News From the Field

Why bearcats smell like buttered popcorn


April 13, 2016

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The bearcat. The binturong. Whatever you call this shy, shaggy-haired creature from Southeast Asia, many people who have met one notice the same thing: It smells like a movie theater snack bar. Most describe it as hot buttered popcorn. And for good reason: The chemical compound that gives freshly made popcorn its mouthwatering smell is also the major aroma emitted by binturong pee, finds a new study.Full Story

Source
Duke University

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