Why Does Rain Smell So Good? - video Dailymotion

Skip to player Skip to main content Skip to footer

today

Do you love the good smell of rain? If so, you're not alone.

Category

Transcript

Display full video transcript

00:01Why does rain smell so good?

00:04Do you love the smell of rain?

00:06If so, you're not alone.

00:08In fact, some scientists actually think

00:10that people inherited their affection

00:12for the scent of rain from our ancestors

00:14who relied on rainy weather for survival.

00:16But what makes rain smell so nice?

00:19The answer lies in several scents

00:21that permeate the air after a rainfall.

00:24One of these pleasing scents is called petrichor.

00:27This earthy scent is produced when rain falls on dry soil,

00:31and it's actually a combination of two different smells.

00:34The first comes from plants.

00:36Certain plants secrete oils during dry spells,

00:39and when it rains, these oils are released into the air.

00:42And the second odor sprouts from the soil.

00:45It comes from chemicals from soil-dwelling bacteria,

00:48and it's also released when rain hits the ground.

00:51But this petrichor scent isn't the only reason

00:54that the smell of rain is pleasing.

00:56There's also the scent of ozone.

00:58That's right, ozone.

01:00It's formed during thunderstorms

01:02when lightning causes chemical reactions

01:04to take place in the atmosphere.

01:06The sharp smell of ozone is somewhat similar to chlorine.

01:10And if you're one of those people who can smell rain coming,

01:13ozone is why.

01:15Wind can carry the molecules from an approaching storm

01:18straight into your nostrils.

01:20The scent of rain.

01:21Just another one of life's little mysteries.

01:23Just another one of life's little mysteries.

Recommended

1:09

Up next

Saturn's Moon Enceladus: Fresh Ice Indicated In Infrared Views

today

1:48

Iceland Comes From Greenland?

yesterday

1:44

What Will Happen To Seattle When The Big Earthquake Hits?

yesterday

1:50

These Weird Animals Actually Eat Rock

today

0:46

OTD In Space - July 11: Abandoned Skylab Returns To Earth

today

1:01

Watch A 'Solar Snake' Slither Across The Sun In Orbiter View

today

9:40

Those Beautiful Auroras Were From A Major Solar Flare

yesterday

0:37

Bright Ice Patch On Mars Crater

today

3:33

Should You Delay Your Social Security And Use Your 401K?

yesterday

2:39

Health Insurance Seen As A Hurdle For Early Retirees

2 days ago

3:49

What Is A College 529 Savings Plan - How Does It Work?

3 days ago

2:02

5 Led Zeppelin Songs Guitarists Need To Hear

7/4/2025

7:16

Ninja Tune Zen Delay Sound | Music Radar

7/1/2025

3:58

Ace's Masterclasses Guitar Tracking Tips

6/30/2025

0:47

Super-Strong Magnet Literally Blew The Doors Off A Tokyo Laboratory

yesterday

1:20

Does The Milky Way Move Like A Spinning Top?

yesterday

2:17

Stunningly Preserved Time Capsule Ship Found

yesterday

3:00

Pig-Snout Looking Fossil Found in South Pacific

yesterday

1:24

Sheep Flow Like Water

yesterday

1:08

yesterday

1:41

Bees "Scream" When Murder Hornet Cousins Attack

yesterday

1:45

T. Rex Walked A Lot Slower Than You'd Think

yesterday

1:55

Methane-Filled Lake Sets Air Above It Ablaze

2 days ago

2:52

There’s Too Much Gold In The Universe

2 days ago

3:37

Paul Explains Schrödinger’s Cat

2 days ago