{
  "id": 3546934,
  "title": "This week’s new questions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/this-weeks-new-questions",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-26T17:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Scientist",
    "slug": "new-scientist",
    "url": "https://www.newscientist.com/article/2585880-this-weeks-new-questions-360/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Olfactory illusions, in which one is deceived into perceiving a scent inaccurately, do indeed exist. While similar phenomena like optical and audio illusions are well-known, the concept of olfactory illusions remains less understood.\n\nThe forces driving a fluid particle's transition from smooth flow to spiral or helical movement down a pipe are complex and multi-faceted. Factors such as pipe geometry, fluid viscosity, and external disturbances all play a role in this intriguing phenomenon.",
  "summary": "Is there such a thing as an olfactory illusion, and what forces make a particle of fluid start spiralling down a pipe instead of flowing smoothly?",
  "key_points": [
    "Olfactory illusions deceive perception of scents inaccurately.",
    "Fluid particle transition involves pipe geometry, viscosity, disturbances.",
    "Topic explores complex, multi-faceted fluid dynamics phenomenon."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}