moving to a 4-day week, but there are pros and cons to the approach.

American kids have fewer school days than most other major countries as it is, which poses a big challenge for families with two working parents. In a system designed for the "classic" stay-at-home mom model, it's difficult for many modern families to cover childcare and fulfill their work obligations during the many, many holidays and extra days off American children receive in school.

Some school districts, in fact, are ready to take things one step further with even fewer instructional days: for better or for worse.

Whitney Independent School District in Texas recently made news when it decided to enact a four-day week heading into the 2025 school year. That makes it one of dozens of school districts in Texas to make the change and over 900 nationally.

The thought of having the kids home from school EVERY Friday or Monday makes many parents break out in stress hives, but this four-day school week movement isn't designed to give parents a headache. It's meant to lure teachers back to work.

Yes, teachers are leaving the profession in droves and young graduates don't seem eager to replace them. Why? For starters, the pay is bad—but that's just the beginning. Teachers are burnt out, undermined and criticized relentlessly, held hostage by standardized testing, and more. It can be a grueling, demoralizing, and thankless job. The love and passion they have for shaping the youth of tomorrow can only take you so far when you feel like you're constantly getting the short end of the stick.

School districts want to pay their teachers more, in theory, but their hands are often tied. So, they're getting creative to recruit the next generation of teachers into their schools—starting with an extra day off for planning, catch-up, or family time every week.

Teachers in four-day districts often love the new schedule. Kids love it (obviously). It's the parents who, as a whole, aren't super thrilled.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

So far, the data shows that the truncated schedule perk is working. In these districts, job applications for teachers are up, retirements are down, and teachers are reporting better mental well-being. That's great news!

But these positive developments may be coming at the price of the working parents in the communities. Most early adopters of the four-day week have been rural communities with a high prevalence of stay-at-home parents. As the idea starts to take hold in other parts of the country, it's getting more pushback. Discussions on Reddit, Facebook, and other social media platforms are overrun with debate on how this is all going to shake up. Some parents, to be fair, like the idea! If they stay-at-home or have a lot of flexibility, they see it as an opportunity for more family time. But many are feeling anxious. Here's what's got those parents worried:

The effect on students' achievement is still unclear.

The execution of the four-day week varies from district to district. Some schools extend the length of each of the four days, making the total instructional time the same. That makes for a really long day, and some teachers say the students are tired and more unruly by the late afternoon. Some districts are just going with less instruction time overall, which has parents concerned that their kids might fall behind.

A study of schools in Iowa that had reduced instructional days found that five-days-a-week students performed better, on average.

Four-day school weeks put parents in a childcare bind.

Having two working parents is becoming more common and necessary with the high cost of living. Of course—"school isn't daycare!" But it is the safe, reliable, and educational place we send our kids while we we work.

Families with money and resources may be able to enroll their kids in more academics, extracurriculars, sports, or childcare, but a lot of normal families won't be able to afford that cost. Some schools running a four-day week offer a paid childcare option for the day off, but that's an added expense and for families with multiple kids in the school system, it's just not possible.

kids, school, school days, school week, schedule, 4 day week In a 4-day model, kids often (but not always) receive less instructional time. Photo by Ivan Aleksic on Unsplash

This will inevitably end with some kids getting way more screentime.

With most parents still working five-day weeks, and the cost of extra activities or childcare too high, a lot of kids are going to end up sitting around on the couch with their iPad on those days off. Adding another several hours of it to a child's week seems less than ideal according to expert recommendations.

Of course there are other options other than paid childcare and iPads. There are play dates, there's getting help from family and friends. All of these options are an enormous amount of work to arrange for parents who are already at capacity.

Working four days is definitely a win for teachers that makes the job more appealing. But it doesn't address the systemic issues that are driving them to quit, retire early, or give up their dreams of teaching all together.

@5th_with_ms.y

Replying to @emory here are my thoughts on my 4day work week as a teacher✨ #foryou #fyp #fypシ #foryoupage #foryoupageofficiall #teachersoftiktokfyp #teachersoftiktok #teachertok #teachersbelike #teachertiktok #tik #tiktok #viralllllll #teachertoks #teaching #teacher #tok #viralvideo #teacherlife #viral #trendy #teacher #teaching #worklifebalance #worklife #publicschool #publiceducation #school #student

A Commissioner of Education from Missouri calls truncated schedules a "band-aid solution with diminishing returns." Having an extra planning day won't stop teachers from getting scapegoated by politicians or held to impossible curriculum standards, it won't keep them from having to buy their own supplies or deal with ever-worsening student behavior.

Some teachers and other experts have suggested having a modified five-day school week, where one of the days gets set aside as a teacher planning day while students are still on-site participating in clubs, music, art—you know, all the stuff that's been getting cut in recent years. Something like that could work in some places.

In any case, the debate over a shortened school week is not going away any time soon. More districts across the country are doing their research in preparation for potentially making the switch.

Many parents don't theoretically mind the idea of their busy kids having an extra day off to unwind, pursue hobbies, see friends, catch up on projects, or spend time as a family. They're also usually in favor of anything that takes pressure off of overworked teachers. But until we adopt a four-day work week as the standard, the four-day school week is always going to feel a little out of place.

This article originally appeared in February. It has been updated.

From Your Site Articles
school
SchoolsEducation
Education

CEO Steven Bartlett hired a woman with zero experience because a tiny detail meant everything

Six months later, she was one of the best employees he's ever had.

steven bartlett, job interview, diary of a ceo, hiring, interviews
via Canva and Steven Bartlett/Wikimedia Commons

Steven Bartlett, "The Diary Of A CEO."

Given today's shaky economy, things are tough for young job-seekers. The unemployment rate for those aged 16 to 24 climbed to 10.5% at the end of 2025, the highest it's been in four years.

There are many reasons getting a gig is tough for younger people right now: AI is eating up many junior-level jobs, tariffs have slowed U.S. manufacturing, and people are clinging to their current roles, creating fewer opportunities.

Although there's no surefire tactic for landing a job in today's tough economy, a recent LinkedIn post from Diary of a CEO podcast host Steven Bartlett sheds light on what employers are looking for in young workers. He recently hired a woman with zero experience because of the exceptional people skills she demonstrated in a job interview. Bartlett is a Dragon on the UK’s Dragon's Den (similar to Shark Tank in the U.S.) and the founder of Flightstory, a media, marketing, and investment company.


"I hired someone whose CV was two lines. Their experience was zero... this taught me a critical hiring lesson," Bartlett wrote. "Much of the reason why I gave her the job was because: She thanked the security guard by name on the way into the building."

She turned her weakness into a strength

In addition to showing exceptional conscientiousness by thanking the security guard, she leveraged her inexperience to highlight other aspects of her skill set. "When she didn't know something, in the interview she said, 'I don't know that yet, but here's how I'd figure it out.' After the interview, she went and self-taught herself the answer she didn't know, and emailed it to me within hours," Bartlett continued. "She sent a thank-you note. To everyone after the interview."

Six months later, Bartlett says she's one of the best hires he's ever made. "This is the lesson... HIRE THE HARD THING. By this I mean hire the thing that's hardest to teach," he wrote. "You can show someone how to do marketing in a few weeks, you can't teach them real EQ [emotional intelligence] in a few weeks."

interview, job interview, young woman job, interview suit, meeting the boss, young woman A young woman on a job interview.via Canva

Bartlett's post illustrates how, in today's world, companies place greater value on emotional intelligence, recognizing it as the special sauce that keeps an organization running smoothly. Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and manage one's own emotions and those of others.

The importance of emotional intelligence

"The importance of emotional competence comes from the observation in the business world, in academia, the military, and every human enterprise, that there are people who are highly competent in technical and analytical skills, but when they interact with others, projects stall," Ron Siegel, assistant professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School, told The Harvard Gazette. "I suspect that business leaders have realized that it's relatively easy to get technical expertise in almost anything, but to get people who can understand and get along with one another, that is a challenge. In many projects, there is a growing awareness that this skill is going to be the one that carries the day."

interview, job interview, young woman job, interview suit, meeting the boss, young woman A young woman on a job interview.via Canva

The post should offer some solace to young job hunters who lack experience but have strong emotional intelligence. A thin resume can be padded out by showing that you can be an incredible asset to the company culture.

"15 years of hiring has taught me that culture fit and character is MUCH harder to hire than experience, skills, or education," Bartlett wrote. "You can teach someone Excel in a weekend. You can't teach them to really give a sh*t about the work in a week."

From Your Site Articles
employment
EducationBusiness
Culture

Boomers share 17 pieces of helpful life advice for Gen Z

"We are here on this Earth to make life easier for each other and to have some fun. Let those things be priorities for you."

boomer, boomer, boomer advice, gen z, generation z, life advice
Photo credit: Canva

Boomers give life advice to Generation Z.

Baby Boomers and Gen Z are decades apart, and Boomers (born 1946 to 1964) have a lot of life wisdom to share with Generation Z (born 1997 to 2012).

Although they've often been compared and noted for their similarities, Boomers have decades more life experience. When asked to share their wisdom, they took to Reddit to offer sincere advice and life tips to Gen Z.

Here are 17 pieces of life advice Boomers have for Gen Z:

- YouTube www.youtube.com

"Take care of your teeth. Take care of your teeth. Take care of your teeth. Take care of your teeth." - Birdy_Cephon_Altera

"First, on behalf of my entire generation, I sincerely apologize. Most of us were convinced we were doing the right thing. It turns out we weren't. Second, always be aware of what assets you are losing and what assets you are gaining. At twenty, the primary asset you are losing is your youth, so use it to its fullest. Run and swim and boink whenever you have the opportunity. The primary assets you are gaining will be some personalized combination of education (formal and informal), experience, and contacts (people who can solve problems and people who know what problems you can solve). This combination will change whenever you have some life event: a new city, a new job, a new skill or degree, a new relationship, a new family, and so on. Don't just let it happen: be purposeful about it." - Glade_Runner

"Accept that you will get old, but know that you don't have to act old. Also look after your teeth. Also just don't be a d*ck." - PM_THE_REAPER

"Count the clock that tells the time. Avoid time sinks by budgeting time ('I'm going to play for two hours then I'm going to fold the laundry.') If you're in a dead-end job, keep showing up but keep checking those job listings. If you're in a relationship that seems pointless, get the hell out of it. (There are far worse things than being alone.) If you enjoy the company of your parents, remember that your time with them might be half over already. I'm 60 now, and I can remember things that happened when I was twenty like they happened two weeks ago. It really, really, really does go fast." - Glade_Runner

"Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth, oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now, how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine. Don't worry about the future, Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing Bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind. The kind that blindsides you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday. Do one thing every day that scares you. Don't be reckless with other people's hearts, don't put up with people who are reckless with yours. Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long, and in the end, it's only with yourself.' Baz Luhrmann. I'd recommend reading the whole thing." - Scallywagstv2

- YouTube www.youtube.com

"It's something I would say to myself when I was 20, as someone highly depressed that thinks nonstop: 'imagine yourself what and where you want to be as a 70 years old'. All your life decision will be way easier and it takes way less energy to move forward." - Patacorta79

"Don't buy or rent within a 20 year flood plain. A stock or crypto currency is points until it hits your bank account. View every sexual encounter as an opportunity to support someone you have not met yet for the next 21 years and prepare accordingly." - ba14

"Learn how to free yourself from situations that hold you back. This is one of the most powerful adult skills of all. This world creates little mind traps that catch you: 'oh, I can't do this because I have to take of that,' or 'I'm losing the game because I never had a chance to bla bla bla.' Anytime you are feeling trapped, consider whether you are in an actual trap (e.g., you've been arrested or sued) or you're in a mental trap (e.g., you feel some obligation that you'd don't really believe in). It's not easy to bust yourself out of either kind of trap, but you'll get better at both of these as you get older. Really, you will. Things that seem soul-crushing at 20 can seem mildly annoying at 40 because you've worked out a set of attitudes and techniques to get yourself loose." - Glade_Runner

"Other people's opinion of you is none of your business." - jeffro14424

@hwhlpodcast

Are GenZ similar to boomers?? Listen to this weeks episode anywhere you get your podcasts or WATCH on YouTube! #comedy #genz #boomers #millenial

"Boozing is great fun, but only do it for a short while. When you get older and you're still boozing, you start hurting in your joints, you can't remember things, you get fat, your sex drive deteriorates, you lose enthusiasm for your hobbies, and everything seems miserable until you drink again. I speak from experience. Take care of yourself." - Hypogel

"Work hard (I mean invest yourself in your profession/skill/learning) and be true to your values for 3 years. Save 25 dollars a week in an account you can't easily access. Everything will be OK." - throwawayaspoon

"Define your own life. What 'success' so often means to people my age is part irrelevant, part immoral, and part unsatisfying. To hell with it. Decide what it is that you want and just work on that. You really don't have to prove anything to anyone: not to your parents, not to your boss, not to your peers. Define the things you want and just work on those things. It's astounding how many people my age spent their entire lives working for some creepy consumerist suburban fantasy life they didn't really want. They're miserable now, bitter, and loaded with debt and cancer. You don't have to make that same mistake." - Glade_Runner

"Keep your opinions to yourself - when you get to 35 you will regret pretty much everything you thought you knew in your 20s." - graeuk

@helsmcp

The two best bits of advice iv ever got from my boomer dad The rules of pulling a sickie and the hat rule for unwanted guests. #bestadvice #lifeadvice #lifehacks #millennialhumor #lols

"We are here on this Earth to make life easier for each other and to have some fun. Let those things be priorities for you." - Glade_Runner

"Open a ROTH IRA. Also take some funny money that you can afford to lose and take some wild chances. You might hit it big on the next Bitcoin or Amazon." - lonelysilverrain

"Learn about compounding interest. Start investing your money." - the-soaring-moa

"Give yourself a break. Take your time." - JohnnyRoanoke

From Your Site Articles
gen z boomer
CultureJoy
Trending Stories