What cats and dogs hear + A 'smell map' of the nose
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “What cats and dogs hear + A 'smell map' of the nose” inside PodZeus.
This episode of Science Friday explores the fascinating world of animal hearing and the groundbreaking discovery of a 'smell map' in the nose. Host Flora Lichtman welcomes Dr. Pete Scheifele, a neuroaudiologist and director of The Fetch Lab, to explain why dogs and cats can hear a much wider range of frequencies than humans—thanks to specialized hair cells in their ears and evolutionary adaptations. The discussion touches on noise-induced hearing loss in pets, congenital deafness in breeds like Dalmatians, and the remarkable seismic communication of elephants. The second half shifts to olfaction, where Dr. Bob Data from Harvard Medical School reveals that mice have a precise, spatially organized 'smell map' in their nasal epithelium—1,000 receptor stripes running from top to bottom. This discovery challenges long-held beliefs that smell was randomly organized and opens new pathways for treating smell loss in humans, especially after conditions like COVID. The episode underscores how sensory systems are intricately wired and how new technologies are unlocking nature’s hidden blueprints.
Dogs and cats hear frequencies up to 57 kHz, far beyond humans’ 20–20,000 Hz range, due to specialized hair cells in their ears.
Noise from loud TVs, music, or gunfire can cause permanent hearing loss in pets, especially hunting dogs.
Congenital deafness is more common in certain breeds like Dalmatians due to past breeding practices.
Elephants communicate through seismic rumbles detectable over a mile away via ground vibrations.
Scientists have discovered a precise 'smell map' in mice, with 1,000 olfactory receptor stripes organized top-to-bottom in the nose.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Why Dogs and Cats Hear More Than Humans
“Dogs and cats can hear all the way up to 57 kilohertz. So they're very on the high end of things. They have it covered and we can't hear those frequencies.”
Hearing Loss in Pets and the Fetch Lab
Dr. Scheifele discusses noise-induced hearing loss in pets, especially hunting dogs, and shares how The Fetch Lab tests puppies for congenital deafness and supports working dogs like military and security animals.
The Majesty of Elephant Communication
“An elephant, you know, where I'm standing, if I'm standing next to it, will send out rumbles which vibrate through the ground. They're seismic frequencies. And that can be picked up over a mile away by another elephant.”
The Smell Map Revolution in Neuroscience
“The thousand receptors are actually organized into essentially a thousand stripes running from the top to the bottom of your nose. These stripes are overlapping, but their position is really, really precise.”
Why Smell Was Thought to Be Random
The episode explains why scientists long believed smell lacked spatial organization—due to the complex anatomy of the nose and outdated lab techniques that only allowed one gene to be studied at a time.
“An elephant, you know, where I'm standing, if I'm standing next to it, will send out rumbles which vibrate through the ground. They're seismic frequencies. And that can be picked up over a mile away by another elephant.”
“The thousand receptors are actually organized into essentially a thousand stripes running from the top to the bottom of your nose. These stripes are overlapping, but their position is really, really precise.”
“Dogs and cats can hear all the way up to 57 kilohertz. So they're very on the high end of things. They have it covered and we can't hear those frequencies.”
Host
Guests
Mice
other
Dr. Pete Scheifele
person
Dr. Bob Data
person
The Fetch Lab
organization
Elephants
other
Turbinates
other
Harvard Medical School
organization
Dalmatians
other
Cochlea
other
Stem Cells
other
Harnessing the superpowers of silk
Science Friday • 18m • 3/31/2026
How to poop better, according to a gastroenterologist
Science Friday • 28m • 4/1/2026
Should Pluto be a planet again?
Science Friday • 19m • 4/2/2026
Artemis II test flight heads toward the moon
Science Friday • 18m • 4/3/2026
Can algae help pull microplastics out of our water supply?
Science Friday • 13m • 4/6/2026
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “What cats and dogs hear + A 'smell map' of the nose” inside PodZeus.
Start discovering podcast insights today
Start with a 7-day trial and explore a growing catalog of popular podcasts. No credit card required.
No credit card required • 7-day trial • Cancel anytime