All Images
News Release 06-164
The Smell of Money
Research suggests an absence of metallic chemicals in the strong metallic odors that result from people handling coins and other metals
This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have found that the "metallic" smell of keys is not from the metal but from a reaction between the keys and your skin.
Credit: Rick Griffiths, Virginia Tech
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (171 KB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
By studying smells emanating from metallic objects interacting with skin, Virginia Tech researcher Andrea Dietrich is shedding light on the origins of several drinking water odors.
Credit: Rick Griffiths, Virginia Tech
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (198 KB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
Pinar Omur-Ozbek, a PhD student of Andrea Dietrich's at Virginia Tech, helped conduct the experiments that revealed the why distinctive smells emanate from coins, keys and other metal objects people handle.
Credit: Rick Griffiths, Virginia Tech
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (229 KB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.